By: Patrick S.B. No. 1982

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the licensing and regulation of pool-related electrical maintenance.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 1305.002, Occupations Code, is amended by amending Subdivisions (12-a), (12-b), (12-c), (12-d), and (12-e) and adding Subdivisions (14), (15), and (16) to read as follows:

(12-a) "Residential appliance" means a pool-related electrical device, or equipment that:

(A) is installed as a unit in a single-family or multifamily dwelling that does not exceed four stories;

(B) is directly connected to an electrical circuit; and

(C) performs a specific function.

(12-b) "Residential appliance installation" means electrical work that is limited to the connection or disconnection of a residential appliance, including a pool-related electrical device, to an existing electrical circuit other than by inserting or removing a plug from an electrical outlet.

(12-c) "Residential appliance installation contracting" means the business of residential appliance installation, including pool-related electrical maintenance.

(12-d) "Residential appliance installation contractor" means a business entity, other than an electrical contractor or electrical sign contractor, that is engaged in residential appliance installation contracting, including pool-related electrical maintenance.

(12-e) "Residential appliance installer" means a person, other than a licensed electrician, who is licensed to perform residential appliance installation, including pool-related electrical maintenance.

(14) "Pool" means an outdoor or indoor structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing, including an inground structure, aboveground structure, hot tub, spa, portable spa, or non-portable wading pool.

(15) "Pool-related electrical device" means equipment for a pool that:

(A) is installed as a unit;

(B) is directly connected to an electrical circuit; and

(C) performs a specific function.

(16) "Pool-related electrical maintenance" means electrical work that is limited to the connection or disconnection of a pool-related electrical device to an existing electrical circuit other than by inserting or removing a plug from an electrical outlet.

SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 1305.003, Occupations Code, as amended by Chapters 418 (S.B. 1222) and 649 (H.B. 1029), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, is reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(a) This chapter does not apply to:

(1) the installation of electrical equipment in a ship, watercraft other than a floating building, railway rolling stock, aircraft, motor vehicle, or recreational vehicle;

(2) the installation of electrical equipment underground in a mine and in self-propelled mobile surface mining machinery and its attendant electrical trailing cable;

(3) the installation of electrical equipment for generation, transformation, transmission, or distribution of power used exclusively to operate railway rolling stock or exclusively for signaling and communications purposes;

(4) the installation, maintenance, alteration, or repair of communications equipment provided by a telecommunications provider;

(5) the installation, maintenance, alteration, or repair of electrical equipment under the exclusive control of an electric utility, power generation company as defined by Sections 31.002(1) and (10), Utilities Code, electric cooperative, or municipally owned utility and used for communications or metering, or for the generation, control, transformation, transmission, and distribution of electrical energy, and located:

(A) in a building used exclusively by a utility or power generation company for those purposes;

(B) outdoors on property owned or leased by the utility or power generation company;

(C) on public highways, streets, roads, or other public rights-of-way; or

(D) outdoors by established rights in vaults or on private property;

(6) work not specifically regulated by a municipal ordinance that is performed in or on a dwelling by a person who owns and resides in the dwelling;

(7) work involved in the manufacture of electrical equipment that includes the on-site and off-site manufacturing, commissioning, testing, calibrating, coordinating, troubleshooting, or evaluating of electrical equipment, the repairing or retrofitting of electrical equipment with components of the same ampacity, and the maintenance and servicing of electrical equipment within the equipment's enclosure that is performed by an authorized employee or authorized representative of an electrical equipment manufacturer and limited to the type of products manufactured by the manufacturer;

(8) electrical work if:

(A) the work is performed by a person who does not engage in electrical work for the public;

(B) the work is performed by a person regularly employed as a maintenance person or maintenance electrician for a business; and

(C) the electrical work does not involve the installation of electrical equipment during new construction as defined by rules adopted under Chapter 151, Tax Code;

(9) the installation, maintenance, alteration, or repair of electrical equipment or associated wiring under the exclusive control of a gas utility and used for communications or metering or for the control, transmission, or distribution of natural gas;

(10) thoroughfare lighting, traffic signals, intelligent transportation systems, and telecommunications controlled by a governmental entity;

(11) electrical connections supplying heating, ventilation, and cooling and refrigeration equipment, including any required disconnect exclusively for the equipment, if the service is performed by a licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor under Chapter 1302;

(12) the design, installation, erection, repair, or alteration of Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 remote control, signaling, or power-limited circuits, fire alarm circuits, optical fiber cables, or communications circuits, including raceways, as defined by the National Electrical Code;

(13) landscape irrigation installers, as necessary to perform the installation and maintenance of irrigation control systems, and landscapers, as necessary to perform the installation and maintenance of low-voltage exterior lighting and holiday lighting excluding any required power source;

(14) electrical work performed at a business that operates:

(A) a chemical plant, petrochemical plant, refinery, natural gas plant, natural gas treating plant, pipeline, or oil and gas exploration and production operation by a person who works solely for and is employed by that business; or

(B) a chemical plant, petrochemical plant, refinery, natural gas plant, or natural gas treatment plant by a person who under a contract of at least 12 months' duration performs electrical work for that plant and:

(i) the electrical work is not performed during new construction as defined by rules adopted under Chapter 151, Tax Code; or

(ii) the person is not working for a contractor that has a principal place of business in another state or territory of the United States or a foreign country;

(15) the installation, maintenance, alteration, or repair of elevators, escalators, or related equipment, excluding any required power source, regulated under Chapter 754, Health and Safety Code;

(16) the installation, maintenance, alteration, or repair of equipment or network facilities provided or utilized by a cable operator, as that term is defined by 47 U.S.C. Section 522, as amended;

(17) the location, design, construction, extension, maintenance, and installation of on-site sewage disposal systems in accordance with Chapter 366, Health and Safety Code, or an on-site sewage facility installer licensed under Chapter 37, Water Code;

(18) electrical work performed on a building, structure, or equipment in agricultural use as defined by Section 11.002, Water Code, other than the processing of an agricultural commodity;

(19) the installation, maintenance, alteration, or repair of well pumps and equipment in accordance with Chapter 1902;

(20) electrical work required for the construction and assembly of HUD-code manufactured housing or modular housing and building units, other than the installation of service entrance conductors, that is performed by a licensed manufacturer or installer under Chapter 1201 or 1202, as applicable, if work performed is within the scope of the license as defined by applicable statutes and administrative rules; [and]

(21) work performed by a plumber who holds a license or endorsement or is registered under Chapter 1301 that is necessary to install, service, maintain, repair, or replace any type of plumbing fixture or appliance, as described by Section 1301.002(7), including a water heater, food disposer, garbage disposal, water softener, dishwashing machine, and clothes washing machine on existing electrical circuits only;

(22) [. (21)] the maintenance or repair of a residential appliance by a residential appliance dealer or manufacturer or a person authorized by a residential appliance dealer or manufacturer using only components of the same type and ampacity as the original components; and

(23) the maintenance, alteration, or repair of a pool-related electrical device by, or pool-related electrical maintenance performed by, an employee of a municipality on a pool owned or operated by the municipality.

SECTION 3. Section 1305.162, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) In addition to the other requirements of this section, the department shall accept, develop, or contract for a residential appliance installer examination that tests an applicant's knowledge of the materials and methods used in the installation of residential appliances and pool-related devices under this chapter and the National Electrical Code standards as adopted by the executive director.

SECTION 4. Not later than January 1, 2010, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act.

SECTION 5. Section 1305.151, Occupations Code, applies only to a person who performs pool-related electrical maintenance, as defined by Section 1305.002, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, or residential appliance installation that consists only of the connection or disconnection of a pool-related electrical device, as defined by Section 1305.002, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, on or after March 1, 2010.

SECTION 6. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

(b) Section 1 of this Act takes effect March 1, 2010.