H.B. No. 1698 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 as a licensed electrical apprentice under the supervision of a master electrician; and (2) pass a journeyman industrial electrician examination administered under this chapter. SECTION 4. Section 1305.162, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (e) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), an examination required for a license as a journeyman industrial electrician under Section 1305.1601 may only test an applicant regarding activities performed by a journeyman industrial electrician at a location described by Section 1305.002(11-b). SECTION 5. 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 6. Not later than September 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 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1698 was passed by the House on April 26, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 2, 2 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1698 was passed by the Senate on May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor