H.B. No. 796

AN ACT

relating to the licensing of a journeyman lineman.

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

SECTION 1. Section 1305.002, Occupations Code, is amended by redesignating existing Subdivision (12) as Subdivision (11-a) and adding a new Subdivision (12) to read as follows:

(11-a) [(12)] "Executive director" means the executive director of the department.

(12) "Journeyman lineman" means an individual who engages in electrical work involving the maintenance and operation of equipment associated with the transmission and distribution of electricity from the electricity's original source to a substation for further distribution.

SECTION 2. Section 1305.102(a), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The executive director shall adopt rules for the licensing of electricians, sign electricians, electrical sign contractors, electrical contractors, journeyman linemen, residential appliance installers, and residential appliance installation contractors as prescribed by this chapter.

SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1305.1605 to read as follows:

Sec. 1305.1605. JOURNEYMAN LINEMAN. (a) An applicant for a license as a journeyman lineman must:

(1) have at least:

(A) 7,000 hours of training in an apprenticeship program approved by the United States Department of Labor; or

(B) 3-1/2 years of experience as a journeyman lineman for an electric utility, electric cooperative, municipally owned utility, or electrical contractor in this state; and

(2) pass a journeyman lineman examination administered under this chapter.

(b) A journeyman lineman license is not required for:

(1) a person performing work exempt under Section 1305.003(a)(5); or

(2) a person who:

(A) is performing journeyman lineman work;

(B) possesses a journeyman electrician license; and

(C) is employed by an institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.

SECTION 4. Section 1305.168(a), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) To renew a master electrician, journeyman electrician, master sign electrician, journeyman sign electrician, maintenance electrician, journeyman lineman, or residential wireman license, the license holder must complete four hours of continuing education annually.

SECTION 5. (a) Not later than January 1, 2014, the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules regulating the licensing of a journeyman lineman, as required by Section 1305.102, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act.

(b) A person is not required to hold a license as a journeyman lineman under Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, before June 1, 2014.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 796 was passed by the House on May 2, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 12, 2 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 796 on May 24, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 124, Nays 21, 2 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 796 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 22, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

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Governor