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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the high school instruction and licensure of a |
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tradesman plumber, and waiver of certain fee requirements. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1301.002(10), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1301.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(10) "Tradesman plumber-limited license holder" means |
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a person who: |
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(A) has completed at least 4,000 hours working |
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under the direct supervision of a journeyman or master plumber as a |
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plumber's apprentice; or has completed the required amount of |
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courses in the plumbing career and technological education program |
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as set forth in Sec. 1301.3542; |
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(B) has passed the required examination; |
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(C) constructs and installs plumbing for |
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one-family or two-family dwellings under the supervision of a |
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responsible master plumber; and |
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(D) has fulfilled the other requirements of the |
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board. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 1301.3542 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1301.3542. TRADESMAN PLUMBER LIMITED-LICENSE CAREER & |
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TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM. (a) Notwithstanding any age |
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requirements in this chapter, a person who completes a coherent |
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sequence of courses in the plumbing trade offered through a career |
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and technology education program under Subchapter F, Chapter 29, |
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of the Education Code, approved by the State Board of Education, |
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shall be eligible to take the examination for a license as a |
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tradesman plumber-limited license holder. The fee and other |
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examination requirements for applicants under this subsection are |
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waived. |
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(b) A person's completion of the plumbing education program |
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in subsection (a) may be verified by an official high school |
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transcript or equivalent. |
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(c) If the applicant successfully completes the |
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examination, the board shall issue the applicant a tradesman |
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plumber-limited license. |
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(d) A person who pursues a tradesman plumber-limited |
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license under this section is exempt from the plumber apprentice |
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requirements under Section 1301.054(a) and (b). |
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(e) The board may adopt rules to implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1301.401, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1301.401. ANNUAL RENEWAL REQUIRED. |
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(a-1) With written verification from the school, a |
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journeyman plumber, master plumber, or plumber inspector who, as an |
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employee, contractor or volunteer, teaches part-time or full-time |
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for a plumbing career and technology education program pursuant to |
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Section 1301.3542, is exempt from the license or registration |
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renewal and fee requirements in subsection (a). |
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SECTION 4. Section 1301.404, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) A person who holds a license under this chapter, but |
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teaches a plumbing career and technology educational program |
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pursuant to Section 1301.3542 is exempt from the continuing |
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professional education requirements under this section. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |