1-1 By: Torres (Senate Sponsor - Barrientos) H.B. No. 1391
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 21, 1997;
1-3 April 22, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 International Relations, Trade, and Technology; May 17, 1997,
1-5 reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 1;
1-6 May 17, 1997, sent to printer.)
1-7 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-8 AN ACT
1-9 relating to continuing education requirements for air conditioning
1-10 and refrigeration contractors.
1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12 SECTION 1. Section 4B, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
1-13 Contractor License Law (Article 8861, Vernon's Texas Civil
1-14 Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
1-15 Sec. 4B. CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) The
1-16 commissioner by rule shall establish guidelines for [may recognize,
1-17 prepare, or administer] continuing education programs for
1-18 licensees. Participation in the programs is voluntary.
1-19 (b) A person seeking to provide a continuing education
1-20 program must meet the requirements adopted by rule of the
1-21 commissioner. An applicant that meets the requirements and that is
1-22 approved by the commissioner may provide continuing education
1-23 programs until the second anniversary of the date the provider's
1-24 application was approved. A provider may reapply to the
1-25 commissioner to act as a provider for additional two-year periods.
1-26 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
1-27 (b) The commissioner of licensing and regulation shall adopt
1-28 rules and the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall
1-29 adopt fees under this Act not later than January 1, 1998.
1-30 (c) Notwithstanding Section 4B(b), Air Conditioning and
1-31 Refrigeration Contractor License Law (Article 8861, Vernon's Texas
1-32 Civil Statutes), as added by this Act, a person who holds a license
1-33 under that Act on the effective date of this Act is not required to
1-34 fulfill continuing education required under that section to renew
1-35 the license before September 1, 1999.
1-36 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-37 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-38 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-39 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-40 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-41 * * * * *