H.B. No. 2255

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