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.

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