| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the establishment of a professional bee removal |
|
|
training and licensure program. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 71, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Sec. 71.155 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 71.155. Training OF BEE REMOVAL PROFESSIONALS: (a) |
|
|
The department by rule shall establish the requirements for a bee |
|
|
removal professional training program. Additionally, the |
|
|
individual (to acquire said license, and or certificate would carry |
|
|
insurance in the amount of $600,000.00 aggregate and $300,000.00 |
|
|
per incident (+) workman's comp at his own expense. |
|
|
(b) The training program must include: |
|
|
(1) at least 80 hours of classroom instruction and 80 |
|
|
hours of practical instruction in the areas of: |
|
|
(2) honey bees; |
|
|
(3) beekeeping; and |
|
|
(4) non lethal removal of bees from a structure; and |
|
|
(5) a comprehensive final examination. |
|
|
(c) The department by rule shall establish the minimum |
|
|
passing score for the final examination. |
|
|
(d) The department shall approve one or more organizations |
|
|
to provide the bee removal professional training program. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Chapter 71, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Sec. 71.156 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 71.156. ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OR LICENSE. The |
|
|
department shall issue a bee removal professional certificate to a |
|
|
person who: |
|
|
(e) applies to the department; |
|
|
(f) successfully completes the bee removal professional |
|
|
training program under Section 71.155; and |
|
|
(g) pays the required fee. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 1951, Occupations Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 1951.604 to read as follows: |
|
|
(h) Sec. 1951.604. BEE REMOVAL PROFESSIONALS. (a) Except |
|
|
as provided by Sections 1951.212 and 1951.457(c), this chapter does |
|
|
not apply to a person who: |
|
|
(i) holds a bee removal professional certificate issued |
|
|
under Chapter 71.155, Agriculture Code; |
|
|
(j) does not use pesticides; and |
|
|
(k) collects and removes honeybees. |
|
|
(l) (b) A person described by Subsection (a) is not |
|
|
considered to be engaged in the business of structural pest |
|
|
control. |
|
|
(m) must include: |
|
|
(1) at least 80 hours of classroom instruction and 80 |
|
|
hours of practical instruction in the areas of: |
|
|
(A) honey bees; |
|
|
(B) beekeeping; and non lethal removal of bees |
|
|
from a structure; and |
|
|
(2) a comprehensive final examination. |
|
|
(n) The department by rule shall establish the minimum |
|
|
passing score for the final examination. |
|
|
(o) The department shall approve one or more organizations |
|
|
to provide the bee removal professional training program. |
|
|
SECTION 4. Not later than March 1, 2020, the Department of |
|
|
Agriculture shall adopt rules under Section 71.155, Agriculture |
|
|
Code, as added by this Act, and approve one or more organizations to |
|
|
provide the bee removal professional training program under that |
|
|
section. |
|
|
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect January 1, 2020. |