BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2091

By: Darby

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act, passed during the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, provided many exemptions to electricians who perform work in specialized areas.  There was concern by those in the industry that it could have a negative impact in rural areas of the state.

C.S.H.B. 2091 requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to issue a master electrician license to an applicant who has owned and operated an electrical business continuously since 1988, performs electrical work exclusively in unincorporated areas of Texas, and pays an application fee prescribed by the department. The bill requires the department to accept applications for such a license only between September 1, 2009, and September 7, 2009, and to publish notice of the application period on the department's Internet website.

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. 2091 requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to issue a master electrician license to an applicant who has owned and operated an electrical business continuously since 1988, performs electrical work exclusively in unincorporated areas of Texas, and pays an application fee prescribed by the department. The bill requires an applicant for such a license, on request of the executive director of the department, to provide the executive director with detailed information of the electrical work performed by the applicant and specifies that a license holder is subject to the provisions of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act. The bill requires the department to accept applications for a license issued under these provisions only between September 1, 2009, and September 7, 2009, and to publish notice of the application period on the department's Internet website. The bill specifies that its provisions expire September 8, 2009.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2091 adds a provision not in the original requiring the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to issue a master electrician license to an applicant who has owned and operated an electrical business continuously since 1988, performs electrical work exclusively in unincorporated areas of Texas, and pays an application fee prescribed by the department. The substitutes adds provisions not in the original requiring an applicant for such a license, on request of the executive director of the department, to provide the executive director with detailed information of the electrical work performed by the applicant and specifying that a license holder is subject to the provisions of the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act.

C.S.H.B. 2091 adds a provision not in the original requiring the department to accept applications for a master electrician license only between September 1, 2009, and September 7, 2009, and to publish notice of the application period on the department's Internet website.

C.S.H.B. 2091 adds a provision not in the original establishing that its provisions expire on September 8, 2009.

C.S.H.B. 2091 removes provisions in the original exempting electrical work performed in an unincorporated area of Texas on an existing motor, control, or component of equipment from the provisions of the act and establishing that, to the extent of any conflict, the bill's provisions prevail against those of another bill of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.