76R14109 MXM-F                           
         By Reyna of Bexar                                     H.B. No. 2144
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2144:
         By Yarbrough                                      C.S.H.B. No. 2144
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the adoption and use of certain plumbing codes.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 5B, The Plumbing License Law (Article
 1-5     6243-101, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as
 1-6     follows:
 1-7           Sec. 5B.  ADOPTION OF PLUMBING CODES.  (a)  To protect the
 1-8     health and safety of the citizens of this state, the Board shall
 1-9     adopt the following plumbing codes: [Southern Standard Plumbing
1-10     Code,]
1-11                 (1)  the Uniform Plumbing Code, as published by the
1-12     International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials; [,]
1-13     and
1-14                 (2)  the International Plumbing Code, as published by
1-15     the International Code Council [the National Standard Plumbing
1-16     Code].
1-17           (b)  Plumbing installed in an area not otherwise subject to
1-18     regulation under this Act must be installed in accordance with a
1-19     plumbing code adopted by the Board under Subsection (a) of this
1-20     section.
1-21           (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or (b) of this section,
1-22     in [In] adopting plumbing codes and standards for the proper
1-23     design, installation, and maintenance of a plumbing system, a
1-24     municipality or an owner of a public water system may adopt any
 2-1     nationally recognized model plumbing codes and standards that do
 2-2     not substantially vary with rules or laws of this state.
 2-3           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
 2-4     applies to the design, installation, or maintenance of a plumbing
 2-5     system performed on or after that date.  The design, installation,
 2-6     or maintenance of a plumbing system performed before that date is
 2-7     governed by the law in effect on the date that the design,
 2-8     installation, or maintenance occurred, and the former law is
 2-9     continued in effect for that purpose.
2-10           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-11     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-12     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-13     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-14     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.