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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of plumbing. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1301.002, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by amending Subdivisions (1-a), (2), (3), and (4) and adding |
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Subdivision (1-b) to read as follows: |
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(1-a) "Control valve" means a valve that operates each |
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time water is supplied to, or shut off from, a receptacle or |
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plumbing fixture. The term does not include a stop valve that may be |
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installed in the water supply branch to the control valve. |
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(1-b) "Executive director" means the executive |
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director of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. |
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(2) "Drain cleaner" means a person who: |
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(A) has completed at least 4,000 hours working |
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under the supervision of a responsible master plumber as a drain |
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cleaner-restricted registrant; |
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(B) has fulfilled the requirements of and is |
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registered with the board; and |
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(C) installs cleanouts and removes and resets |
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p-traps to eliminate obstructions in building drains and sewers |
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under the supervision of a responsible master plumber. |
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(3) "Drain cleaner-restricted registrant" means a |
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person who: |
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(A) has worked as a plumber's apprentice under |
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the supervision of a responsible master plumber; |
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(B) has fulfilled the requirements of and is |
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registered with the board; and |
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(C) clears obstructions in sewer and drain lines |
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through any code-approved existing opening under the supervision of |
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a responsible master plumber. |
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(4) "Journeyman plumber" means a person licensed under |
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this chapter who: |
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(A) has met the qualifications for registration |
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as a plumber's apprentice or for licensing as a tradesman |
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plumber-limited license holder; |
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(B) has completed at least 8,000 hours working |
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under the supervision of a responsible master plumber; |
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(C) installs, changes, repairs, services, or |
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renovates plumbing or supervises any of those activities under the |
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supervision of a responsible master plumber; |
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(D) has passed the required examination; and |
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(E) has fulfilled the other requirements of the |
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board. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1301.151(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners consists of |
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nine members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent |
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of the senate as follows: |
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(1) one member who has at least 10 years' practical |
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experience and is licensed as a master plumber; |
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(2) one member who has at least five years' practical |
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experience and is licensed as a journeyman plumber; |
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(3) one member who has at least five years' practical |
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experience and is licensed as a plumbing inspector; |
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(4) one member who has been a responsible master |
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plumber for at least five years [is a plumbing contractor] with at |
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least 10 [five] years' experience as a licensed journeyman plumber |
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or master plumber; |
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(5) one member who is a licensed engineer practicing |
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in the field of plumbing engineering; |
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(6) two members who are building contractors with at |
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least five years' contracting experience, one of whom is |
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principally engaged in home building and one of whom is principally |
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engaged in commercial building; and |
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(7) two members who represent the public. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1301.202(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The board shall employ one or more plumbing examiners. |
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A plumbing examiner serves at the will of the board. A plumbing |
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examiner must: |
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(1) hold a license as a plumber issued under this |
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chapter; |
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(2) be knowledgeable of this chapter and municipal |
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ordinances relating to plumbing; and |
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(3) be qualified by experience and training in |
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plumbing practice. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1301.354(c), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) At the applicant's request, the board may credit an |
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applicant under Subsection (b) with up to 1,000 [500] hours of the |
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work experience required before taking an examination if the |
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applicant has completed the classroom portion of a training |
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program: |
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(1) approved by the United States Department of Labor, |
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Office of Apprenticeship; or |
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(2) provided by a person approved by the board and |
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based on course materials approved by the board. |
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SECTION 5. (a) The changes in law made by this Act apply |
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only to an application for a certificate of registration as a drain |
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cleaner or drain cleaner-restricted registrant submitted on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. An application for a |
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certificate of registration submitted before the effective date of |
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this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the |
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application was submitted, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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(b) A person who holds a certificate of registration as a |
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drain cleaner or drain cleaner-restricted registrant issued before |
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the effective date of this Act may continue to renew that |
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certificate of registration without complying with the changes in |
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law made by this Act relating to the work requirement under the |
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supervision of a responsible master plumber. |
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(c) The change in law made by this Act applies only to an |
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application for a license as a journeyman plumber submitted on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. An application for a license |
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submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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(d) A person who holds a license as a journeyman plumber |
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issued before the effective date of this Act may continue to renew |
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that license without complying with the changes in law made by this |
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Act relating to the work requirement under the supervision of a |
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responsible master plumber. |
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SECTION 6. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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1301.151(a), Occupations Code, does not affect the entitlement of a |
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member serving on the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act to continue to |
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serve as a member of the board for the remainder of the member's |
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term. The change in law applies only to a member appointed on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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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. 2255 was passed by the House on April |
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16, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 2255 on May 29, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 4, |
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2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2255 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 27, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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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 |