ALTERNATIVE QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSE.

(a) The commission, department, or executive director may adopt alternative means of determining or verifying a person's eligibility for a license issued by the department, including evaluating the person's education, training, experience, and military service.

(a-1) Notwithstanding any other law, the alternative means adopted under Subsection (a) may include accepting as sufficient evidence of a person's eligibility for a license relevant education, training, or experience obtained while the person was imprisoned if the person:

(1) previously held a license of the same type for which the person is applying and the license was revoked under Section 53.021(b);

(2) has not been convicted of, placed on deferred adjudication for, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to:

(A) an offense listed in Article 42A.054, Code of Criminal Procedure;

(B) a sexually violent offense, as defined by Article 62.001, Code of Criminal Procedure; or

(C) an offense under Chapter 21 or 43, Penal Code; and

(3) while imprisoned, maintained a record of good behavior and:

(A) successfully participated in a program acceptable to the department to prepare the person for reentry into the workforce in the occupation for which the person seeks a license; or

(B) performed work on a regular basis in the occupation for which the person seeks a license.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission or the executive director may waive any prerequisite for obtaining a license if the applicant currently holds a similar license issued by another jurisdiction that:

(1) has requirements for the license that are substantially equivalent to those of this state; or

(2) has a reciprocity agreement with this state for the license.

(c) The department, with approval of the governor, may enter into an agreement with another state to allow for licensing by reciprocity.