BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 470 81R3426 JMM-D By: Carona Business & Commerce 3/12/2009 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT In 2003, the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, passed the Texas Electrical Safety & Licensing Act (Act). The Act set statewide, enforceable standards for electrical work and required that most electricians working in the industry be properly trained and licensed. Under current law, there are six licensing categories for electricians: master electrician, journeymen electrician, apprentice electrician, master sign electrician, journeymen sign electrician, and apprentice sign electrician. With the exception of apprentice electricians, the Act requires licensed electricians in all categories to obtain the minimum number of training and continuing education hours each year. As proposed, S.B. 470 requires electrical apprentices not enrolled in a recognized apprenticeship training program to take four hours of continuing education each year. S.B. 470 also requires that continuing education courses for other classes of licenses address electrical safety and electrical theory. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 1305.002, Occupations Code, by adding Subdivision (1-b), to define "apprenticeship training program." SECTION 2. Amends Section 1305.168, Occupations Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1), as follows: (b) Requires that continuing education courses that satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a), rather than this section, address safety, electrical theory, the National Electrical Code, as adopted under Section 1305.101 (General Powers and Duties), and state laws and rules that regulate the conduct of license holders under this chapter. (b-1) Requires a license holder who is not enrolled in an apprenticeship training program, to renew an electrical apprentice license, to complete four hours of continuing education annually. Requires that continuing education courses that satisfy the requirements of this subsection address safety, the National Electrical Code, as adopted under Section 1305.101, and state laws and rules that regulate the conduct of license holders under this chapter. SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 470
81R3426 JMM-D By: Carona
Business & Commerce
3/12/2009
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In 2003, the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, passed the Texas Electrical Safety & Licensing Act (Act). The Act set statewide, enforceable standards for electrical work and required that most electricians working in the industry be properly trained and licensed. Under current law, there are six licensing categories for electricians: master electrician, journeymen electrician, apprentice electrician, master sign electrician, journeymen sign electrician, and apprentice sign electrician. With the exception of apprentice electricians, the Act requires licensed electricians in all categories to obtain the minimum number of training and continuing education hours each year.
As proposed, S.B. 470 requires electrical apprentices not enrolled in a recognized apprenticeship training program to take four hours of continuing education each year. S.B. 470 also requires that continuing education courses for other classes of licenses address electrical safety and electrical theory.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 1305.002, Occupations Code, by adding Subdivision (1-b), to define "apprenticeship training program."
SECTION 2. Amends Section 1305.168, Occupations Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1), as follows:
(b) Requires that continuing education courses that satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a), rather than this section, address safety, electrical theory, the National Electrical Code, as adopted under Section 1305.101 (General Powers and Duties), and state laws and rules that regulate the conduct of license holders under this chapter.
(b-1) Requires a license holder who is not enrolled in an apprenticeship training program, to renew an electrical apprentice license, to complete four hours of continuing education annually. Requires that continuing education courses that satisfy the requirements of this subsection address safety, the National Electrical Code, as adopted under Section 1305.101, and state laws and rules that regulate the conduct of license holders under this chapter.
SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2009.