86R11367 SCL-F
 
  By: Hernandez H.B. No. 2466
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of contractors and equipment mechanics
  for elevators, escalators, and related equipment; requiring an
  occupational permit; authorizing a fee; authorizing an
  administrative penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 754.011, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subdivision (13) and adding Subdivision (15-a)
  to read as follows:
               (13)  "Contractor" means a person engaged in the
  business of installation, alteration, testing, repair, or
  maintenance of equipment. The term does not include an employee of a
  contractor or a person engaged in cleaning or any other work
  performed on equipment that does not affect the operational safety
  of the equipment or diminish the safety of the equipment below the
  level required by the ASME Code A17.1, ASME Code A17.3, ASME Code
  A18.1, or ASCE Code 21, as applicable.
               (15-a)  "Equipment mechanic" means an individual who is
  engaged in erecting, constructing, installing, altering,
  servicing, repairing, or maintaining equipment.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 754, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Section 754.0165 to read as follows:
         Sec. 754.0165.  EQUIPMENT MECHANIC REGISTRATION. (a) An
  individual may not install, repair, alter, test, or maintain
  equipment unless the individual is:
               (1)  registered as an equipment mechanic with the
  department as required by this section; or
               (2)  supervised by a registered equipment mechanic.
         (b)  An applicant for equipment mechanic registration or
  renewal of registration, as applicable, shall submit an application
  to the department in the form and manner prescribed by the
  department. The department may impose a registration and renewal
  fee in an amount not greater than the amount necessary to cover the
  department's expenses in administering this chapter.
         (c)  An applicant for a registration must submit with the
  application a certificate of completion from:
               (1)  a nationally recognized training program for the
  equipment industry;
               (2)  an elevator conductor apprenticeship program
  approved by the United States Department of Labor or a similar
  federal program for other equipment; or
               (3)  an equivalent program approved by the department.
         (d)  An applicant for a renewal of registration must submit
  with the application proof of completion of continuing education
  related to the installation, repair, alteration, testing, or
  maintenance of equipment in accordance with commission rule.
         (e)  A registration issued under this section expires on the
  second anniversary of the date of issuance.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 754.0171(a) and (b), Health and Safety
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A person may not be engaged in the business of
  installing, repairing, altering, testing, or maintaining [install,
  repair, alter, test, or maintain] equipment without registering as
  a contractor with the department as required by this chapter.
         (b)  A contractor shall submit an application for
  registration or renewal of registration, as applicable, and pay
  appropriate fees to the department.  The registration application
  form shall require:
               (1)  information concerning the background,
  experience, and identity of the applicant;
               (2)  designation of and information regarding the
  responsible party or parties under Section 754.0173; [and]
               (3)  documentation of fulfillment of the continuing
  education requirements for renewal of registration, if applicable;
  and
               (4)  a list of all equipment mechanics employed by the
  contractor.
         SECTION 4.  Section 754.0174(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Each contractor's responsible party and each equipment
  mechanic employed by the contractor must complete continuing
  education requirements set by commission rule before the contractor
  may renew the contractor's registration.
         SECTION 5.  Section 754.021, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 754.021.  LIST OF REGISTERED ELEVATOR INSPECTORS,
  EQUIPMENT MECHANICS, AND CONTRACTORS; PERSONNEL.  The executive
  director shall:
               (1)  compile a list of elevator inspectors, equipment
  mechanics, and contractors who are registered with the department;
  and
               (2)  employ personnel who are necessary to enforce this
  chapter.
         SECTION 6.  Section 754.0232(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The commission or executive director may deny, suspend,
  or revoke a registration under this chapter and may assess an
  administrative penalty for:
               (1)  obtaining registration by fraud or false
  representation;
               (2)  falsifying a report submitted to the executive
  director; [or]
               (3)  violating this chapter or a rule adopted under
  this chapter; or
               (4)  engaging in reckless conduct.
         SECTION 7.  (a)  The Texas Commission of Licensing and
  Regulation shall adopt rules necessary to implement the change in
  law made by this Act not later than January 1, 2020.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 754.0165, Health and Safety
  Code, as added by this Act, an individual is not required to comply
  with that section until January 1, 2020.
         SECTION 8.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  an application or renewal application for registration as a
  contractor under Chapter 754, Health and Safety Code, as amended by
  this Act, filed on or after January 1, 2020. An application or
  renewal application for registration as a contractor under that
  chapter filed before January 1, 2020, is governed by the law in
  effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.