85R8432 BEE-F By: Kuempel H.B. No. 1698 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the licensing and regulation of a journeyman industrial electrician. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 1305.002, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (11-b) to read as follows: (11-b) "Journeyman industrial electrician" means an individual who engages in electrical work exclusively at a business that operates a chemical plant, petrochemical plant, refinery, natural gas plant, natural gas treating plant, pipeline, or oil and gas exploration and production operation. SECTION 2. Section 1305.102(a), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The commission [executive director] shall adopt rules for the licensing of electricians, sign electricians, electrical sign contractors, electrical contractors, journeyman industrial electricians, 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 1305.1601 to read as follows: Sec. 1305.1601. JOURNEYMAN INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICIAN. An applicant for a license as a journeyman industrial electrician must: (1) have at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician; and (2) complete a certification program approved by the commission. 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 industrial electrician, journeyman lineman, or residential wireman license, the license holder must complete four hours of continuing education annually. SECTION 5. Not later than January 1, 2018, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules as required by Section 1305.102, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act. SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.