JKM H.B. 1836 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
H.B. 1836
By: Goolsby
3-26-97
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND 

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation ("TDLR") implements the
boiler inspection program outlined in Chapter 755 of the Texas Health and
Safety Code.  The law requires that power boilers and other unfired steam
boilers be inspected internally and externally by certified inspectors
every 12 months.  Under existing Section 755.026 of the Health and Safety
Code, the commissioner of the TDLR and the authorized inspection agency
(either the TDLR or an insurer) may jointly approve extensions of the
internal inspection interval to a period of 24 months for power boilers
and 60 months for other unfired steam boilers. 

PURPOSE
This bill would increase the length of the allowable inspection interval
extension to 48 months for power boilers and to 84 months for other
unfired steam boilers.  The existing approval process would not be altered
by this bill. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS


ARTICLE 1.
SECTION 1.Subsection (a) of section 755.026, Chapter 755, Texas Health and
Safety Code, is amended by increasing the allowable extension period for
internal boiler inspections.  For power boilers the interval between
inspections may be extended to a period not to exceed 48 months.  For
unfired steam boilers, the inspection interval may be extended to a period
not exceeding 84 months. 

ARTICLE 2.
SECTION 2.01Effective date:  September 1, 1997.

SECTION 2.02 Emergency clause.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

AMENDMENT #1  amends SECTION 1, Subsection (a), Section 755.026,  by
striking "or steam collection or liberation drums of process steam
generators," making the subsequent inspection interval apply to  "other
unfired steam boilers."