77R6383 GJH-F                           
         By Reyna of Bexar                                      H.B. No. 196
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 196:
         By Reyna of Bexar                                  C.S.H.B. No. 196
                                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 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)  standards at least as strict as the
1-12     standards set forth in the Uniform Mechanical Code and the
1-13     International Mechanical Code [published jointly by the
1-14     International Conference of Building Officials and the
1-15     International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, or
1-16     their successor organizations, or the Standard Mechanical Code
1-17     published by the Southern Building Code Congress International,
1-18     Inc., or its successor organization];
1-19                       (B)  all other applicable codes; and
1-20                       (C)  the manufacturer's specifications.
1-21           SECTION 2.  Section 3(a), Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
1-22     Contractor License Law (Article 8861, Vernon's Texas Civil
1-23     Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
1-24           (a)  The commissioner shall adopt rules for the practice of
 2-1     air conditioning and refrigeration contracting consistent with this
 2-2     Act.  The standards prescribed by rule must be at least as strict
 2-3     as the standards set forth in the Uniform Mechanical Code published
 2-4     [jointly] by [the International Conference of Building Officials
 2-5     and] the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical
 2-6     Officials and the International Mechanical Code published by the
 2-7     International Code Council [or the Standard Mechanical Code
 2-8     published by the Southern Building Code Congress International,
 2-9     Inc., as those codes exist at the time the rules are adopted]. The
2-10     commissioner shall enforce this Act and may adopt rules relating to
2-11     enforcement requirements.
2-12           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.