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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the licensing of a journeyman lineman. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1305.002, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by redesignating existing Subdivision (12) as Subdivision (11-a) |
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and adding a new Subdivision (12) to read as follows: |
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(11-a) [(12)] "Executive director" means the executive |
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director of the department. |
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(12) "Journeyman lineman" means an individual who |
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engages in electrical work involving the maintenance and operation |
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of equipment associated with the transmission and distribution of |
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electricity from the electricity's original source to a substation |
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for further distribution. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1305.102(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The executive director shall adopt rules for the |
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licensing of electricians, sign electricians, electrical sign |
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contractors, electrical contractors, journeyman linemen, |
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residential appliance installers, and residential appliance |
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installation contractors as prescribed by this chapter. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1305.1605 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1305.1605. JOURNEYMAN LINEMAN. An applicant for a |
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license as a journeyman lineman must have: |
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(1) at least 7,000 hours of training in an |
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apprenticeship program approved by the United States Department of |
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Labor; or |
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(2) at least 3-1/2 years of experience as a journeyman |
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lineman for an electric utility or electrical contractor in this |
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state. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1305.168(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To renew a master electrician, journeyman electrician, |
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master sign electrician, journeyman sign electrician, maintenance |
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electrician, journeyman lineman, or residential wireman license, |
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the license holder must complete four hours of continuing education |
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annually. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Not later than January 1, 2014, the |
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executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and |
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Regulation shall adopt rules regulating the licensing of a |
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journeyman lineman, as required by Section 1305.102, Occupations |
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Code, as amended by this Act. |
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(b) The executive director's rules under Subsection (a) of |
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this section must include rules that permit the issuance of a |
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license to an applicant who applies not later than June 1, 2014, and |
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presents evidence to the Texas Department of Licensing and |
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Regulation that the applicant has at least one year of experience as |
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a journeyman lineman for an electric utility or electrical |
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contractor in this state. |
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(c) A person is not required to hold a license as a |
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journeyman lineman under Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, as amended |
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by this Act, before June 1, 2014. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |