| TO: | Honorable Robert Talton, Chair, House Committee on Urban Affairs |
| FROM: | John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1639 by Bailey (Relating to the regulation of certain fire protection sprinkler system journeymen and apprentices. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
The bill would amend various sections within the Insurance Code, Article 5.43-3, to require the State Fire Marshal's Office within the Texas Department of Insurance to examine, register, and license fire protection sprinkler system journeymen and apprentices. The bill would require fire protection sprinkler system journeymen to pay a nonrefundable examination fee not to exceed $50 and an apprentice to pay a nonrefundable registration fee not to exceed $15. Journeymen and apprentices would be required to renew their license/certificate of registration annually. Renewal fee for a journeyman's license would be $20 and the renewal fee for a certificate of registration for an apprentice would be $15.
The Texas Department of Insurance indicates there would be a cost associated with the bill. It is assumed the agency could absorb this cost within current resources. Any revenue gain from licensing fees would be offset by a corresponding decrease to the Insurance Maintenace Tax.
| Source Agencies: | 411 Commission on Fire Protection, 454 Department of Insurance
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| LBB Staff: | JK, DLBa
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