Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1070 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 03/18/2021

                    BILL ANALYSIS             H.B. 1070     By: Harris     Agriculture & Livestock     Committee Report (Unamended)             BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE    Concerns have been raised regarding a longstanding interpretation of law that has permitted the use of unlicensed employees under direct supervision for certain landscape and horticultural pest control work. Arguments over that interpretation have called into question the use of such supervision. H.B. 1070 seeks to codify the interpretation permitting the existing practice and reinforce the status quo by exempting certain persons from the Texas Structural Pest Control Act, which governs licensing requirements for certain pest control professionals.       CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT   It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.       RULEMAKING AUTHORITY    It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.       ANALYSIS    H.B. 1070 amends the Occupations Code to exempt from the provisions of the Texas Structural Pest Control Act, with certain exceptions, a person who performs pest control work on growing plants, trees, shrubs, grass, or other horticultural plants under the direct supervision of the holder of a commercial or noncommercial pesticide applicator license that is issued by the Department of Agriculture and that covers pest control work.       EFFECTIVE DATE    On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.          

BILL ANALYSIS

# BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 1070
By: Harris
Agriculture & Livestock
Committee Report (Unamended)

H.B. 1070

By: Harris

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE    Concerns have been raised regarding a longstanding interpretation of law that has permitted the use of unlicensed employees under direct supervision for certain landscape and horticultural pest control work. Arguments over that interpretation have called into question the use of such supervision. H.B. 1070 seeks to codify the interpretation permitting the existing practice and reinforce the status quo by exempting certain persons from the Texas Structural Pest Control Act, which governs licensing requirements for certain pest control professionals.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT   It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY    It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS    H.B. 1070 amends the Occupations Code to exempt from the provisions of the Texas Structural Pest Control Act, with certain exceptions, a person who performs pest control work on growing plants, trees, shrubs, grass, or other horticultural plants under the direct supervision of the holder of a commercial or noncommercial pesticide applicator license that is issued by the Department of Agriculture and that covers pest control work.
EFFECTIVE DATE    On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

 

Concerns have been raised regarding a longstanding interpretation of law that has permitted the use of unlicensed employees under direct supervision for certain landscape and horticultural pest control work. Arguments over that interpretation have called into question the use of such supervision. H.B. 1070 seeks to codify the interpretation permitting the existing practice and reinforce the status quo by exempting certain persons from the Texas Structural Pest Control Act, which governs licensing requirements for certain pest control professionals.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY 

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS 

 

H.B. 1070 amends the Occupations Code to exempt from the provisions of the Texas Structural Pest Control Act, with certain exceptions, a person who performs pest control work on growing plants, trees, shrubs, grass, or other horticultural plants under the direct supervision of the holder of a commercial or noncommercial pesticide applicator license that is issued by the Department of Agriculture and that covers pest control work.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE 

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.