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This week I will discuss the interim charges recently issued to the House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures. Interim charges are the issues that the Speaker asks committees to study during the time between regular legislative sessions in order to make recommendations for legislation for the following legislative session. The charges are good indicators of what legislation the legislature will take up during the next session. Legislators rely on public input when crafting legislation, and it is important that they hear from people during the interim.
House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures
• Evaluate and consider cost-saving technologies and programs used by the Department of Licensing and Regulation to increase efficiencies and access to those with licensing occupations. Identify and make recommendations to implement these goals.
• Study appropriate methods to expand the right of individuals to challenge occupational licensing rules and regulations, and identify occupational licenses that may not be necessary for public safety or health.
• Study the implementation of all legislation from the 83rd Regular Session that seeks to develop a model to require state agencies regulating occupational licenses which require an apprenticeship to credit veterans' relevant military experience toward the apprenticeship requirements. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Defense and Veterans' Affairs)
• Study the effects of recent legislation on the licensing and regulation of auctioneers, and specifically the effects on multi-state auction companies and business-to-business auctions.
The House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures can be reached at 512-463-0798. For more information on these charges or any other matter of state government, please contact my office by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by emailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us. My district office phone number is (903) 891-7297.