BILL ANALYSIS
By: Quintanilla
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The increasing complexities of the plumbing profession demand that municipalities have a designated individual to oversee the inspection of plumbing throughout the city as well as respond to plumbing related questions from citizens, inspectors, and other industry related contractors. Currently, municipalities may designate an individual who has met the requirements of a Plumbing Inspector as defined by Chapter 363.1(f) in the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners Board Rules as its Plumbing Inspector. Yet, this designee is not required to have plumbing or industry related experience.
C.S.H.B. 2209 requires that municipalities with a population of 600,000 or more designate an individual "Chief Plumbing Inspector", and that person must meet the qualifications of a journeyman plumber, master plumber and be a plumbing inspector.
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
C.S.H.B. 2209 requires that municipalities with a population of 550,000 or more designate a Chief Plumbing Inspector for a fixed term, as determined by the governing body of the municipality. The individual must be a journeyman plumber or master plumber as defined by Section 1301.002, Occupations Code and a plumbing inspector defined by Section 1301.002, Occupations Code. A municipality may impose additional requirements of the individual. The individual may hold other titles or designations with the municipality, but this does not affect the requirements imposed by subsection (b) of the bill.
C.S.H.B. 2209 also establishes that Section 214.011 of the Local Government Code only applies to municipalities with a population of less than 550,000. A current chief plumbing inspector my continue to serve until the earlier of the expiration of his term or September 1, 2007, but must meet the requirements of Section 214.0115, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, after that date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute changes the population bracket to cities greater than 550,000 in population from cities greater than 600,000 in population and adds that a chief plumbing inspector must also meet the requirements of a plumbing inspector as defined by 1301.002, Occupations Code in addition to the requirements in the original version of the bill.