BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3049

By: Guillen

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties assert that it has become increasingly difficult in recent years to recruit young men and women into the plumbing trade but that the demand for skilled, licensed plumbers in Texas remains steadfast. H.B. 3049 seeks to incentivize high school students to learn trade skills, including plumbing, by crediting applicants for certain plumbing licenses with up to 250 hours of the work experience required for such licenses after completing approved construction trade courses offered through a career and technical education program.

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. 3049 amends the Occupations Code to authorize the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners to credit an applicant for a license as a journeyman plumber or tradesman plumber‑limited license holder, at the applicant's request, with up to 250 hours of the work experience required before taking an examination for such a license if the applicant has completed a coherent sequence of courses in the construction trade that are offered through a career and technical education program that is approved by the State Board of Education.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.