BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4154

By: Paul

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties observe that a plumber’s apprentice is able to renew the person's registration indefinitely without completing any continuing education or yearly training but contend that plumber's apprentices should undergo certain training to ensure full awareness of all rules, regulations, codes, and other information pertinent to the practice of plumbing. H.B. 4154 seeks to provide for minimum required classroom training for a person who holds a certificate of registration as a plumber's apprentice seeking to renew the registration for the third renewal and any subsequent renewals. 

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4154 amends the Occupations Code to require a person who holds a certificate of registration as a plumber's apprentice, for purposes of renewing the certificate of registration for the third renewal and any subsequent renewals, to complete during the year preceding the renewal date at least six hours of approved classroom training that includes training in the Plumbing License Law and the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners rules, board-approved plumbing codes, and health protection, energy conservation, and water conservation. The bill conditions the authority of a person to receive credit for participating in a training program on the program being provided by a board-approved person approved and according to board‑adopted criteria. The bill exempts from the bill's mandatory training requirements for such renewals a plumber's apprentice who is enrolled and in good standing in a training program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship. The bill authorizes the board by rule to exempt certain persons from the bill's requirements if the board determines that the exemption is in the public interest and requires the board to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.