State commission reduces some program license fees

The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation (Commission), TDLR's governing body, has voted unanimously to reduce 21 licensing and registration fees in eight of TDLR's programs.

Fee reductions range from 8 percent to as high as 80 percent. On an annual basis, fee reductions are projected to exceed $1.3 million.

"We perform an annual review of our licensing fees to ensure that each program covers only the cost of operating it," said William Kuntz, TDLR's executive director. "As our efficiency improves, it is good news for our licensees."

The same basic functions are required regardless of the type of license, Kuntz said. "So it only makes sense to us to have the same people issuing all licenses rather than setting up a system of specialists for each type of license. This also gives us more flexibility to handle the regular ebbs and flows of licensing."

Fee reductions include: barbers' licenses, reduced from $90 every two years to $70, a 22 percent reduction; master electrician and master sign electrician licenses, $65 annually to $50, a 23 percent reduction; elevator contractors' licenses, $300 annually to $115, a 62 percent reduction; combative sports contestants' licenses, $30 annually to $20, a 33% reduction; and combative sports event fee, $500 per event to $100 per event, an 80 percent reduction.

To see a complete list of TDLR licensing fees to be reduced, visit http://www.license.state.tx.us/feereductions. htm.

Before the lower fees can become effective, TDLR's rules will have to be amended. Adjustment of rules involving the eight programs will take some time, but TDLR staff will begin modifying the rules immediately.

To receive news and updates on any of the programs TDLR administers, including information on specific dates of fee reductions, sign up for TDLR's email subscription service at http:// www.license.state.tx.us/n- ewsletters/TDLRnotificationLists. asp.