Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB636 by Thompson, Senfronia (Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners; authorizing a fee.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
This bill would amend various sections of Chapter 1301 of the Occupations Code, regarding plumbers. The bill would extend the existence of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) through September 1, 2027, in accordance with the Texas Sunset Act.
The bill would require the TSBPE to obtain fingerprint background checks for all applicants and licensees. TSBPE has been implementing fingerprint background checks for certain licenses by rule since December 1, 2019 and will eventually require all licensees and registrants to obtain a fingerprint background check. Applicants are currently responsible for paying all fees associated with the criminal background fingerprinting process directly to the Department of Public Safety or its designated third-party fingerprinting processing vendor. Given that fingerprint background checks are currently required, the bill's provisions would not increase revenue collections and would have no fiscal impact on the state.
The bill would allow TSBPE to issue a temporary license to an applicant that meets prescribed requirements, including payment of a fee set by the board. A temporary license would expire on the 30th day after the date of issuance and could not be renewed. Fees for the issuance of a temporary license as well as the number of applications are unknown but revenue collected for this purpose is not anticipated to be significant.
Unless the bill receives the requisite two-thirds majority votes in both houses of the Legislature to take effect immediately, it would take effect September 1, 2021. The Governor's Executive Order No. GA-06 suspends the Sunset provision of the Plumbing License Law and authorizes the agency to continue operations through May 31, 2021. There is a potential gap in statutory authority if the bill does not take effect until September 1, 2021.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
116 Sunset Advisory Commission, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 456 Board of Plumbing Examiners