87R990 KKR-D     By: Powell S.B. No. 145       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to state occupational licensing of certain military   veterans and military spouses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 21.052, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a-1), (b-1), and (f) and adding Subsection   (i) to read as follows:          (a-1)  The commissioner may adopt rules establishing   exceptions to the examination requirements prescribed by   Subsection (a)(3) for an educator who is a military veteran or   military spouse or is from outside the state to obtain a certificate   in this state.          (b-1)  The board shall propose rules in accordance with   Sections 55.005 and 55.006, Occupations Code, to establish   procedures to expedite the processing of an application for a   certificate under this section submitted by an educator who is a   military veteran or military [the] spouse [of a person who is   serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United   States], including rules for providing a permanent change of   station or military identification card [the appropriate   documentation to establish the educator's status as a spouse of a   person who is serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces   of the United States].          (f)  The board shall post on the board's Internet website the   procedures for obtaining a certificate under Subsection (a) and the   notice required under Section 55.010, Occupations Code.          (i)  In this section:                (1)  "Active duty" means current full-time military   service in the armed forces of the United States or active duty   military service as a member of the Texas military forces, as   defined by Section 437.001, Government Code, or similar military   service of another state.                (2)  "Armed forces of the United States" means the   army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United   States or a reserve unit of one of those branches of the armed   forces.                (3)  "Military service member" means a person who is on   active duty.                (4)  "Military spouse" means a person who is married to   a military service member.                (5)  "Military veteran" means a person who has served   on active duty and who was discharged or released from active duty.          SECTION 2.  Section 55.004, Occupations Code, is amended by   adding Subsections (a-1) and (d) to read as follows:          (a-1)  In adopting rules under Subsection (a), the state   agency shall ensure that a military veteran or military spouse   receives appropriate credit for the individual's experience,   including clinical and professional experience, in a licensed   profession.          (d)  A state agency that issues a license that has a   residency requirement for license eligibility shall adopt rules to   allow a military spouse applicant to establish residency for   purposes of this subsection by providing to the agency a copy of the   permanent change of station order for the military service member   to whom the spouse is married or the spouse's military   identification card.          SECTION 3.  Section 55.010, Occupations Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 55.010.  NOTICE OF CHAPTER PROVISIONS. (a)  In this   section, "commission" means the Texas Workforce Commission.          (b)  A state agency that issues a license shall prominently   post a notice on the home page of the agency's Internet website   describing the provisions of this chapter that are available to   military service members, military veterans, and military spouses.          (c)  A state agency that issues a license under rules adopted   under Section 55.004 shall notify the commission immediately on   determining that the requirements of a license of this state are   substantially equivalent to those of another jurisdiction.          (d)  The commission shall establish and maintain an Internet   website to serve as a single location for military veterans and   military spouses to access information regarding the issuance of a   license by a state agency to a military veteran or military spouse   who is licensed in another jurisdiction, including a list of each   license of this state and license of another jurisdiction that is   determined by a state agency to be substantially equivalent.          SECTION 4.  Section 2, Chapter 1048 (H.B. 1934), Acts of the   85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, is repealed.          SECTION 5.  Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas   Workforce Commission shall establish the Internet website required   by Section 55.010, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act.          SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   an initial application for or an application for renewal of an   occupational license filed on or after the effective date of this   Act. An application for a license filed before the effective date of   this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before that   date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.