Sec. 419.083.  VOLUNTARY REGULATION OF CERTAIN STATE OFFICIALS, STATE AGENCIES, AND STATE AGENCY EMPLOYEES.  (a)  Certain state officials, state agencies, and state agency employees may apply to the commission for regulation under one or more discrete components of the commission's regulatory authority under Subchapter B.  The commission shall define the components by rule.
(b)  A state agency employee who would be fire protection personnel under Section 419.021 if the person were employed by a local government, or who is employed full-time in the field of fire instruction or fire training evaluation and who meets the commission's training and experience requirements for fire protection personnel, may apply to the commission for regulation under this section.  The fact that a state agency employee becomes regulated by the commission under this section does not make the employing agency subject to commission regulation under this section, except that the commission may require reports from the agency that relate to the employee.  A state agency may pay an employee's fees under this subsection.
(c)  A person who is elected to public office in state government and who holds a commission certificate at the time the person takes office may maintain the certificate by applying to the commission for regulation under this section and by paying the required renewal fee in accordance with Section 419.034.  A person applying for regulation under this section must comply with continuing education requirements applicable to the discipline in which the certificate is held in order to maintain the certificate.
(d)  A state agency may apply to the commission for regulation under this section if the agency is the employing authority for persons who, if employed by a local government, would be fire protection personnel under Section 419.021.
(e)  The commission shall prescribe the procedures under which a state official, state agency, or agency employee may apply for regulation under this section and the means by which the state official, state agency, or agency employee may present evidence that the official, agency, or employee is eligible for regulation under this section.
(f)  The commission shall determine whether a state official, state agency, or agency employee that has applied for regulation is eligible for regulation under this section.  The commission shall approve a request for regulation if the official, agency, or employee meets the requirements of Subsection (b), (c), or (d), and the commission shall notify the applying official, agency, or employee of its decision.
(g)  A state official, state agency, or agency employee regulated under this section is subject to the appropriate component or components of Subchapter B and applicable rules adopted under this chapter to the same extent as a local government, a fire department, or fire protection personnel employed by a local government.
(h)  A state agency or agency employee that is subject to regulation under this section is entitled to a reasonable period in which to comply with applicable requirements.  The commission by rule shall determine the time period in which a state agency or agency employee must come into compliance with each requirement.
Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 628, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.  Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 912, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.