BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2255

By: Larson

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to interested parties, the average age of a master plumber in Texas is 56 years. The parties also note that businesses in Texas are finding it increasingly difficult to hire and maintain qualified, licensed plumbers because of a shortage of capable labor in this trade. The parties assert that, while the aging of the workforce is a contributing factor in this labor shortage, the shortage is compounded by current requirements regarding the number of supervised hours required for eligibility to take the examination for a journeyman plumber or tradesman plumber-limited license, which the parties see as an impediment to entry into and advancement within the trade for potential applicants. H.B. 2255 seeks to help alleviate this workforce shortage.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2255 amends the Occupations Code to change from a master plumber to a responsible master plumber the person under whose supervision a drain cleaner, drain cleaner-restricted registrant, and journeyman plumber have worked for purposes of the definitions of those terms under the Plumbing License Law. The bill increases from 500 to 1,000 the number of hours of work experience the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners is authorized to credit toward the work experience required of a plumber's apprentice who is applying to take an examination for a license as a journeyman plumber or tradesman plumber-limited license holder if the applicant has completed the classroom portion of an approved training program or of a program provided by an approved provider.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.