By: Frullo H.B. No. 3029
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to air conditioning and refrigeration contracting and the
education and certification of air conditioning and refrigeration
technicians.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1302.002, Occupations Code, is amended
by amending Subdivision (5-c) and adding Subdivision (5-d) to read
as follows:
(5-c) "Certification training program" means a
program of education and training that is approved by the
department and that includes an apprenticeship program or training
program taught by:
(A) a public school;
(B) an institution of higher education, as
defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; or
(C) a private or independent institution of
higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
(5-d) "Certified technician" means an air
conditioning and refrigeration [a registered] technician who is
certified by the department [has completed a certification
examination].
SECTION 2. Section 1302.1011, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 1302.1011. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules:
(1) providing for the licensing, certification, and
registration of persons under this chapter, including requirements
for the issuance and renewal of a contractor license, a technician
certification, and a technician registration;
(2) establishing fees necessary for the
administration of this chapter, including fees for issuance and
renewal of a contractor license, a technician certification, and a
technician registration; and
(3) implementing the requirements of this chapter as
applicable to persons, entities, and activities regulated under
this chapter.
SECTION 3. Section 1302.255(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) An applicant for a license under this subchapter must:
(1) be at least 18 years old; and
(2) have:
(A) at least 48 months of practical experience in
air conditioning and refrigeration-related work under the
supervision of a licensed air conditioning and refrigeration
contractor in the preceding 72 months; or
(B) held a technician certification issued under
this chapter for the preceding 12 months and have at least 36 months
of practical experience in air conditioning and
refrigeration-related work under the supervision of a licensed air
conditioning and refrigeration contractor in the preceding 48
months.
SECTION 4. Section 1302.263, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 1302.263. LIMITATION ON LICENSE HOLDER. A person
licensed as a contractor under this chapter may not:
(1) perform or offer or attempt to perform an act,
service, or function that is:
(A) defined as the practice of engineering under
Chapter 1001, unless the person holds a license under that chapter;
(B) regulated under Chapter 113, Natural
Resources Code, unless the person holds a license or is exempt by
rule under that chapter; or
(C) defined as plumbing under Chapter 1301,
unless the person holds a license under that chapter; or
(2) use the services of a person who is not a
registered or certified technician or a licensed air conditioning
and refrigeration contractor to assist in the performance of air
conditioning and refrigeration maintenance work.
SECTION 5. Section 1302.402, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 1302.402. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. A proceeding for
the denial of a license, certification, or registration application
or disciplinary action and an appeal from that proceeding are
governed by Chapter 2001, Government Code.
SECTION 6. Section 1302.453(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) knowingly engages in air conditioning and
refrigeration contracting without holding a license issued under
this chapter; or
(2) knowingly engages in air conditioning and
refrigeration maintenance work without holding a contractor
license or a technician registration or certification issued under
this chapter.
SECTION 7. Section 1302.501, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 1302.501. REGISTRATION OR CERTIFICATION REQUIRED. (a)
A person may not act or offer to act as an air conditioning and
refrigeration technician unless the person is registered or
certified under this subchapter.
(b) An air conditioning and refrigeration technician
registration or certification is valid throughout the state.
(c) A person is not required to obtain an air conditioning
and refrigeration technician registration or certification if the
person only assists a licensed contractor in performing:
(1) the total replacement of a system; or
(2) the installation or repair of a boiler or pressure
vessel that must be installed in accordance with rules adopted
under Chapter 755, Health and Safety Code.
SECTION 8. The heading to Section 1302.503, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1302.503. SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS FOR TECHNICIANS
[REGISTRANTS].
SECTION 9. The heading to Section 1302.5035, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1302.5035. REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
SECTION 10. Subchapter K, Chapter 1302, Occupations Code,
is amended by adding Section 1302.5036 to read as follows:
Sec. 1302.5036. CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
An applicant for a technician certification under this subchapter
must:
(1) be at least 18 years old;
(2) have completed:
(A) in the preceding 48 months a certification
training program that:
(i) is approved by the department; and
(ii) consists of at least 2,000 hours of a
combination of:
(a) classroom instruction that is
taught by an instructor approved by the department; and
(b) practical experience in air
conditioning and refrigeration-related work under the supervision
of a licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor; or
(B) 24 consecutive months of air conditioning and
refrigeration-related work:
(i) under the supervision of a licensed air
conditioning and refrigeration contractor; or
(ii) as part of the applicant's military
occupational specialty within the armed forces of the United
States; and
(3) provide the department with proof that the
applicant successfully completed a competency examination as part
of a certification training program described by this section or
another examination of equal or greater difficulty administered by
the department.
SECTION 11. Section 1302.504(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) An applicant for an air conditioning and refrigeration
technician registration or certification must submit a verified
application on a form prescribed by the executive director.
SECTION 12. Subchapter K, Chapter 1302, Occupations Code,
is amended by adding Section 1302.5055 to read as follows:
Sec. 1302.5055. ISSUANCE AND TERM OF CERTIFICATION. (a)
The department shall issue an air conditioning and refrigeration
technician certification to an applicant who:
(1) submits a verified application;
(2) passes a competency examination;
(3) meets the requirements of this chapter and the
rules adopted under this chapter; and
(4) pays the required fees.
(b) An applicant who receives a certification under this
subchapter may use the designation "certified technician."
(c) A certification issued under this subchapter expires on
the first anniversary of the date of issuance.
SECTION 13. Section 1302.509, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 1302.509. LIMITATIONS ON TECHNICIAN [REGISTRANT]. A
person registered or certified under this subchapter may not:
(1) perform, offer to perform, or attempt to perform
an act that is:
(A) defined as the practice of engineering under
Chapter 1001, unless the person holds a license under that chapter;
(B) regulated under Chapter 113, Natural
Resources Code, unless the person holds a license under that
chapter or is exempt by a rule adopted under that chapter; or
(C) defined as plumbing under Chapter 1301,
unless the person holds a license under that chapter; or
(2) assist a person who is not a licensed air
conditioning and refrigeration contractor in the performance of air
conditioning and refrigeration maintenance work.
SECTION 14. Section 1302.508, Occupations Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 15. Not later than December 31, 2017, the Texas
Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules
implementing Chapter 1302, Occupations Code, as amended by this
Act.
SECTION 16. (a) The changes in law made by this Act to
Subchapter K, Chapter 1302, Occupations Code, apply only to an
application for a technician certification submitted to the Texas
Department of Licensing and Regulation on or after January 1, 2018.
An application for a technician certification submitted before that
date is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
(b) The repeal by this Act of Section 1302.508, Occupations
Code, does not affect the validity of a certification issued by the
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation before January 1,
2018, and the former law is continued in effect for the purpose of
that certification.
SECTION 17. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.