84R9744 TSR-F
By: Larson, Gonzales H.B. No. 2255
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the regulation of plumbing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 1301.002(2), (3), and (4), Occupations
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(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 1301.354(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 3. (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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.