BILL ANALYSIS
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, law requires the Railroad Commission to prepare and administer all LP-gas licensing examinations. These exams are given in Austin and other locations in the state. They involve staff time, travel time, and travel expenses.
While staff is able to combine administering the examinations with training and continuing education classes offered statewide, the potential to contract with an outside testing service to prepare, administer, grade or review the examinations would allow the Commission to be more flexible if circumstances changed.
House Bill 473 would allow the Railroad Commission to contract with a testing service to prepare, administer, and grade or review LP-Gas examinations.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1, Sections 11.087(a)-(d), Natural Resources Code
Amends Natural Resources Code, Section 113.087 by requiring the Railroad Commission to prepare, monitor, and grade or review an examination required by this section or contract with a testing service to prepare, administer, and grade the examination.
SECTION 2, Section 113.088(b), Natural Resources Code
Amends Natural Resources Code, Section 113.088(b) by authorizing a testing service who preformed an examination to administer the examination before the commission receives the fee. Requires the testing service to collect a nonrefundable fee for the examination and requires the testing service to forward the fee to the commission no later than the fifteenth business day after the testing service receives the fee.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005