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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of plumbing. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 1301.002(2), (3), and (4), Occupations |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(2) "Drain cleaner" means a person who: |
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(A) has completed at least 4,000 hours working |
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under the supervision of a responsible master plumber as a drain |
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cleaner-restricted registrant; |
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(B) has fulfilled the requirements of and is |
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registered with the board; and |
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(C) installs cleanouts and removes and resets |
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p-traps to eliminate obstructions in building drains and sewers |
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under the supervision of a responsible master plumber. |
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(3) "Drain cleaner-restricted registrant" means a |
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person who: |
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(A) has worked as a plumber's apprentice under |
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the supervision of a responsible master plumber; |
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(B) has fulfilled the requirements of and is |
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registered with the board; and |
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(C) clears obstructions in sewer and drain lines |
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through any code-approved existing opening under the supervision of |
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a responsible master plumber. |
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(4) "Journeyman plumber" means a person licensed under |
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this chapter who: |
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(A) has met the qualifications for registration |
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as a plumber's apprentice or for licensing as a tradesman |
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plumber-limited license holder; |
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(B) has completed at least 8,000 hours working |
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under the supervision of a responsible master plumber; |
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(C) installs, changes, repairs, services, or |
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renovates plumbing or supervises any of those activities under the |
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supervision of a responsible master plumber; |
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(D) has passed the required examination; and |
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(E) has fulfilled the other requirements of the |
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board. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1301.354(c), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) At the applicant's request, the board may credit an |
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applicant under Subsection (b) with up to 1,000 [500] hours of the |
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work experience required before taking an examination if the |
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applicant has completed the classroom portion of a training |
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program: |
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(1) approved by the United States Department of Labor, |
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Office of Apprenticeship; or |
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(2) provided by a person approved by the board and |
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based on course materials approved by the board. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The changes in law made by this Act apply |
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only to an application for a certificate of registration as a drain |
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cleaner or drain cleaner-restricted registrant submitted on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. An application for a |
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certificate of registration submitted before the effective date of |
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this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the |
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application was submitted, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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(b) A person who holds a certificate of registration as a |
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drain cleaner or drain cleaner-restricted registrant issued before |
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the effective date of this Act may continue to renew that |
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certificate of registration without complying with the changes in |
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law made by this Act relating to the work requirement under the |
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supervision of a responsible master plumber. |
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(c) The change in law made by this Act applies only to an |
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application for a license as a journeyman plumber submitted on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. An application for a license |
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submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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(d) A person who holds a license as a journeyman plumber |
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issued before the effective date of this Act may continue to renew |
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that license without complying with the changes in law made by this |
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Act relating to the work requirement under the supervision of a |
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responsible master plumber. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |