AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 1973 and S.B. 1982 were enacted by the 81st Legislature in order to clarify existing law and allow pool maintenance professionals to perform limited electrical functions under a limited license. The license was placed under the Residential Appliance Installers Act. During the interim the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has interpreted the law to limit the maintenance to only residential or multi-family settings of four stories or less and exclude commercial properties. Until last year, pool technicians have always performed maintenance on residential and commercial pools. Pool technicians are often the ones trained in the maintenance and repair of sophisticated pool equipment and devices such as SVRS systems (anti-drowning), heating units, remote terminals, and cleaning systems. As it stands today, a technician can change a light on one side of the street at an apartment, but cannot change a light on the other side of the street at a small hotel.

 

C.S.S.B. 1630 amends current law relating to the regulation of residential appliance installation, including pool-related electrical devices, under the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 1305.002(12-a), (14), and (15), Occupations Code, to redefine "residential appliance," "pool," and "pool-related electrical device."  Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2011.