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       
   
           __________________
                Governor