By: Schaefer H.B. No. 4296
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the high school instruction and licensure of a
tradesman plumber, and waiver of certain fee requirements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1301.002(10), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1301.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(10) "Tradesman plumber-limited license holder" means
a person who:
(A) has completed at least 4,000 hours working
under the direct supervision of a journeyman or master plumber as a
plumber's apprentice; or has completed the required amount of
courses in the plumbing career and technological education program
as set forth in Sec. 1301.3542;
(B) has passed the required examination;
(C) constructs and installs plumbing for
one-family or two-family dwellings under the supervision of a
responsible master plumber; and
(D) has fulfilled the other requirements of the
board.
SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Occupations Code, is amended by
adding Section 1301.3542 to read as follows:
Sec. 1301.3542. TRADESMAN PLUMBER LIMITED-LICENSE CAREER &
TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM. (a) Notwithstanding any age
requirements in this chapter, a person who completes a coherent
sequence of courses in the plumbing trade offered through a career
and technology education program under Subchapter F, Chapter 29,
of the Education Code, approved by the State Board of Education,
shall be eligible to take the examination for a license as a
tradesman plumber-limited license holder. The fee and other
examination requirements for applicants under this subsection are
waived.
(b) A person's completion of the plumbing education program
in subsection (a) may be verified by an official high school
transcript or equivalent.
(c) If the applicant successfully completes the
examination, the board shall issue the applicant a tradesman
plumber-limited license.
(d) A person who pursues a tradesman plumber-limited
license under this section is exempt from the plumber apprentice
requirements under Section 1301.054(a) and (b).
(e) The board may adopt rules to implement this section.
SECTION 3. Section 1301.401, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
Sec. 1301.401. ANNUAL RENEWAL REQUIRED.
(a-1) With written verification from the school, a
journeyman plumber, master plumber, or plumber inspector who, as an
employee, contractor or volunteer, teaches part-time or full-time
for a plumbing career and technology education program pursuant to
Section 1301.3542, is exempt from the license or registration
renewal and fee requirements in subsection (a).
SECTION 4. Section 1301.404, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) A person who holds a license under this chapter, but
teaches a plumbing career and technology educational program
pursuant to Section 1301.3542 is exempt from the continuing
professional education requirements under this section.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.