The Sunset Advisory Commission is reviewing the mission and performance of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
What Does the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation do?
The TDLR currently administrates over forty programs for professionals and industries in Texas. It provides oversight for a broad range of occupations, businesses, facilities, and equipment. The TDLR’s mission is “[t]o earn the trust of Texans every day by providing innovative regulatory solutions for our licensees and those they serve.” Its vision is “[t]o be the best at creating ‘next’ practices that deliver low-cost licensing and regulatory services and an exceptional customer experience.”
What Does Sunset Review Mean?
Sunset review is the process of reviewing state agencies and programs to “determine if their functions are still relevant, if they are successfully carrying out their mission, and in what ways they could operate more efficiently.” Created in 1977 by the Texas Legislature, Sunset review is aimed at smaller, more efficient government.
Pursuant to the Texas Sunset Act, the Sunset Commission is required to periodically review the TDLR and recommend whether to continue the agency and change state law to improve the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness.
The TDLR overall operations, program administration, and structure are now under Sunset review.
Are All TDLR Programs Undergoing Sunset Review?
No. Under Texas state law, programs transferred from other licensing boards or agencies to the TDLR on or after September 1, 2016 are not currently under review. These specific programs, including Podiatry, Massage Therapy, Dieticians, and Laser Hair Removal, among others, are not subject to abolishment and will not be evaluated during this review.
What Are the Stages of the Sunset Review Process?
The Sunset process has three stages:
Stage 1: The Sunset Advisory Commission will evaluate the TDLR, seek public input, and issue a report recommending solutions to problems found.
- The Sunset review of the TDLR is currently in this first stage. The Sunset Advisory Commission “welcomes public comments on whether the agency is still needed and ideas to improve its operations and services.”
- Comments and suggestions can be sent to Sunset staff in several ways:
- Via email to [email protected].
- Via online comments submitted at www.sunset.texas.gov.
- By calling (512) 463-1300 to speak to Emily Johnson, project manager of the TDLR review.
- Via regular mail sent to: Sunset Advisory Commission, Attn: TDLR, P.O. Box 13066, Austin, Texas 78711.
The Sunset Advisory Commission asks that public comments and suggestions be provided by January 1, 2020. This helps ensure Sunset staff can fully consider public input while conducting their review.
Stage 2: The Sunset Commission will hold two public meetings, which includes:
- A hearing on the staff report and the agency, and
- A decision meeting to adopt recommendations to the Legislature based on the report and public comments.
Stage 3: The Texas Legislature considers the Sunset Commission’s statutory recommendations and enacts legislation accordingly.
- When the Texas Legislature convenes in January 2021 it will consider the statutory recommendations in a Sunset bill for the TDLR.
- The Legislature will decide whether to continue the TDLR and whether to adopt the Sunset Commission’s statutory recommendations made in its report issued in Stage 1.
The Sunset Commission has the authority to adopt management directives for the TDLR that do not require statutory change, and therefore do not require Legislative approval.
To stay informed on the Sunset Commission’s report and the public meetings regarding the TDLR, sign up for email alerts at www.sunset.texas.gov.
Professional License Defense Attorneys
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