BILL ANALYSIS
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) is responsible for fulfilling and distributing plumbing licenses in the state. Historically, TSBPE has informally accepted hours worked performing plumbing while in the military. In addition, TSBPE has rules in place to assist those individuals whose license expired while deployed. The rule allows an individual to renew his or her license so he or she may gain employment, but allows additional time for him or her to meet all renewal requirements.
Interested parties contend that because these processes and rules are not formally required in statute, and with the high unemployment rate among veterans in the state and the country, it is important for the legislature to formalize these instructions to TSBPE to credit military experience requirements for veterans applying for plumbing license in the state.
C.S.H.B. 2028 amends current law relating to the eligibility requirements for plumbing licenses issued to applicants with military service.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners in SECTION 1 (Section 1301.3585, Occupations Code) and SECTION 2 of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 1301, Occupations Code, by adding Section 1301.3585, as follows:
Sec. 1301.3585. LICENSE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS WITH MILITARY EXPERIENCE. (a) Requires the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), notwithstanding any other law, to credit verified military service, training, or education toward the licensing requirements, other than examination requirements, for a license issued under this chapter by TSBPE.
(b) Requires TSBPE to expedite the issuance of a provisional license or a license by endorsement or reciprocity under this chapter to an applicant who has verified military experience and holds a current license issued by another jurisdiction that has license requirements that are substantially equivalent to the license requirements of this state.
(c) Requires TSBPE to adopt rules necessary to implement this section.
SECTION 2. (a) Provides that Section 1301.3585, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an application for a license filed on or after May 1, 2014. Provides that an application for a license filed before May 1, 2014, is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was filed, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
(b) Requires TSBPE to adopt rules under Section 1301.3585, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, not later than March 1, 2014.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.