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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of water well drillers and water well |
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pump installers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1901.051(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The department[, with the advice of the council,] shall |
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provide for the examination of license applicants [prepare |
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licensing examinations]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1901.155, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1901.155. LICENSE EXPIRATION[; RENEWAL]. [(a)] A |
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license issued under this chapter is valid for one or two years as |
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determined by commission rule [expires annually. On or before the |
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license expiration date, a license holder must pay an annual |
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renewal fee to the department]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1901.201, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1901.201. EXAMINATION. The department may prepare, |
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recognize, administer, or arrange for the administration of an |
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examination required [shall offer examinations for a license] under |
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this chapter. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1901.202(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The department shall ensure that examinations are |
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designed [design written examinations] to disqualify a person who |
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lacks the necessary knowledge of drilling, of completion and |
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plugging methods and techniques, and of groundwater formations to |
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the extent that drilling by the person would create a serious risk |
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of polluting fresh water. |
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SECTION 5. Section 1902.051(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The department[, with the advice of the council,] shall |
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provide for the examination of license applicants [prepare |
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licensing examinations]. |
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SECTION 6. Section 1902.155, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1902.155. LICENSE EXPIRATION[; RENEWAL]. [(a)] A |
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license issued under this chapter is valid for one or two years as |
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determined by commission rule [expires annually. On or before the |
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license expiration date, a license holder must pay an annual |
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renewal fee to the department]. |
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SECTION 7. Section 1902.201, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1902.201. EXAMINATION. The department may prepare, |
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recognize, administer, or arrange for the administration of an |
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examination required [shall offer examinations for a license] under |
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this chapter. |
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SECTION 8. Section 1902.202, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1902.202. CONTENTS OF EXAMINATION. The department |
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shall ensure that examinations are designed [design written |
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examinations] to disqualify a person who lacks the knowledge of |
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pump installation to the extent that pump installation by the |
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person would create a serious risk of polluting fresh water. |
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SECTION 9. The following provisions of the Occupations Code |
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are repealed: |
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(1) Section 1901.054; |
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(2) Section 1901.203; |
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(3) Section 1901.204; |
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(4) Section 1902.054; and |
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(5) Section 1902.203. |
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SECTION 10. Not later than January 1, 2024, the Texas |
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Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules to |
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implement the changes in law made by this Act to Chapters 1901 and |
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1902, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 11. Sections 1901.155 and 1902.155, Occupations |
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Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a license issued under |
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Chapter 1901 or 1902, Occupations Code, that expires on or after |
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January 1, 2024. A license issued under Chapter 1901 or 1902, |
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Occupations Code, that expires before January 1, 2024, is governed |
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by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this |
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Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 12. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3744 was passed by the House on May 2, |
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2023, by the following vote: Yeas 131, Nays 14, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3744 was passed by the Senate on May |
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24, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |