Bill Text: TX HB2683 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Relating to the licensing and regulation of dyslexia practitioners and therapists by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; imposing an administrative penalty; authorizing fees.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 4-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-05-11 - Referred to Health & Human Services [HB2683 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB2683-Engrossed.html

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84R22493 MAW-F
By: Miller of Fort Bend, Zerwas, H.B. No. 2683
Bonnen of Brazoria, Huberty, Raymond

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the licensing and regulation of dyslexia practitioners
and therapists by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation;
imposing an administrative penalty; authorizing fees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 403.001, Occupations Code, as amended by
S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is
amended by adding Subdivisions (1) and (1-a) and amending
Subdivisions (2) and (3) to read as follows:
(1) "Advisory board" means the Licensed Dyslexia
Practitioner and Licensed Dyslexia Therapist Advisory Board.
(1-a) "Commission" means the Texas Commission of
Licensing and Regulation.
(2) "Department" means the Texas Department of
Licensing and Regulation [State Health Services].
(3) "Executive director" [commissioner"] means the
executive director [commissioner] of the department [Health and
Human Services Commission].
SECTION 2. Section 403.051, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 403.051. ADVISORY BOARD [COMMITTEE]. (a) The
[department shall appoint an] advisory board shall provide advice
and recommendations [committee] to [advise] the department on
technical matters relevant to the administration of [in
administering] this chapter.
(b) The advisory board consists of seven members appointed
by the commission as follows:
(1) three licensed dyslexia therapists;
(2) two licensed dyslexia practitioners; and
(3) two members representing the public, at least one
of whom must be a person with dyslexia or a parent of a person with
dyslexia.
(c) Advisory board members serve staggered four-year terms,
with the terms of three or four members expiring on February 1 of
each odd-numbered year.
(d) If a vacancy occurs during the term of an advisory board
member, the presiding officer of the commission, with the
commission's approval, shall appoint a replacement who meets the
qualifications of the vacated position to serve for the remainder
of the term.
(e) The presiding officer of the commission shall designate
a member of the advisory board to serve as the presiding officer of
the advisory board for a term of two years. The presiding officer
of the advisory board may vote on any matter before the advisory
board.
(f) Advisory board members may not receive compensation but
are entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses
incurred in performing the functions of the advisory board, subject
to the General Appropriations Act.
(g) The advisory board shall meet at the call of the
presiding officer of the commission or the executive director.
(h) A member of the advisory board may be removed from the
advisory board as provided by Section 51.209.
SECTION 3. Section 403.052, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 403.052. RULES. The commission [executive
commissioner] shall adopt rules necessary to administer and enforce
this chapter, including rules that establish:
(1) standards of ethical practice; and
(2) continuing education requirements, including the
minimum number of hours of continuing education required to renew a
license under this chapter.
SECTION 4. Section 403.053, Occupations Code, as added by
S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 403.053. FEES. The commission [executive
commissioner] shall set fees for the issuance or renewal of a
license under this chapter in amounts designed to allow the
department to recover from the license holders all of the direct and
indirect costs to the department in administering and enforcing
this chapter.
SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 403.054 to read as follows:
Sec. 403.054. POWERS AND DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. The
executive director shall administer and enforce this chapter.
SECTION 6. Section 403.103, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 403.103. LICENSE APPLICATION. (a) A license
applicant must apply to the department on a form and in the manner
the executive director [department] prescribes.
(b) The commission by rule shall specify the information and
documentation required to be submitted in an application.
(c) The application must be accompanied by the fees required
by commission rule [a nonrefundable application fee].
SECTION 7. Section 403.106(c), Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) The department [, in consultation with the advisory
committee,] shall determine whether a training program meets the
requirements of this section.
SECTION 8. Section 403.107, Occupations Code, as amended by
S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 403.107. EXAMINATION; RULES. (a) To obtain a license,
an applicant must:
(1) pass a written examination approved by the
department under Subsection (b); and
(2) pay the required fees [set by the executive
commissioner by rule].
(b) The department shall [, in consultation with the
advisory committee]:
(1) identify and designate a competency examination
that is related to multisensory structured language education and
that will be administered at least twice each year by a professional
organization that issues national certifications; and
(2) maintain a record of all examinations for at least
two years after the date of examination.
SECTION 9. Section 403.108, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 403.108. WAIVER OF EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT. The
department [, in consultation with the advisory committee,] may
waive the examination requirement and issue a license to an
applicant who holds an appropriate certificate or other
accreditation from a nationally accredited multisensory structured
language education organization recognized by the department.
SECTION 10. Subchapter C, Chapter 403, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 403.1081 to read as follows:
Sec. 403.1081. LICENSE TERM; RENEWAL. (a) A license issued
under this chapter is valid for one year from the date of issuance.
(b) The commission by rule shall establish requirements for
renewing a license under this chapter, including the payment of
applicable fees.
SECTION 11. Section 403.202, Occupations Code, as amended
by S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 403.202. PROHIBITED ACTIONS. A license holder may
not:
(1) obtain a license by means of fraud,
misrepresentation, or concealment of a material fact;
(2) sell, barter, or offer to sell or barter a license;
or
(3) engage in unprofessional conduct that endangers or
is likely to endanger the health, welfare, or safety of the public
as defined by commission [department] rule.
SECTION 12. Section 403.203, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 403.203. GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION. If an
applicant for or [a license] holder of a license violates this
chapter or a rule [or code of ethics] adopted or order issued under
this chapter [by the executive commissioner], the commission or
executive director may [department shall]:
(1) revoke or suspend the license;
(2) place on probation the person if the person's
license has been suspended;
(3) reprimand the license holder; or
(4) refuse to issue or renew the license.
SECTION 13. Section 403.251(a), Occupations Code, as
amended by S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session,
2015, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A person who violates this chapter or [,] a rule adopted
[by the executive commissioner under this chapter,] or [an] order
issued [adopted by the department] under this chapter is liable for
a civil penalty not to exceed $500 for each occurrence.
SECTION 14. Subchapter F, Chapter 403, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 403.253 to read as follows:
Sec. 403.253. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. The commission or
executive director may impose an administrative penalty against a
person who violates this chapter or a rule adopted or order issued
under this chapter as provided by Subchapter F, Chapter 51.
SECTION 15. The following provisions of the Occupations
Code, including provisions amended by S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, are repealed:
(1) Section 403.002;
(2) Section 403.109;
(3) Section 403.152;
(4) Section 403.201;
(5) Section 403.204;
(6) Section 403.205;
(7) Section 403.207;
(8) Section 403.208;
(9) Section 403.209;
(10) Section 403.210;
(11) Section 403.211;
(12) Section 403.212; and
(13) Section 403.252.
SECTION 16. Not later than March 1, 2016, the Texas
Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules necessary
to implement the changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 403,
Occupations Code.
SECTION 17. A rule or fee under Chapter 403, Occupations
Code, in effect on the effective date of this Act remains in effect
until changed by the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation.
SECTION 18. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Department of State Health Services and the Texas
Department of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt a transition
plan to provide for the transfer not later than January 1, 2016, of
the following to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
to the extent necessary for the exercise of that department's
powers and duties related to Chapter 403, Occupations Code, as
amended by this Act:
(1) personnel;
(2) equipment, files, and records; and
(3) money appropriated for the fiscal biennium ending
August 31, 2017.
SECTION 19. This Act takes effect immediately if it
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.