SRC-PNG C.S.S.B. 1412 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1412
76R11221 MXM-FBy: Zaffirini
Border Affairs - Special
4/7/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, under Texas law, property owners are exempt from the requirement
that all plumbing work must be performed by a licensed plumber.  However,
many colonia residents do not qualify for the exemption because they
purchased land via a contract for deed, which does not provide them with
title to the land.  This presents a significant obstacle to using resident
labor to install water and wastewater systems through "self-help" projects,
certified by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.  This bill
exempts certified projects in colonias from the licensed plumber
requirement. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1412 exempts certified projects in colonias from the
licensed plumber requirement. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 3, Article 6243-101, V.T.C.S. (The Plumbing
License Law), by adding Subsection (f), as follows: 

(f) Permits plumbing work, limited to the provision of a residential
potable water supply or residential sanitary sewer connections, for a
project in a geographic area that is located in a county any part of which
is within 50 miles of an international border completed by an organization
that is certified by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
(TNRCC) to provide "self-help" project assistance; and provides the Texas
State Board of Plumbing Examiners (board) certain information regarding the
project before the project begins, to be done without license.  

SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Relating clause.

Amends the relating clause to provide that the bill allows for the
provision of plumbing services without a plumbing license in certain
economically distressed areas, including colonias. 

SECTION 1.   

Amends Section 3, Article 6243-101, V.T.C.S., by adding Subsection (f), to
permit plumbing work, limited to the provision of a residential potable
water supply or residential sanitary  sewer connections, for a project in a
geographic area that is located in a county any part of which is within 50
miles of an international border completed by an organization that is
certified by TNRCC to provide "self-help" project assistance; and provides
the board certain information regarding the project before the project
begins, to be done without license. Deletes proposed Subsection (c),
concerning plumbing work through the Small Town Environment Program.