BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 953 84R11369 TSR-D By: Birdwell Business & Commerce 3/17/2015 As Filed
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 953
84R11369 TSR-D By: Birdwell
Business & Commerce
3/17/2015
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 953
84R11369 TSR-D
By: Birdwell
Business & Commerce
3/17/2015
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Current law unfairly burdens Texas sign companies by not allowing them to advertise, sell, or install an electrical sign unless they have a licensed electrician or sign contractor as a staff employee. This requirement causes sign businesses to incur the costs of paying a licensed electrician's salary when other market-based solutions are available. It may also cause the business to incur the additional costs of providing employment benefits, such as health insurance or other similar benefits. S.B. 953 amends the Occupations Code to exempt from the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act a person who sells or offers to sell a sign that requires electrical work or electrical sign work in connection with the construction or installation of the sign if the person does not perform that electrical work or electrical sign work. As proposed, S.B. 953 amends current law relating to an exemption for certain persons who sell signs from the requirement to be licensed as an electrician. 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 1305.003(a), Occupations Code, to provide that this chapter does not apply to a person who sells or offers to sell a sign that requires electrical work or electrical sign work in connection with the construction or installation of the sign if the person does not perform that electrical work or electrical sign work. Makes nonsubstantive changes to this subdivision. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law unfairly burdens Texas sign companies by not allowing them to advertise, sell, or install an electrical sign unless they have a licensed electrician or sign contractor as a staff employee. This requirement causes sign businesses to incur the costs of paying a licensed electrician's salary when other market-based solutions are available. It may also cause the business to incur the additional costs of providing employment benefits, such as health insurance or other similar benefits.
S.B. 953 amends the Occupations Code to exempt from the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act a person who sells or offers to sell a sign that requires electrical work or electrical sign work in connection with the construction or installation of the sign if the person does not perform that electrical work or electrical sign work.
As proposed, S.B. 953 amends current law relating to an exemption for certain persons who sell signs from the requirement to be licensed as an electrician.
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 1305.003(a), Occupations Code, to provide that this chapter does not apply to a person who sells or offers to sell a sign that requires electrical work or electrical sign work in connection with the construction or installation of the sign if the person does not perform that electrical work or electrical sign work. Makes nonsubstantive changes to this subdivision.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.