84R6156 PMO-F
 
  By: Farias H.B. No. 1641
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the licensing and regulation of certain employees of
  fire protection sprinkler system contractors; providing a penalty;
  imposing a fee; requiring occupational licenses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 6003.001, Insurance Code, is amended by
  amending Subdivisions (1) and (6) and adding Subdivisions (1-a),
  (2-a), (2-b), and (12) to read as follows:
               (1)  "Dwelling technician license" means a license
  authorizing a fire protection sprinkler technician to install,
  service, or maintain a fire protection sprinkler system located in
  a one-family or two-family residence.
               (1-a)  "Fire protection sprinkler system" means an
  assembly of underground or overhead piping or conduits that conveys
  water with or without other agents to dispersal openings or devices
  to:
                     (A)  extinguish, control, or contain fire; and
                     (B)  provide protection from exposure to fire or
  the products of combustion.
               (2-a)  "Fire protection sprinkler technician" means a
  person who installs, services, or maintains a fire protection
  sprinkler system or any part of the system as an employee of a fire
  protection sprinkler system contractor.
               (2-b)  "General technician license" means a license
  authorizing a fire protection sprinkler technician to install,
  service, or maintain any fire protection sprinkler system.
               (6)  "License" means the document issued to a
  responsible managing employee or a fire protection sprinkler
  technician authorizing the employee or technician to engage in the
  fire protection sprinkler system business in this state.
               (12)  "Underground fire main technician license" means
  a license authorizing a fire protection sprinkler technician to
  install, service, or maintain an assembly of underground piping or
  conduits that convey water, with or without other agents, as part of
  a fire protection sprinkler system.
         SECTION 2.  Section 6003.002(b), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  This chapter does not authorize an individual or
  organization to:
               (1)  practice professional engineering other than in
  compliance with Chapter 1001, Occupations Code; or
               (2)  design or install or enter into a contract to
  design or install a multipurpose residential fire protection
  sprinkler system other than in compliance with Chapter 1301,
  Occupations Code.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter A, Chapter 6003, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 6003.004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 6003.004.  PERSONAL INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL. The home
  address, home telephone number, driver's license number, and social
  security number of a license holder or an applicant for a license
  under this chapter are confidential and are not subject to
  disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
         SECTION 4.  Section 6003.052(b), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Under rules adopted under Section 6003.051(b), the
  department:
               (1)  may create a specialized licensing or registration
  program for fire protection sprinkler system contractors; and
               (2)  shall create a specialized licensing program for
  fire protection sprinkler technicians.
         SECTION 5.  Sections 6003.055(a) and (b), Insurance Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioner shall set the fee for:
               (1)  a registration certificate application in an
  amount not to exceed $100;
               (2)  an initial or renewal registration certificate in
  an amount not to exceed $1,200 annually; and
               (3)  an initial or renewal [responsible managing
  employee] license fee in an amount not to exceed $200 annually.
         (b)  Unless the examination for a [responsible managing
  employee] license is administered by a testing service, the
  commissioner shall set a nonrefundable fee for each examination in
  an amount not to exceed $100.
         SECTION 6.  Section 6003.156(a), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The state fire marshal shall establish the scope and
  type of an examination required by this chapter.  The state fire
  marshal shall develop the examinations required under Section
  6003.162 based on the most recent applicable guidelines published
  by the National Fire Protection Association.
         SECTION 7.  Section 6003.158(b), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  A person who holds a license issued under Section
  6003.153 or 6003.162 must annually complete at least eight hours of
  continuing education in accordance with commissioner rules.  
  [Participation in the continuing education programs is voluntary.]
         SECTION 8.  Section 6003.159, Insurance Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 6003.159.  RECIPROCAL LICENSE. The department shall
  [may] waive any license requirement for an applicant who holds a
  license issued by another state if the other state:
               (1)  [that] has license requirements substantially
  equivalent to the license requirements of this state; and
               (2)  has a reciprocal license statute that is
  substantially equivalent to this section for individuals licensed
  in this state.
         SECTION 9.  Section 6003.160, Insurance Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 6003.160.  LICENSE NOT TRANSFERABLE; SINGLE EMPLOYER
  REQUIRED.  (a)  A registration certificate or license issued under
  this chapter is not transferable.
         (b)  An individual who holds a license issued under Section
  6003.153 or 6003.162:
               (1)  may not install, service, or maintain a fire
  protection sprinkler system unless the license holder is employed
  by a fire protection sprinkler system contractor; and
               (2)  may not be employed by more than one fire
  protection sprinkler system contractor at the same time.
         SECTION 10.  Subchapter D, Chapter 6003, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 6003.161, 6003.162, and 6003.163 to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 6003.161.  FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER TECHNICIAN:
  LICENSE OR SUPERVISION REQUIRED. (a)  An individual may not act as
  a fire protection sprinkler technician unless the individual holds
  a license issued by the department under Section 6003.153 or
  6003.162, or is directly supervised by an individual who holds a
  license issued by the department under Section 6003.153 or
  6003.162. An individual may install, service, or maintain only the
  type of fire protection sprinkler systems for which the
  individual's license or the individual's direct supervisor's
  license has been issued under this chapter.
         (b)  An individual may not use the term "licensed fire
  protection sprinkler technician" in the person's contracts or
  advertising materials unless the individual holds a license issued
  under Section 6003.162.
         (c)  Notwithstanding any other law, a person who holds a
  license under Section 6003.153 or 6003.162 is not required to hold a
  license or registration issued by another state agency in order to
  act as a fire protection sprinkler technician.
         Sec. 6003.162.  FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER TECHNICIAN
  LICENSES. (a)  The department shall issue a general technician
  license to an applicant:
               (1)  who has completed 8,000 hours of an apprenticeship
  program certified by the United States Department of Labor for the
  installation, service, and maintenance of fire protection
  sprinkler systems;
               (2)  who:
                     (A)  has 8,000 hours of experience installing,
  servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems; and
                     (B)  passes the department's general technician
  license examination; or
               (3)  who:
                     (A)  has 6,000 hours of experience installing,
  servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems; and
                     (B)  passes the National Institute for
  Certification in Engineering Technologies Level II test for
  inspection and testing of water-based systems.
         (b)  The department shall issue a dwelling technician
  license to an applicant who:
               (1)  has 4,000 hours of experience installing,
  servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems within
  the scope of a dwelling technician license; and
               (2)  passes the department's dwelling technician
  license examination.
         (c)  The department shall issue an underground fire main
  technician license to an applicant who:
               (1)  has 4,000 hours of experience installing,
  servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems within
  the scope of an underground fire main technician license; and
               (2)  passes the department's underground fire main
  technician license examination.
         (d)  A license issued under this section must be conditioned
  on the successful completion of the applicable license examination
  and compliance with the requirements of any applicable rules
  adopted under this chapter.
         Sec. 6003.163.  PRESENCE OF LICENSE HOLDER REQUIRED. Each
  fire protection sprinkler system contractor shall ensure that at
  least one person who holds a license issued under Section 6003.153
  or 6003.162 is present at a location where a fire protection
  sprinkler system is being installed, maintained, repaired, or
  tested by an employee of the fire protection sprinkler system
  contractor.
         SECTION 11.  Section 6003.301(a), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
  violates Section 6003.151(a), 6003.153, 6003.161, or 6003.251.
         SECTION 12.  (a)  As soon as possible after the effective
  date of this Act, and not later than September 1, 2016, the
  commissioner of insurance and the state fire marshal shall adopt
  the rules and establish the procedures and examination requirements
  necessary to implement the licensing of fire protection sprinkler
  technicians under Chapter 6003, Insurance Code, as amended by this
  Act.
         (b)  A fire protection sprinkler technician is not required
  to hold a license under Section 6003.161, Insurance Code, as added
  by this Act, before September 1, 2017.
         SECTION 13.  Notwithstanding Sections 6003.161 and
  6003.162, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, the Texas
  Department of Insurance shall issue a license to a qualified
  applicant under this section who:
               (1)  applies for a license under Chapter 6003,
  Insurance Code, as amended by this Act, not later than September 1,
  2017;
               (2)  submits to the department the information required
  by department rule;
               (3)  submits to the department the job description of
  the position the applicant most recently performed and a sworn
  statement by the applicant's employer attesting to the applicant's
  job description;
               (4)  has at least the number of hours of experience
  required by Section 6003.162, Insurance Code, as added by this Act,
  for the applicable license for which the applicant is applying; and
               (5)  pays the application and licensing fee.
         SECTION 14.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.