By Davis of Harris                                    H.B. No. 2095
         76R4741 GJH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the adoption of standards for the practice of air
 1-3     conditioning and refrigeration contracting.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 3(a), 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           (a)  The commissioner shall adopt rules for the practice of
 1-9     air conditioning and refrigeration contracting consistent with this
1-10     Act.  The standards prescribed by rule must be at least as strict
1-11     as the standards set forth in the Uniform Mechanical Code published
1-12     [jointly] by the [International Conference of Building Officials
1-13     and the] International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical
1-14     Officials and [or] the International Mechanical Code published by
1-15     the International Code Council [Standard Mechanical Code published
1-16     by the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc., as
1-17     those codes exist at the time the rules are adopted].  In adopting
1-18     rules to protect the public health, the commissioner shall review
1-19     annually the Uniform Mechanical Code, the International Mechanical
1-20     Code, and other codes relating to the practice of air conditioning
1-21     and refrigeration contracting and shall adopt rules as necessary
1-22     based on those codes and revisions to those codes. The commissioner
1-23     shall enforce this Act and may adopt rules relating to enforcement
1-24     requirements.
 2-1           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2000.
 2-2           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.