83R3410 NC-D
By: Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 796
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the licensing of a journeyman lineman.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1305.002, Occupations Code, is amended
by redesignating existing Subdivision (12) as Subdivision (11-a)
and adding a new Subdivision (12) to read as follows:
(11-a) [(12)] "Executive director" means the executive
director of the department.
(12) "Journeyman lineman" means an individual who
engages in electrical work involving the maintenance and operation
of equipment associated with the transmission and distribution of
electricity from the electricity's original source to a substation
for further distribution.
SECTION 2. Section 1305.102(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The executive director shall adopt rules for the
licensing of electricians, sign electricians, electrical sign
contractors, electrical contractors, journeyman linemen,
residential appliance installers, and residential appliance
installation contractors as prescribed by this chapter.
SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1305.1605 to read as follows:
Sec. 1305.1605. JOURNEYMAN LINEMAN. An applicant for a
license as a journeyman lineman must have:
(1) at least 7,000 hours of training in an
apprenticeship program approved by the United States Department of
Labor; or
(2) at least 3-1/2 years of experience as a journeyman
lineman for an electric utility or electrical contractor in this
state.
SECTION 4. Section 1305.168(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) To renew a master electrician, journeyman electrician,
master sign electrician, journeyman sign electrician, maintenance
electrician, journeyman lineman, or residential wireman license,
the license holder must complete four hours of continuing education
annually.
SECTION 5. (a) Not later than January 1, 2014, the
executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation shall adopt rules regulating the licensing of a
journeyman lineman, as required by Section 1305.102, Occupations
Code, as amended by this Act.
(b) The executive director's rules under Subsection (a) of
this section must include rules that permit the issuance of a
license to an applicant who applies not later than June 1, 2014, and
presents evidence to the Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation that the applicant has at least one year of experience as
a journeyman lineman for an electric utility or electrical
contractor in this state.
(c) A person is not required to hold a license as a
journeyman lineman under Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, as amended
by this Act, before June 1, 2014.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.