77R13261 MXM-F                           
         By King of Uvalde                                     H.B. No. 3409
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3409:
         By Wilson                                         C.S.H.B. No. 3409
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the regulation of certain water treatment specialists.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Section 2, The Plumbing License Law (Article
 1-5     6243-101, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding
 1-6     Subdivision (10) to read as follows:
 1-7                 (10)  "Water treatment specialist" means a person who
 1-8     is certified under Section 3A of this Act to install, exchange,
 1-9     service, and repair a residential water treatment facility.
1-10           SECTION 2. Section 3A, The Plumbing License Law (Article
1-11     6243-101, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as
1-12     follows:
1-13           Sec. 3A.  CERTIFICATION RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL WATER
1-14     TREATMENT FACILITIES. (a)  The executive director of the Texas
1-15     Natural Resource Conservation Commission  [Commissioner of Health]
1-16     or the executive director's [his] designee shall certify persons as
1-17     being qualified for the installation, exchange, servicing, and
1-18     repair of residential water treatment facilities [as defined by
1-19     Subsection (g) of Section 2 of this Act].  The Texas Natural
1-20     Resource Conservation Commission [Board of Health] shall set
1-21     standards for certification to ensure the public health and to
1-22     protect the public from unqualified persons engaging in activities
1-23     relating to water treatment.  A person certified under this section
1-24     may use the title, "water treatment specialist." Nothing in this
 2-1     section shall be construed to require that persons licensed
 2-2     pursuant to this Act are subject to certification under this
 2-3     section.
 2-4           (b)  Before a certificate is issued or renewed under this
 2-5     section, an applicant or holder of a certificate shall be required
 2-6     to pay a fee of $10 a year.  On receipt of the required fee, the
 2-7     Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission [Department of
 2-8     Health] shall issue to a qualified person a certificate stating
 2-9     that the person is qualified for the installation, exchange,
2-10     servicing, and repair of residential water treatment facilities.
2-11     The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission [Board of
2-12     Health] shall adopt rules establishing classes of certificates,
2-13     duration of certificates, and fees.
2-14           (c)  All fees received by the Texas Natural Resource
2-15     Conservation Commission [Department of Health] under this section
2-16     shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the
2-17     General Revenue Fund.
2-18           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-19     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-20     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-21     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-22     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.