BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1284
85R7637 BEE-F	By: Thompson, Senfronia (Garcia)
	Business & Commerce
	5/12/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Interested parties explain that the original intent of recently enacted legislation creating a journeyman lineman license is being lost in the interpretation of the law and that this interpretation means that certain lineman work has been unintentionally excluded from the scope of the work covered by the license. The parties explain that legislation is needed to clarify current law relating to the licensing and regulation of a journeyman lineman as well as matters relating to the journeyman lineman examination. H.B. 1284 seeks to address these issues.

H.B. 1284 amends current law relating to the licensing and regulation of a journeyman lineman.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 5 of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 1305.002(12), Occupations Code, to redefine "journeyman lineman."

SECTION 2. Amends Section 1305.101(a), Occupations Code, as follows:

(a) Requires the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) or the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation (TCLR), as appropriate, to:

(1) and (2) makes nonsubstantive changes to these subdivisions; and

(3) after publication of the National Electrical Safety Code by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers every five years, adopt the revised National Electrical Safety Code for purposes of Section 1305.162(e).

SECTION 3. Amends Section 1305.162, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (e), as follows:

(e) Requires TDLR, in addition to the other requirements of this section (Examinations), to accept, develop, or contract for a journeyman lineman examination that tests an applicant's knowledge of certain information relating to the installation, maintenance, and operation of electrical equipment and standards prescribed by the National Electrical Safety Code as adopted by TCLR.

SECTION 4. Makes application of Section 1305.162(e), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, prospective to June 1, 2018.

SECTION 5. Requires TCLR, not later than March 1, 2018, to adopt rules necessary to implement Sections 1305.101(a)(3) and 1305.162(e), Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2017.