SRC-TBR H.B. 1505 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1505
By: Yarbrough (Carona)
Business & Commerce
5/11/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The Plumbing License Law (law) is a comprehensive licensing and regulatory
act for the plumbing profession.  To reflect the growing changes within the
profession of plumbing, certain provisions within the law need to be
updated.  H.B. 1505 updates The Plumbing License Law, creates new programs,
and expands the authority of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners to
better regulate the plumbing profession.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas State Board of
Plumbing Examiners in SECTION 5 (Section 5, Article 6243-101, V.T.C.S.),
SECTION 11 (Section 8C, Article 6243-101, V.T.C.S.), SECTION 14 (Section
12, Article 6243-101, V.T.C.S.), and SECTION 24 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

H.B. 1505 amends The Plumbing License Law (law) relating to the regulation
of the plumbing profession. The bill creates an apprenticeship program for
persons wishing to become a journeyman plumber and requires such persons to
register with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (board) (SECTION
13). The bill establishes a tradesman plumbing-limited license for persons
registered as apprentices and who have completed at least 4,000 hours of
apprenticeship work required for a journeyman plumber license (SECTIONS 1
and 5).  

The bill creates a registration system for persons who perform
plumbing-related work but do not qualify or wish to become a licensed
plumber. Such persons include residential utilities installers, drain
cleaners, or restricted drain cleaners. The bill requires the board to
register such persons if they comply with this law (SECTIONS 5 and 8).  

H.B. 1505 provides the board with express authority to adopt rules and take
other actions as the board deems necessary to administer this law including
provisions relating to the new classes of registrants and licensees
(SECTIONS 5, 9, 11, and 14). The bill requires that no person, whether as a
tradesman plumber-limited licensee, plumber's apprentice, residential
utilities installer, drain cleaner, drain cleaner restricted registrant or
otherwise to engage in, work at, or conduct the business of plumbing in
this state or serve as a plumbing inspector unless the such a person is the
holder of a valid license, endorsement, or registration (SECTION 16). The
bill authorizes the board to appoint advisory committees as it considers
necessary (SECTION 5). The bill authorizes the board to monitor insurance
requirements for master plumbers and requires, rather than authorizes, the
board to recognize, approve, and administer continuing education programs
for licensees and endorsees (SECTIONS 5 and 17).  

H.B. 1505 also requires municipal plumbing inspections to be performed by
licensed inspectors and provides that if the boundaries of a municipality
and a municipal utility district overlap, only the affected municipality
may perform a plumbing inspection and collect a permit fee (SECTION 17).
The bill requires the board to adopt the required rules necessary to
implement this law no later than January 1, 2002 (SECTION 24).  

 EFFECTIVE DATE: September 1, 2001.