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79R4630 MSE-F

By:  Carona                                                       S.B. No. 686



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation of air conditioning and refrigeration 
technicians.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 1302.002, Occupations Code, is amended 
by adding Subdivisions (5-a) and (17) to read as follows:
		(5-a)  "Air conditioning and refrigeration technician" 
means a person who assists a licensed air conditioning and 
refrigeration contractor in performing air conditioning and 
refrigeration maintenance work.
		(17)  "Registered technician" means a technician who is 
registered with the department.
	SECTION 2.  Chapter 1302, Occupations Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter K to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER K.  AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION TECHNICIANS
	Sec. 1302.501.  REGISTRATION REQUIRED.  (a)  A person may not 
act as an air conditioning and refrigeration technician unless the 
person holds a certificate of registration issued under this 
subchapter.
	(b)  A certificate is valid throughout the state.                       
	Sec. 1302.502.  RULES.  The executive director shall adopt 
rules:     
		(1)  registering technicians as prescribed by this 
subchapter;       
		(2)  describing the activities that each class of 
technician may perform under this subchapter;
		(3)  adopting standards of conduct for registered 
technicians and license holders under this subchapter; and
		(4)  establishing fees for issuance and renewal of a 
certificate of registration.
	Sec. 1302.503.  SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRANTS.  
(a)  An air conditioning and refrigeration technician must be 
supervised by an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor 
licensed under this chapter.
	(b)  A certificate holder shall notify the department in 
writing not later than the 30th day after the date on which  a change 
occurs in the identity of an air conditioning and refrigeration 
contractor who supervises the certificate holder.
	Sec. 1302.504.  APPLICATION; FEE.  (a) An applicant for a 
certificate must submit an application on a form prescribed by the 
executive director.
	(b)  The completed application must be accompanied by:                  
		(1)  the application fee; and                                          
		(2)  the name and license number of each air 
conditioning and refrigeration contractor who will supervise the 
applicant.
	(c)  The department may examine any criminal conviction, 
guilty plea, or deferred adjudication of an applicant, including 
obtaining any criminal history record information permitted by law.
	Sec. 1302.505.  ISSUANCE AND TERM OF REGISTRATION.  (a) On 
receipt of a completed application, the department shall issue a 
certificate to an applicant who meets the requirements of this 
subchapter.
	(b)  A certificate is valid for one year from the date of 
issuance.   
	Sec. 1302.506.  RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION.  To renew a 
certificate a certificate holder must:
		(1)  submit a renewal request on a form prescribed by 
the executive director;
		(2)  provide the name and license number of each air 
conditioning and refrigeration contractor who will supervise the 
certificate holder; and
		(3)  pay the required renewal fee.                                     
	SECTION 3.  Not later than December 31, 2005, the executive 
director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall 
adopt rules implementing Subchapter K, Chapter 1302, Occupations 
Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 4.  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this 
section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
	(b)  Sections 1302.501 and 1302.503, Occupations Code, as 
added by this Act, take effect June 30, 2006.