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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of electricians, including the |
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requirements to obtain a residential wireman license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1305.157, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1305.157. RESIDENTIAL WIREMAN. An applicant for a |
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license as a residential wireman must: |
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(1) either: |
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(A) have at least 4,000 hours of on-the-job |
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training under the supervision of a master electrician or |
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residential wireman; or |
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(B) successfully complete a career and |
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technology education program described by Section 1305.1575; and |
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(2) pass a residential wireman examination |
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administered under this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1305.1575 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1305.1575. CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR |
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RESIDENTIAL WIREMAN LICENSE; INSTRUCTORS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Career and technology education program" means: |
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(A) a career and technology education program |
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under Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code; or |
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(B) a program determined by the department to be |
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similar to that described by Paragraph (A) and offered by: |
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(i) an institution of higher education; or |
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(ii) a private school, as defined by |
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Section 5.001, Education Code. |
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(2) "Institution of higher education" means an |
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institution of higher education or a private or independent |
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institution of higher education, as those terms are defined by |
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Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(b) A person who successfully completes a sequence of |
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courses in the electrical trade that are offered through a career |
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and technology education program may apply for and take an |
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examination for a license as a residential wireman, regardless of |
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whether the person has completed the number of hours of on-the-job |
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training required by Section 1305.157(1). |
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(c) The commission by rule shall establish standards for the |
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essential knowledge and skills of a career and technology education |
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program described by Subsection (b), subject to the approval of the |
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State Board of Education if the courses are to be offered in a high |
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school. The rules must: |
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(1) require the program to consist of an appropriate |
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number of hours of classroom instruction and a practical component; |
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and |
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(2) provide for crediting appropriate on-the-job |
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training toward meeting the requirements of the practical |
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component. |
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(d) A student of any age enrolled in a career and technology |
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education program is eligible to take the sequence of courses |
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described by Subsection (b) without being licensed under this |
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chapter. This subsection does not authorize a person to perform |
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electrical work without the appropriate license outside of a |
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program described by this section. |
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(e) A person may not provide instruction in a program |
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described by this section unless the person is licensed as a master |
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electrician, journeyman electrician, or residential wireman. |
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(f) A career and technology education program offered under |
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this section by an institution of higher education may not be more |
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stringent than a program offered by a public high school. |
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(g) Hours spent completing a program described by this |
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section may not be credited toward any on-the-job training required |
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to apply for a license under this chapter. |
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SECTION 3. The heading to Section 1305.167, Occupations |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1305.167. LICENSE RENEWAL; FEE EXEMPTION. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1305.167, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A license holder who provides instruction in a career |
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and technology education program described by Section 1305.1575 is |
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not required to pay a fee to renew the license. |
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SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall |
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adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this |
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Act to Chapter 1305, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 6. In developing the initial standards for the |
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career and technology education program under Section |
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1305.1575(c), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, the Texas |
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Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall consult with the Texas |
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State Technical College and relevant interest groups in the |
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electrical industry. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |