88R6654 JCG-D

By: Schaefer H.B. No. 1391

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation of electricians, including the requirements to obtain a residential wireman license.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 1305.157, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1305.157. RESIDENTIAL WIREMAN. An applicant for a license as a residential wireman must:

(1) either:

(A) have at least 4,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician or residential wireman; or

(B) successfully complete a career and technology education program described by Section 1305.1575; and

(2) pass a residential wireman examination administered under this chapter.

SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1305.1575 to read as follows:

Sec. 1305.1575. CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTIAL WIREMAN LICENSE; INSTRUCTORS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Career and technology education program" means:

(A) a career and technology education program under Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code; or

(B) a program determined by the department to be similar to that described by Paragraph (A) and offered by:

(i) an institution of higher education; or

(ii) a private school, as defined by Section 5.001, Education Code.

(2) "Institution of higher education" means an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.

(b) A person who successfully completes a sequence of courses in the electrical trade that are offered through a career and technology education program may apply for and take an examination for a license as a residential wireman, regardless of whether the person has completed the number of hours of on-the-job training required by Section 1305.157(1).

(c) The commission by rule shall establish standards for the essential knowledge and skills of a career and technology education program described by Subsection (b), subject to the approval of the State Board of Education if the courses are to be offered in a high school. The rules must:

(1) require the program to consist of an appropriate number of hours of classroom instruction and a practical component; and

(2) provide for crediting appropriate on-the-job training toward meeting the requirements of the practical component.

(d) A student of any age enrolled in a career and technology education program is eligible to take the sequence of courses described by Subsection (b) without being licensed under this chapter. This subsection does not authorize a person to perform electrical work without the appropriate license outside of a program described by this section.

(e) A person may not provide instruction in a program described by this section unless the person is licensed as a master electrician, journeyman electrician, or residential wireman.

(f) A career and technology education program offered under this section by an institution of higher education may not be more stringent than a program offered by a public high school.

(g) Hours spent completing a program described by this section may not be credited toward any on-the-job training required to apply for a license under this chapter.

SECTION 3. The heading to Section 1305.167, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1305.167. LICENSE RENEWAL; FEE EXEMPTION.

SECTION 4. Section 1305.167, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) A license holder who provides instruction in a career and technology education program described by Section 1305.1575 is not required to pay a fee to renew the license.

SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 1305, Occupations Code.

SECTION 6. In developing the initial standards for the career and technology education program under Section 1305.1575(c), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall consult with the Texas State Technical College and relevant interest groups in the electrical industry.

SECTION 7. 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 September 1, 2023.