82R7770 TRH-D
By: Hamilton H.B. No. 1853
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the licensing and regulation of fire protection
sprinkler technicians; providing a penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 6003.001, Insurance Code, is amended by
amending Subdivisions (1) and (6) and adding Subdivisions (1-a),
(2-a), (2-b), and (12) to read as follows:
(1) "Dwelling technician license" means a license
authorizing a fire protection sprinkler technician to install,
service, or maintain a fire protection sprinkler system located in
a one-family or two-family residence.
(1-a) "Fire protection sprinkler system" means an
assembly of underground or overhead piping or conduits that conveys
water with or without other agents to dispersal openings or devices
to:
(A) extinguish, control, or contain fire; and
(B) provide protection from exposure to fire or
the products of combustion.
(2-a) "Fire protection sprinkler technician" means a
person who installs, services, or maintains a fire protection
sprinkler system or any part of the system as an employee of a fire
protection sprinkler system contractor.
(2-b) "General technician license" means a license
authorizing a fire protection sprinkler technician to install,
service, or maintain any fire protection sprinkler system.
(6) "License" means the document issued to a
responsible managing employee or a fire protection sprinkler
technician authorizing the employee or technician to engage in the
fire protection sprinkler system business in this state.
(12) "Underground fire main technician license" means
a license authorizing a fire protection sprinkler technician to
install, service, or maintain an assembly of underground piping or
conduits that convey water, with or without other agents, as part of
a fire protection sprinkler system.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 6003, Insurance Code, is
amended by adding Section 6003.004 to read as follows:
Sec. 6003.004. PERSONAL INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL. The home
address, home telephone number, driver's license number, and social
security number of a license holder or an applicant for a license
under this chapter are confidential and are not subject to
disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
SECTION 3. Section 6003.052(b), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) Under rules adopted under Section 6003.051(b), the
department:
(1) may create a specialized licensing or registration
program for fire protection sprinkler system contractors; and
(2) shall create a specialized licensing program for
fire protection sprinkler technicians.
SECTION 4. Sections 6003.055(a) and (b), Insurance Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) The commissioner shall set the fee for:
(1) a registration certificate application in an
amount not to exceed $100;
(2) an initial or renewal registration certificate in
an amount not to exceed $1,200 annually; and
(3) an initial or renewal [responsible managing
employee] license fee in an amount not to exceed $200 annually.
(b) Unless the examination for a [responsible managing
employee] license is administered by a testing service, the
commissioner shall set a nonrefundable fee for each examination in
an amount not to exceed $100.
SECTION 5. Section 6003.156(a), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The state fire marshal shall establish the scope and
type of an examination required by this chapter. The state fire
marshal shall develop the examinations required under Section
6003.162 based on the most recent applicable guidelines published
by the National Fire Protection Association.
SECTION 6. Section 6003.158, Insurance Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), participation
[Participation] in the continuing education programs is voluntary.
(c) A fire protection sprinkler technician must annually
complete at least eight hours of continuing education in accordance
with commissioner rules.
SECTION 7. Section 6003.159, Insurance Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 6003.159. RECIPROCAL LICENSE. The department shall
[may] waive any license requirement for an applicant who holds a
license issued by another state if the other state:
(1) [that] has license requirements substantially
equivalent to the license requirements of this state; and
(2) has a reciprocal license statute that is
substantially equivalent to this section for individuals licensed
in this state.
SECTION 8. Section 6003.160, Insurance Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 6003.160. LICENSE NOT TRANSFERABLE; SINGLE EMPLOYER
REQUIRED. (a) A registration certificate or license issued under
this chapter is not transferable.
(b) An individual who holds a license issued to a fire
protection sprinkler technician under this chapter:
(1) may not install, service, or maintain a fire
protection sprinkler system unless the technician is employed by a
fire protection sprinkler system contractor; and
(2) may not be employed by more than one fire
protection sprinkler system contractor at the same time.
SECTION 9. Subchapter D, Chapter 6003, Insurance Code, is
amended by adding Sections 6003.161 and 6003.162 to read as
follows:
Sec. 6003.161. FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER TECHNICIAN:
LICENSE OR SUPERVISION REQUIRED. (a) An individual may not act as
a fire protection sprinkler technician unless the individual holds
a license issued by the department under Section 6003.162 or is
directly supervised by an individual who holds a license issued by
the department under Section 6003.162. An individual may install,
service, or maintain only the type of fire protection sprinkler
systems for which the individual's license or the individual's
direct supervisor's license has been issued under Section 6003.162.
(b) An individual may not use the term "licensed fire
protection sprinkler technician" in the person's contracts or
advertising materials unless the individual holds a license issued
under Section 6003.162.
Sec. 6003.162. FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER TECHNICIAN
LICENSES. (a) The department shall issue a general technician
license to an applicant:
(1) who has completed 8,000 hours of an apprenticeship
program certified by the United States Department of Labor for the
inspection, service, and maintenance of fire protection sprinkler
systems;
(2) who:
(A) has 8,000 hours of experience installing,
servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems; and
(B) passes the department's general technician
license examination; or
(3) who:
(A) has 6,000 hours of experience installing,
servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems; and
(B) passes the National Institute for
Certification in Engineering Technologies, Level II or III test for
inspection and testing of water-based systems.
(b) The department shall issue a dwelling technician
license to an applicant who:
(1) has 4,000 hours of experience installing,
servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems within
the scope of a dwelling technician license; and
(2) passes the department's dwelling technician
license examination.
(c) The department shall issue an underground fire main
technician license to an applicant who:
(1) has 4,000 hours of experience installing,
servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems within
the scope of an underground fire main technician license; and
(2) passes the department's underground fire main
technician license examination.
(d) A license issued under this section must be conditioned
on the successful completion of the applicable license examination
and compliance with the requirements of any applicable rules
adopted under this chapter.
SECTION 10. Section 6003.301(a), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
violates Section 6003.151(a), 6003.153, 6003.161, or 6003.251.
SECTION 11. (a) As soon as possible after the effective
date of this Act, and not later than January 1, 2012, the
commissioner of insurance and the state fire marshal shall adopt
the rules and establish the procedures and examination requirements
necessary to implement the licensing of fire protection sprinkler
technicians under Chapter 6003, Insurance Code, as amended by this
Act.
(b) A fire protection sprinkler technician is not required
to hold a license under Chapter 6003, Insurance Code, as amended by
this Act, before July 1, 2012.
SECTION 12. Notwithstanding Section 6003.161, Insurance
Code, as added by this Act, the Texas Department of Insurance shall
issue a license to a qualified applicant under this section who:
(1) applies for a license under this section not later
than September 1, 2012;
(2) submits to the department the information required
by department rule;
(3) submits to the department the job description of
the position the applicant most recently performed and a sworn
statement by the applicant's employer attesting to the applicant's
job description;
(4) has at least the number of hours of experience
required by Section 6003.162, Insurance Code, as added by this Act,
for the applicable license for which the applicant is applying; and
(5) pays the application and licensing fee.
SECTION 13. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.