HBA-MPM H.B. 1851 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1851
By: Jones, Jesse
Public Health
3/4/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Chemical dependency counselors are prohibited from practicing in Texas,
unless the person is licensed by the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug
Abuse (TCADA) as a chemical dependency counselor. Applicants for a license
must pass an examination prepared and administered by TCADA.  Current law
prohibits an applicant who fails the examination from taking the
examination more than three times.  House Bill 1851 removes this provision,
effectively allowing a person to take the examination more than three
times. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1851 amends the Occupations Code by removing the provision
prohibiting an applicant for a license as a chemical dependency counselor
from taking the license examination more than three times.  The bill
provides that the change in law applies to a person whose first attempt to
pass an examination occurs before, on, or after the effective date of this
Act. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.