83R10735 SLB-F
 
  By: Carona S.B. No. 1387
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to water well drillers and pump installers; authorizing
  fees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1901.001, Occupations Code, is amended
  by adding Subdivision (13-a) and amending Subdivision (16) to read
  as follows:
               (13-a) "Third-party inspector" means a qualified
  employee of a state agency with jurisdiction over wells who assists
  the department with enforcement activities.
               (16)  "Well" means a water well, injection well,
  dewatering well, closed-loop geothermal well, or monitoring well.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 1901, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1901.0531 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1901.0531.  DRILLER AND PUMP INSTALLER TRAINING AND
  ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNT. (a)  The driller and pump installer training
  and enforcement account is an account in the general revenue fund.
  Administrative penalties collected under Subchapter F, Chapter 51,
  for a violation of this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter
  shall be deposited to the credit of the account.
         (b)  Funds in the account may be appropriated only to the
  department for:
               (1)  promoting consumer awareness of this chapter and
  Chapter 1902 and rules adopted under this chapter and Chapter 1902;
  and
               (2)  supporting educational seminars, training
  activities, or other projects designed to benefit the department's
  ability to administer this chapter and Chapter 1902.
         (b)  The department may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
  other donations from any source for deposit into the account.
         (c)  The account is exempt from the application of Section
  403.095, Government Code.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 1901, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1901.056 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1901.056.  REGIONAL WELL INSPECTION PROGRAM. (a) The
  commission by rule shall establish a regional well inspection
  program using third-party inspectors.
         (b)  Rules adopted under Subsection (a) shall establish:
               (1)  training requirements for a third-party
  inspector;
               (2)  registration procedures for a third-party
  inspector; and
               (3)  policies governing the acts of a third-party
  inspector in conducting an inspection or investigation.
         SECTION 4.  Section 1901.151, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 1901.151.  LICENSE REQUIRED. A person may not act or
  offer to act as a driller unless the person holds the appropriate
  [a] license issued by the executive director under this chapter and
  rules adopted under this chapter.
         SECTION 5.  Section 1901.152, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 1901.152.  LICENSE APPLICATION[; EXAMINATION FEE].  
  [(a)]  An applicant [application] for a license must submit to the
  department [contain]:
               (1)  an application that includes:
                     (A)  the applicant's name;
                     (B) [(2)]  the applicant's business address;
                     (C) [(3)]  the applicant's permanent mailing
  address; and
                     (D) [(4)]  any other relevant information
  required by the department; and[.]
               (2) [(b)  An applicant must pay to the department] an
  application [examination] fee [at the time the application is
  submitted].
         SECTION 6.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1901, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 1901.153, 1901.1531, 1901.1532, and
  1901.1533 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1901.153.  MASTER DRILLER. An applicant for a master
  driller license must:
               (1)  pass an examination covering:
                     (A)  water wells;
                     (B)  injection wells;
                     (C)  dewatering wells;
                     (D)  monitoring wells; and
                     (E)  closed-loop geothermal wells; and
               (2)  complete other requirements, including an
  experience requirement, as determined by commission rule.
         Sec. 1901.1531.  LICENSE WITH SPECIALTY ENDORSEMENT. (a)
  An applicant for a license other than a master driller license must:
               (1)  apply for a license with one or more specialty
  endorsements described by Subsection (b);
               (2)  pass an examination for each endorsement for which
  the applicant has applied; and
               (3)  satisfy other requirements as determined by
  commission rule.
         (b)  The commission shall establish specialty endorsements
  for:
               (1)  water wells;
               (2)  injection wells;
               (3)  dewatering wells;
               (4)  monitoring wells; and
               (5)  closed-loop geothermal wells.
         Sec. 1901.1532.  JOURNEYMAN DRILLER. An applicant for a
  journeyman driller license must:
               (1)  pass an examination; and
               (2)  satisfy other requirements as determined by the
  commission.
         Sec. 1901.1533.  APPRENTICE DRILLER. The commission by rule
  shall set the fee for, establish the qualifications for, and
  provide for the issuance of an apprentice driller license.
         SECTION 7.  Section 1901.201(a), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The department shall offer examinations for each
  license and endorsement at least once each year.
         SECTION 8.  Section 1901.251(a), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Each driller who drills, deepens, or otherwise alters a
  [water] well in this state shall make and keep a legible and
  accurate well log in accordance with rules adopted by the
  commission and on forms prescribed by the executive director. The
  well log shall be recorded at the time of drilling, deepening, or
  otherwise altering the well and must contain:
               (1)  the depth, thickness, and character of the strata
  penetrated;
               (2)  the location of water-bearing strata;
               (3)  the depth, size, and character of casing
  installed; and
               (4)  any other information required by rules adopted by
  the commission.
         SECTION 9.  Section 1901.255(d), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  Not later than the 60th [30th] day after the date the
  well is plugged, a driller, licensed pump installer, or well owner
  who plugs an abandoned or deteriorated well shall submit a plugging
  report to:
               (1)  the board of directors of the groundwater
  conservation district in which the well is located, if the well is
  located in the boundaries of a groundwater conservation district;
  and
               (2)  the executive director.
         SECTION 10.  Subchapter I, Chapter 1901, Occupations Code,
  is amended by adding Section 1901.405 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1901.405.  THIRD-PARTY INSPECTORS; ENFORCEMENT. The
  department may contract with a third-party inspector to assist in
  the enforcement of this chapter or a rule adopted under this
  chapter, including rules governing the performance of inspections
  and the conduct of investigations.
         SECTION 11.  Subchapter B, Chapter 1902, Occupations Code,
  is amended by adding Section 1902.0531 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1902.0531.  DEPOSIT OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES IN
  DRILLER AND PUMP INSTALLER TRAINING AND ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNT.  
  Administrative penalties collected under Subchapter F, Chapter 51,
  for a violation of this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter
  shall be deposited to the credit of the driller and pump installer
  training and enforcement account under Section 1901.0531.
         SECTION 12.  Section 1902.152, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 1902.152.  LICENSE APPLICATION[; EXAMINATION FEE].  
  [(a)]  An applicant [application] for a license must submit to the
  department [contain]:
               (1)  an application that includes:
                     (A)  the applicant's name;
                     (B) [(2)]  the applicant's business address;
                     (C) [(3)]  the applicant's permanent mailing
  address; and
                     (D) [(4)]  any other information required by the
  department; and[.]
               (2)  [(b)  An applicant must pay to the department] an
  application [examination] fee [at the time the application is
  submitted].
         SECTION 13.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1902, Occupations Code,
  is amended by adding Sections 1902.153, 1902.1531, and 1902.1532 to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1902.153.  MASTER PUMP INSTALLER. An applicant for a
  master pump installer license must:
               (1)  pass an examination covering:
                     (A)  windmills, hand pumps, and pump jacks; and
                     (B)  single-phase and three-phase pumps and
  line-shaft turbine pumps; and
               (2)  complete other requirements, including an
  experience requirement, as determined by commission rule.
         Sec. 1902.1531.  LICENSE WITH SPECIALTY ENDORSEMENTS. (a)
  An applicant for a license other than a master pump installer
  license must:
               (1)  apply for a license with one or more specialty
  endorsements described by Subsection (b);
               (2)  pass an examination for each endorsement for which
  the applicant has applied; and
               (3)  satisfy other requirements as determined by
  commission rule.
         (b)  The commission shall establish specialty endorsements
  for:
               (1)  windmills, hand pumps, and pump jacks;
               (2)  single-phase pumps;
               (3)  three-phase pumps; and
               (4)  line-shaft turbine pumps.
         Sec. 1902.1532.  APPRENTICE PUMP INSTALLER. The commission
  by rule shall set the fee for, establish the qualifications for, and
  provide for the issuance of an apprentice pump installer license.
         SECTION 14.  Section 1902.201(a), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The department shall offer examinations for each
  license and endorsement at least once each year [month].
         SECTION 15.  The following sections of the Occupations Code
  are repealed:
               (1)  Section 1901.201(b); and
               (2)  Section 1902.201(b).
         SECTION 16.  (a)  Not later than December 1, 2013, the Texas
  Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules to
  implement the changes in law made by this Act to Chapters 1901 and
  1902, Occupations Code.
         (b)  A person is not required to hold a license or license
  specialty endorsement as a master driller, journeyman driller,
  apprentice driller, master pump installer, or apprentice pump
  installer issued under Chapter 1901 or 1902, Occupations Code,
  before June 1, 2014.
         SECTION 17.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.