(a) The following terms used in this section are defined in §55.001 of the Occupations Code as follows:      
        (1) "Active duty" means current full-time military service in the armed forces of the United States or active duty military service as a member of the Texas military forces, as defined by §437.001, Government Code, or similar military service of another state.       
        (2) "Armed forces of the United States" means the army, navy, air force, space force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States or a reserve unit of one of those branches of the armed forces.       
        (3) "Military service member" means a person who is on active duty.       
        (4) "Military spouse" means a person who is married to a military service member.       
        (5) "Military veteran" means a person who has served on active duty and who was discharged or released from active duty.       
      (b) As soon as practicable after a military service member, military veteran, or military spouse applies in his or her individual capacity for a commercial lessor license, distributor license, manufacturer license, or listing on the bingo worker registry, the Commission will process the application and, if warranted, issue the license or list the applicant on the bingo worker registry. A military service member or military veteran must provide the Commission with definitive proof of his or her current or prior military service. A military spouse must provide the Commission with:      
        (1) definitive proof of his or her spouse's current military service; and       
        (2) his or her official marriage certificate or other definitive proof of his or her marriage to a military service member.       
      (c) The Commission will waive the license fee for a military service member or military veteran that applies in his or her individual capacity for a commercial lessor license, distributor license, or manufacturer license. The applicant must provide the Commission with definitive proof of the applicant's current or prior military service.     
      (d) The Commission will waive the license fee for a military spouse that applies in his or her individual capacity for a commercial lessor license, distributor license, or manufacturer license, provided that the applicant holds a current license issued by another state or jurisdiction that is substantially equivalent to the license for which the applicant is applying. The applicant must provide the Commission with:      
        (1) definitive proof of his or her spouse's current military service;       
        (2) his or her official marriage certificate or other definitive proof of his or her marriage to a military service member; and       
        (3) a photocopy of his or her current out-of-state license that is substantially equivalent to the license for which the applicant is applying.       
      (e) An individual licensed in his or her individual capacity as a commercial lessor, distributor, or manufacturer is exempt from the late license renewal fee provided for in §402.411(e) of this chapter if the individual can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Commission, that the individual failed to renew his or her license in a timely manner because the individual was serving as a military service member.     
      (f) A military service member or a military spouse may engage in any activity for which a license or bingo worker registration is required without obtaining the applicable license or registration if the member or spouse is currently licensed in good standing by another jurisdiction that has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for licensure in Texas. Before engaging in the activity, the military member or spouse must notify the Commission of their intent to conduct the activity in this state and must submit proof of their residency in this state along with a copy of their military identification card. Within thirty (30) days, the Commission will verify that the military service member or military spouse is currently licensed in good standing in another state that has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements in Texas. If so, the Commission shall authorize the military service member or military spouse to engage in the activity. The authorization is effective only for the period during which the military service member or the military service member to whom the military spouse is married is stationed at a military installation in this state, not to exceed three years. The authorization may not be renewed. The military member or spouse shall comply with all other laws and regulations applicable to the business or occupation in this state. In the event of a divorce or similar event that affects a person's status as a military spouse, the spouse may continue to engage in the business or occupation until the third anniversary of the date the spouse received the authorization.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §402.413 adopted to be effective August 1, 2016, 41 TexReg 5546; amended to be effective December 31, 2017, 42 TexReg 7392; amended to be effective October 31, 2019, 44 TexReg 6368; amended to be effective January 6, 2022, 46 TexReg 9285; amended to be effective January 4, 2024, 48 TexReg 8369