By Torres                                             H.B. No. 1391

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to continuing education requirements for air conditioning

 1-3     and refrigeration contractors.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 4B, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

 1-6     Contractor License Law (Article 8861, Vernon's Texas Civil

 1-7     Statutes), is amended to read as follows:

 1-8           Sec. 4B.  CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS.  (a)  The

 1-9     commissioner by rule shall establish guidelines for [may recognize,

1-10     prepare, or administer] continuing education programs for

1-11     licensees.  Participation in the programs is voluntary.

1-12           (b)  A person seeking to provide a continuing education

1-13     program must meet the requirements adopted by rule of the

1-14     commissioner.  An applicant that meets the requirements and that is

1-15     approved by the commissioner may provide continuing education

1-16     programs until the second anniversary of the date the provider's

1-17     application was approved.  A provider may reapply to the

1-18     commissioner to act as a provider for additional two-year periods.

1-19           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-20           (b)  The commissioner of licensing and regulation shall adopt

1-21     rules and the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall

1-22     adopt fees under this Act not later than January 1, 1998.

1-23           (c)  Notwithstanding Section 4B(b), Air Conditioning and

1-24     Refrigeration Contractor License Law (Article 8861, Vernon's Texas

 2-1     Civil Statutes), as added by this Act, a person who holds a license

 2-2     under that Act on the effective date of this Act is not required to

 2-3     fulfill continuing education required under that section to renew

 2-4     the license before September 1, 1999.

 2-5           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-6     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-7     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-8     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-9     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.