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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of owners, operators, employees, and |
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independent contractors of sexually oriented businesses to reduce |
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risks to public and occupational health and to prevent human |
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trafficking; providing penalties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 13, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 2158 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 2158. SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 2158.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. |
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(3) "License holder" means a person who holds a |
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license issued under this chapter. |
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(4) "Sexually oriented business" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 243.002, Local Government Code. |
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Sec. 2158.002. ADMINISTRATION BY DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH |
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SERVICES. The department shall administer this chapter. |
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Sec. 2158.003. MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY REGULATION. This |
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chapter is in addition to any municipal or county regulation. To |
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the extent of a conflict between this chapter and a municipal or |
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county regulation, this chapter controls. |
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Sec. 2158.004. EXEMPTIONS. (a) This chapter does not apply |
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to: |
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(1) a business operated by or employing a licensed |
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psychologist, licensed physical therapist, licensed massage |
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therapist, licensed vocational nurse, registered nurse, licensed |
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athletic trainer, licensed cosmetologist, or licensed barber |
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engaged in performing the normal and customary functions authorized |
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under the license; |
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(2) a business operated by or employing a licensed |
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physician or licensed chiropractor engaged in practicing the |
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healing arts; |
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(3) a retail establishment whose principal business is |
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the offering of wearing apparel for sale to customers and that does |
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not exhibit merchandise on live models; |
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(4) an activity conducted or sponsored: |
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(A) by a proprietary school licensed by this |
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state or a state-supported junior college or institution of higher |
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education; or |
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(B) by a private institution of higher education |
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that maintains or operates educational programs in which credits |
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are transferable to a state-supported junior college or institution |
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of higher education; |
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(5) a person licensed as an occupational therapist |
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under Chapter 454; |
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(6) a person who is providing a repair, maintenance, |
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air conditioning, or delivery service on the premises of a sexually |
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oriented business; or |
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(7) a nonsexual nudist camp. |
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(b) An activity conducted or sponsored by an entity |
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identified in Subsection (a)(4): |
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(1) must be in a structure that does not have a sign or |
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other advertising visible from the exterior of the structure |
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indicating that a nude person is available for viewing; |
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(2) must require that, to participate in the activity |
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or conduct of a class, a student must enroll in the class at least |
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three days in advance of the class; and |
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(3) may not have more than one nude model on the |
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premises at any time. |
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[Sections 2158.005-2158.050 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES |
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Sec. 2158.051. FEES. The department shall set fees in an |
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amount sufficient to cover the cost of administering this chapter. |
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Sec. 2158.052. RULES. (a) The executive commissioner |
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shall adopt rules necessary to administer and enforce this chapter. |
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(b) Rules adopted under this section must: |
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(1) seek to identify and prevent human trafficking |
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through sexually oriented businesses; and |
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(2) establish public and occupational health |
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standards for sexually oriented businesses that may relate to: |
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(A) the supervision of public health and |
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occupational health risks at all times during the operation of a |
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sexually oriented business; |
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(B) the proper safeguards for sanitation, public |
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health, and occupational health in the operation of a sexually |
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oriented business or in the conduct of an employee on the premises |
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of a sexually oriented business; and |
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(C) the inspection of a sexually oriented |
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business for public health risks, occupational health risks, and |
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other violations of this chapter. |
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Sec. 2158.053. RULES RESTRICTING ADVERTISING OR |
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COMPETITIVE BIDDING. (a) The executive commissioner may not adopt |
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rules restricting advertising or competitive bidding by a license |
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holder except to prohibit false, misleading, or deceptive |
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practices. |
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(b) In the executive commissioner's rules to prohibit |
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false, misleading, or deceptive practices, the executive |
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commissioner may not include a rule that: |
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(1) restricts the use of any medium for advertising; |
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(2) restricts the use of a license holder's personal |
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appearance or voice in an advertisement; |
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(3) relates to the size or duration of an |
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advertisement by the license holder; or |
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(4) restricts the license holder's advertisement under |
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a trade name. |
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Sec. 2158.054. RECORDS DISCLOSURE; CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) |
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The department shall disclose to a criminal justice agency |
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information contained in the department's files and records |
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regarding whether a named individual is licensed under this |
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chapter. |
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(b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, all |
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records maintained under this chapter regarding an applicant or |
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license holder are confidential and are not subject to mandatory |
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disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, except that an |
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applicant or license holder may be furnished a copy of disclosable |
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records regarding that applicant or license holder on request and |
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the payment of a reasonable fee. |
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[Sections 2158.055-2158.100 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER C. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS |
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Sec. 2158.101. LICENSE REQUIRED. (a) A person may not own, |
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operate, or work at, or otherwise engage in a business transaction |
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as an owner, operator, employee, or independent contractor at, a |
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sexually oriented business unless the person holds a license under |
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this chapter. |
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(b) A person may not employ or hire a person to work at, or |
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contract with an independent contractor to work at, a sexually |
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oriented business unless the person employed or the independent |
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contractor entering into the contract holds a license under this |
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chapter. |
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(c) A sexually oriented business shall maintain a copy of |
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the license of any owner, operator, employee, or independent |
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contractor associated with the business for at least 30 days after |
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the last day the owner, operator, employee, or independent |
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contractor is associated with the business. |
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Sec. 2158.102. ISSUANCE OF LICENSE. (a) The department |
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shall issue a sexually oriented business license to an applicant |
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that meets the requirements of this chapter. |
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(b) The department shall establish separate categories of |
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licenses issued under this chapter for: |
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(1) an owner or operator of a sexually oriented |
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business; and |
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(2) an employee of or independent contractor for a |
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sexually oriented business. |
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(c) A license issued under this chapter is not transferable. |
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Sec. 2158.103. FORM OF LICENSE. A license issued to an |
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individual under this subchapter: |
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(1) may not contain any personally identifiable |
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information about the individual; and |
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(2) must be capable of being verified as belonging to |
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the license holder on inspection by the department. |
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Sec. 2158.104. LICENSE APPLICATION. (a) A license |
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applicant must apply to the department on a form and in the manner |
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the department prescribes. |
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(b) The application must be accompanied by a nonrefundable |
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application fee and any other appropriate fees. |
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Sec. 2158.105. ELIGIBILITY FOR LICENSE; INELIGIBILITY DUE |
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TO CERTAIN OFFENSES. (a) To be eligible for a license under this |
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chapter, an applicant must: |
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(1) be at least 18 years of age; |
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(2) have completed a department-approved training |
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course relating to human trafficking awareness and reporting |
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procedures; and |
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(3) meet any other requirements approved by the |
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department. |
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(b) A person is ineligible to be issued a license under this |
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chapter if the person has been convicted of: |
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(1) an offense under Section 20A.02, Penal Code |
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(trafficking of persons); |
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(2) an offense under Section 43.25, Penal Code (sexual |
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performance by a child); |
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(3) prostitution; |
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(4) promotion of prostitution; |
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(5) aggravated promotion of prostitution; |
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(6) compelling prostitution; |
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(7) obscenity; |
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(8) sale, distribution, or display of harmful material |
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to a minor; |
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(9) possession of child pornography; |
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(10) public lewdness; |
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(11) indecent exposure; |
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(12) indecency with a child; |
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(13) sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault; |
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(14) incest, including an offense under Section 25.02, |
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Penal Code (prohibited sexual conduct); or |
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(15) harboring a runaway child. |
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Sec. 2158.106. LICENSE EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL. (a) A |
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license expires on the second anniversary of the date the license |
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was issued. |
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(b) A person who is otherwise eligible to renew a license |
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may renew an unexpired license by paying the required renewal fee to |
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the department before the expiration date of the license. A person |
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whose license has expired may not engage in activities that require |
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a license until the license is renewed. |
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(c) A person whose license has been expired for 90 days or |
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less may renew the license by paying to the department a renewal fee |
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that is equal to 1-1/2 times the normally required renewal fee. |
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(d) A person whose license has been expired for more than 90 |
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days but less than one year may renew the license by paying to the |
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department a renewal fee that is equal to two times the normally |
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required renewal fee. |
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(e) A person whose license has been expired for one year or |
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more may not renew the license. The person may obtain a new license |
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by complying with the requirements and procedures for obtaining an |
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original license. |
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Sec. 2158.107. NOTICE OF RENEWAL. Not later than the 30th |
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day before the date a person's license is scheduled to expire, the |
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department shall send written notice of the impending expiration to |
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the person at the person's last known address according to the |
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records of the department. |
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[Sections 2158.108-2158.150 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER D. PRACTICE BY LICENSE HOLDER |
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Sec. 2158.151. CONTINUING EDUCATION. (a) The department |
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may recognize, prepare, or administer continuing education |
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programs for license holders under this chapter. A license holder |
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may not renew the person's license unless the person meets any |
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continuing education requirements. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) provide to a license applicant, with the |
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application form on which the person is to apply for a license, |
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information describing the continuing education requirements; and |
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(2) notify each license holder of any change in the |
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continuing education requirements at least one year before the date |
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the change takes effect. |
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Sec. 2158.152. DISPLAY OF LICENSE. (a) An owner, operator, |
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employee, or independent contractor licensed under this chapter |
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must conspicuously display the person's license on his or her |
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person when conducting business at the sexually oriented business |
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at which the person is employed. |
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(b) In a prosecution for a violation under this section, a |
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presumption exists that the owner, operator, employee, or |
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independent contractor did not have a license issued under this |
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chapter if the license is not on display as required by this |
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section. |
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[Sections 2158.153-2158.200 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER E. LICENSE DENIAL AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES |
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Sec. 2158.201. ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS. (a) The |
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department shall revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or renew a |
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license or shall reprimand a license holder for a violation of this |
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chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter. |
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(b) The department may place on probation a person whose |
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license is suspended. If a license suspension is probated, the |
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department may require the person: |
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(1) to report regularly to the department on matters |
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that are the basis of the probation; |
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(2) to limit business activities to the areas |
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prescribed by the department; or |
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(3) to continue or review professional education until |
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the person attains a degree of skill satisfactory to the department |
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in those areas that are the basis of the probation. |
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Sec. 2158.202. COMPLAINTS. Any person may file a complaint |
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with the department alleging a violation of this chapter or a rule |
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adopted under this chapter. |
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Sec. 2158.203. PROHIBITED ACTIONS. A license holder may |
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not: |
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(1) obtain a license by means of fraud, |
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misrepresentation, or concealment of a material fact; |
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(2) sell, barter, or offer to sell or barter a license; |
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or |
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(3) engage in unprofessional conduct that endangers or |
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is likely to endanger the health, welfare, or safety of the public |
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as defined by an executive commissioner rule. |
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Sec. 2158.204. MONITORING OF LICENSE HOLDER; RULES. (a) |
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The executive commissioner by rule may develop a system for |
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monitoring a license holder's compliance with this chapter. |
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(b) Rules adopted under this section may include procedures |
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to: |
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(1) monitor for compliance a license holder who is |
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ordered by the department to perform certain acts; and |
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(2) identify and monitor license holders who represent |
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a risk to the public. |
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Sec. 2158.205. LICENSE DENIAL, REVOCATION, OR SUSPENSION |
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FOR CRIMINAL CONVICTION. (a) The department may deny a license |
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application or request for renewal, or may suspend or revoke a |
|
license, if the applicant or license holder has been convicted of: |
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(1) a felony; or |
|
(2) a misdemeanor involving: |
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(A) prostitution; |
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(B) promotion of prostitution; |
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(C) obscenity; |
|
(D) sale, distribution, or display of harmful |
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material to a minor; |
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(E) public lewdness; |
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(F) indecent exposure; or |
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(G) harboring a runaway child. |
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(b) The department may take action authorized by this |
|
section: |
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(1) after the time for appeal of the person's |
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conviction has elapsed; |
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(2) after the judgment or conviction has been affirmed |
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on appeal; or |
|
(3) on issuance of an order granting probation and |
|
suspending the imposition of the person's sentence, without regard |
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to whether a subsequent order: |
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(A) allows withdrawal of a plea of guilty; |
|
(B) sets aside a verdict of guilty; or |
|
(C) dismisses an information or indictment. |
|
(c) A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a |
|
plea of nolo contendere is a conviction for purposes of this |
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section. |
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Sec. 2158.206. SCHEDULE OF SANCTIONS; RULES. The |
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department shall use the schedule of sanctions adopted by executive |
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commissioner rule for any sanction imposed as the result of a |
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hearing conducted by the department. |
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Sec. 2158.207. REINSTATEMENT. (a) A person may apply for |
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reinstatement of a revoked license on or after the first |
|
anniversary of the date of revocation. |
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(b) The department may accept or reject the application. |
|
Sec. 2158.208. REPRIMAND; CONTINUING EDUCATION. (a) In |
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addition to other disciplinary action authorized by this |
|
subchapter, the department may: |
|
(1) issue a written reprimand to a license holder who |
|
violates this chapter; or |
|
(2) require that a license holder who violates this |
|
chapter attend continuing education programs. |
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(b) The department may specify the number of hours of |
|
continuing education that must be completed by a license holder to |
|
fulfill the requirement of Subsection (a)(2). |
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Sec. 2158.209. EMERGENCY SUSPENSION. (a) The department |
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or a three-member committee of members designated by the department |
|
shall temporarily suspend the license of a license holder if the |
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department or committee determines from the evidence or information |
|
presented to it that continued practice by the license holder would |
|
constitute a continuing and imminent threat to the public health or |
|
welfare. |
|
(b) A license may be suspended under this section without |
|
notice or hearing on the complaint if: |
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(1) action is taken to initiate proceedings for a |
|
hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings |
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simultaneously with the temporary suspension; and |
|
(2) a hearing is held as soon as practicable under this |
|
chapter and Chapter 2001, Government Code. |
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(c) The State Office of Administrative Hearings shall hold a |
|
preliminary hearing not later than the 14th day after the date of |
|
the temporary suspension to determine if there is probable cause to |
|
believe that a continuing and imminent threat to the public health |
|
or welfare still exists. A final hearing on the matter shall be |
|
held not later than the 61st day after the date of the temporary |
|
suspension. |
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[Sections 2158.210-2158.250 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER F. PENALTIES AND OTHER ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES |
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Sec. 2158.251. DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE. A violation of |
|
Section 2158.101 is a deceptive trade practice under Subchapter E, |
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Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code. |
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Sec. 2158.252. INJUNCTION. The department may apply to a |
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district court in any county for an injunction or another order to |
|
restrain the violation of this chapter by a person other than a |
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license holder under this chapter. |
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Sec. 2158.253. CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an |
|
offense if the person violates Section 2158.101. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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Sec. 2158.254. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates |
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Section 2158.101 is liable to the state for a civil penalty in an |
|
amount not to exceed $1,000 for each violation. Each day a |
|
violation occurs is a separate violation. |
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(b) The department or the attorney general may institute an |
|
action in a district court in Travis County or in the county in |
|
which the person who is alleged to have violated Section 2158.101 |
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resides. |
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[Sections 2158.255-2158.300 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER G. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY |
|
Sec. 2158.301. IMPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. The |
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department may impose an administrative penalty on a person |
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licensed under this chapter who violates this chapter or a rule or |
|
order adopted under this chapter. |
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Sec. 2158.302. AMOUNT OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) The |
|
amount of the administrative penalty may not be less than $500 or |
|
more than $5,000 for each violation. Each day a violation continues |
|
or occurs is a separate violation for the purpose of imposing a |
|
penalty. |
|
(b) The amount shall be based on: |
|
(1) the seriousness of the violation, including the |
|
nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation; |
|
(2) the economic harm caused by the violation; |
|
(3) the history of previous violations; |
|
(4) the amount necessary to deter a future violation; |
|
(5) the risk to public health or occupational health |
|
posed by the violation; |
|
(6) efforts to correct the violation; and |
|
(7) any other matter that justice may require. |
|
Sec. 2158.303. REPORT AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND PENALTY. |
|
(a) If the department determines that a violation occurred, the |
|
department may issue a report stating: |
|
(1) the facts on which the determination is based; and |
|
(2) the department's recommendation on the imposition |
|
of an administrative penalty, including a recommendation on the |
|
amount of the penalty. |
|
(b) Not later than the 14th day after the date the report is |
|
issued, the department shall give written notice of the report to |
|
the person. The notice must: |
|
(1) include a brief summary of the alleged violation; |
|
(2) state the amount of the recommended administrative |
|
penalty; and |
|
(3) inform the person of the person's right to a |
|
hearing on the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the |
|
penalty, or both. |
|
Sec. 2158.304. PENALTY TO BE PAID OR HEARING REQUESTED. (a) |
|
Not later than the 10th day after the date the person receives the |
|
notice, the person in writing may: |
|
(1) accept the determination and recommended |
|
administrative penalty of the department; or |
|
(2) make a request for a hearing on the occurrence of |
|
the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both. |
|
(b) If the person accepts the determination and recommended |
|
penalty of the department, the department by order shall approve |
|
the determination and impose the recommended penalty. |
|
Sec. 2158.305. HEARING. (a) If the person requests a |
|
hearing or fails to respond to the notice within the period |
|
prescribed by Section 2158.304(a), the department shall set a |
|
hearing and give written notice of the hearing to the person. |
|
(b) An administrative law judge of the State Office of |
|
Administrative Hearings shall hold the hearing. |
|
(c) The administrative law judge shall make findings of fact |
|
and conclusions of law and promptly issue to the department a |
|
proposal for a decision about the occurrence of the violation and |
|
the amount of a proposed administrative penalty. |
|
Sec. 2158.306. DECISION BY DEPARTMENT. (a) Based on the |
|
findings of fact, conclusions of law, and proposal for decision, |
|
the department by order may determine that: |
|
(1) a violation occurred and impose an administrative |
|
penalty; or |
|
(2) a violation did not occur. |
|
(b) The notice of the department's order given to the person |
|
must include a statement of the right of the person to judicial |
|
review of the order. |
|
Sec. 2158.307. OPTIONS FOLLOWING DECISION: PAY OR APPEAL. |
|
(a) Not later than the 30th day after the date the department's |
|
order becomes final, the person shall: |
|
(1) pay the administrative penalty; or |
|
(2) file a petition for judicial review contesting the |
|
occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both. |
|
(b) A person who files a petition for judicial review within |
|
the period prescribed by Subsection (a) may: |
|
(1) stay enforcement of the penalty by: |
|
(A) paying the penalty to the court for placement |
|
in an escrow account; or |
|
(B) giving the court a supersedeas bond approved |
|
by the court that: |
|
(i) is for the amount of the penalty; and |
|
(ii) is effective until all judicial review |
|
of the department's order is final; or |
|
(2) request the court to stay enforcement of the |
|
penalty by: |
|
(A) filing with the court a sworn affidavit |
|
stating that the person is financially unable to pay the penalty and |
|
is financially unable to give the supersedeas bond; and |
|
(B) giving a copy of the affidavit to the |
|
department by certified mail. |
|
(c) If the department receives a copy of an affidavit under |
|
Subsection (b)(2), the department may file with the court, not |
|
later than the fifth day after the date the copy is received, a |
|
contest to the affidavit. |
|
(d) The court shall hold a hearing on the facts alleged in |
|
the affidavit as soon as practicable and shall stay the enforcement |
|
of the penalty on finding that the alleged facts are true. The |
|
person who files an affidavit has the burden of proving that the |
|
person is financially unable to pay the penalty and to give a |
|
supersedeas bond. |
|
Sec. 2158.308. COLLECTION OF PENALTY. (a) If the person |
|
does not pay the administrative penalty and the enforcement of the |
|
penalty is not stayed, the penalty may be collected. |
|
(b) The attorney general may sue to collect the penalty. |
|
Sec. 2158.309. DETERMINATION BY COURT. (a) If the court |
|
sustains the determination that a violation occurred, the court may |
|
uphold or reduce the amount of the administrative penalty and order |
|
the person to pay the full or reduced amount of the penalty. |
|
(b) If the court does not sustain the finding that a |
|
violation occurred, the court shall order that a penalty is not |
|
owed. |
|
Sec. 2158.310. REMITTANCE OF PENALTY AND INTEREST. (a) If |
|
the person paid the administrative penalty and if the amount of the |
|
penalty is reduced or the penalty is not upheld by the court, the |
|
court shall order, when the court's judgment becomes final, that |
|
the appropriate amount plus accrued interest be remitted to the |
|
person. |
|
(b) The interest accrues at the rate charged on loans to |
|
depository institutions by the New York Federal Reserve Bank. |
|
(c) The interest shall be paid for the period beginning on |
|
the date the penalty is paid and ending on the date the penalty is |
|
remitted. |
|
(d) If the person gave a supersedeas bond and the penalty is |
|
not upheld by the court, the court shall order, when the court's |
|
judgment becomes final, the release of the bond. |
|
(e) If the person gave a supersedeas bond and the amount of |
|
the penalty is reduced, the court shall order the release of the |
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bond after the person pays the reduced amount. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than February 1, 2014, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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adopt rules and the Department of State Health Services shall set |
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fees and prescribe forms necessary to implement Chapter 2158, |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Except as required by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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(b) Section 2158.101 and Subchapters E, F, and G, Chapter |
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2158, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, take effect September |
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1, 2014. |