By Patterson S.B. No. 1672
75R5494 GJH-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to certain standards involving the regulation of air
1-3 conditioning and refrigeration contractors.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 2(10), 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 (10) "Mechanical integrity" means physical
1-9 installation of products, systems, or equipment in accordance with
1-10 their intended purpose and according to:
1-11 (A) the latest edition of [standards at least as
1-12 strict as the standards set forth in] the Uniform Mechanical Code
1-13 published [jointly] by [the International Conference of Building
1-14 Officials and] the International Association of Plumbing and
1-15 Mechanical Officials[, or their successor organizations, or the
1-16 Standard Mechanical Code published by the Southern Building Code
1-17 Congress International, Inc.,] or its successor organization; and
1-18 (B) [all other applicable codes; and]
1-19 [(C)] the manufacturer's specifications.
1-20 SECTION 2. Section 3(a), Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
1-21 Contractor License Law (Article 8861, Vernon's Texas Civil
1-22 Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
1-23 (a) The commissioner shall adopt rules for the practice of
1-24 air conditioning and refrigeration contracting consistent with this
2-1 Act. The rules [standards prescribed by rule] must conform to the
2-2 latest edition of [be at least as strict as the standards set forth
2-3 in] the Uniform Mechanical Code published [jointly] by [the
2-4 International Conference of Building Officials and] the
2-5 International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials or
2-6 its successor organization [or the Standard Mechanical Code
2-7 published by the Southern Building Code Congress International,
2-8 Inc., as those codes exist at the time the rules are adopted]. The
2-9 commissioner shall enforce this Act and may adopt rules relating to
2-10 enforcement requirements.
2-11 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. A
2-12 violation of this Act that occurs before the effective date of
2-13 this Act is subject to the law in effect at the time the violation
2-14 was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that
2-15 purpose.
2-16 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-17 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-18 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-19 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-20 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.