Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3344 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/25/2025

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                            89R12580 DNC-F
 By: Curry H.B. No. 3344




 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the regulation of roofing contractors; providing an
 administrative penalty; authorizing a fee; creating a criminal
 offense; requiring an occupational license.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Title 8, Occupations Code, is amended by adding
 Chapter 1306 to read as follows:
 CHAPTER 1306. ROOFING CONTRACTORS
 SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
 Sec. 1306.001.  SHORT TITLE.  This chapter may be cited as
 the Roofing Contractor Consumer Protection Act.
 Sec. 1306.002.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
 (1)  "Advisory board" means the roofing contractors
 advisory board.
 (2)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission of
 Licensing and Regulation.
 (3)  "Controlling person" means an individual who:
 (A)  is an owner, officer, or director of a
 roofing contractor;
 (B)  possesses direct or indirect control of at
 least 10 percent of the voting securities of a roofing contractor
 that is a corporation;
 (C)  owns or possesses direct or indirect control
 of at least $25,000 of the fair market value of a roofing
 contractor;
 (D)  directly or indirectly possesses the power to
 direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a
 roofing contractor; or
 (E)  has a direct or indirect interest in at least
 10 percent of the profits, proceeds, or capital gains of a roofing
 contractor.
 (4)  "Department" means the Texas Department of
 Licensing and Regulation.
 (5)  "Executive director" means the executive director
 of the department.
 (6)  "Roofing contractor" means a person who performs
 roofing services for compensation.
 (7)  "Roofing product" means any material commonly used
 in the construction, installation, or replacement of a commercial
 or residential roof.
 (8)  "Roofing services" means the installation,
 construction, maintenance, repair, alteration, or modification of
 a roofing product for a commercial or residential roof.
 Sec. 1306.003.  EXEMPTIONS.  (a)  This chapter does not apply
 to:
 (1)  the owner of residential property or property used
 primarily for agricultural purposes, or an employee of the owner,
 who physically performs roofing services on the owner's dwelling or
 on another structure located on the property;
 (2)  an authorized employee or representative of the
 United States government, this state, or any county, municipality,
 or other political subdivision of this state acting in an official
 capacity;
 (3)  a person who furnishes any fabricated or finished
 roofing product, material, or article of merchandise that is not
 incorporated into or attached to real property by the person;
 (4)  an employee of a roofing contractor licensed under
 this chapter; or
 (5)  a person who performs roofing services for the new
 construction of a commercial or residential structure.
 (b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a person described by
 Subsection (a)(5) may be subject to the requirements of this
 chapter to the extent the person provides roofing services other
 than those described by that subdivision.
 Sec. 1306.004.  CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPTER; CONFLICT WITH OTHER
 LAW.  This chapter shall be construed to be in addition to any
 required licensure of persons in this state.  This chapter is not
 intended to conflict with or affect the authority of any state or
 local agency, board, or department that administers or enforces any
 law or ordinance or that establishes, administers, or enforces a
 policy, rule, qualification, or standard for a trade or profession.
 SUBCHAPTER B. ADVISORY BOARD
 Sec. 1306.051.  ROOFING CONTRACTORS ADVISORY BOARD. (a)
 The advisory board consists of five members appointed by the
 presiding officer of the commission with the approval of the
 commission as follows:
 (1)  one general contractor who is not a roofing
 contractor;
 (2)  three roofing contractors licensed under this
 chapter; and
 (3)  one public member.
 (b)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), the commission may
 appoint a roofing contractor who is not licensed under this chapter
 if the contractor has fulfilled the requirements for the issuance
 of a license and has submitted a complete application to the
 department. The commission shall remove from the advisory board a
 roofing contractor appointed under this subsection if the
 contractor does not receive a license before the 31st day after the
 date the contractor is appointed to the advisory board.
 (c)  Appointments to the advisory board shall be made without
 regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or
 national origin of the appointee.
 (d)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
 composition or duration of the advisory board.
 Sec. 1306.052.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF ADVISORY BOARD. The
 advisory board shall provide advice and recommendations to the
 commission on the adoption of rules governing the repair of a
 roofing system.
 Sec. 1306.053.  COMPENSATION. Advisory board members may
 not receive compensation for serving as a member.
 SUBCHAPTER C.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSION
 Sec. 1306.101.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The department,
 executive director, or commission, as appropriate, may take action
 as necessary to administer and enforce this chapter.
 Sec. 1306.102.  RULES. The commission shall adopt rules as
 necessary to administer this chapter, including rules relating to:
 (1)  licensing roofing contractors and establishing
 standards of conduct for license holders, including the display of
 a license by a license holder;
 (2)  investigating and resolving complaints filed
 under this chapter;
 (3)  establishing the minimum financial responsibility
 requirements for license holders;
 (4)  administering a licensing examination; and
 (5)  prohibiting false, misleading, or deceptive
 advertising practices by license holders.
 Sec. 1306.103.  CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK.  The
 department may obtain criminal history record information under
 Subchapter F, Chapter 411, Government Code, for an applicant for or
 holder of a license under this chapter.  For purposes of Section
 411.093, Government Code, an applicant for or holder of a license
 under this chapter includes a controlling person of an applicant or
 holder.
 Sec. 1306.104.  LICENSE HOLDER DATABASE. The commission
 shall make available on its Internet website a publicly accessible
 list of licensed roofing contractors. The list must contain the
 following for each licensed roofing contractor:
 (1)  contact information for the contractor;
 (2)  a statement indicating whether the contractor is
 licensed in good standing;
 (3)  a summary of any disciplinary action taken by the
 commission against the contractor; and
 (4)  any other information that the commission
 determines is relevant.
 SUBCHAPTER D. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
 Sec. 1306.151.  LICENSE REQUIRED. (a)  A person may not act
 as or offer to act as a roofing contractor unless the person holds a
 license issued under this chapter.
 (b)  A license:
 (1)  is valid only with respect to the person or company
 named on the license; and
 (2)  authorizes the license holder to operate one
 roofing contractor business for each license.
 (c)  A license issued under this chapter is not transferable
 or assignable.
 Sec. 1306.152.  APPLICATION; APPLICATION FEE.  (a) An
 applicant for a license must:
 (1)  apply to the department on a form prescribed by the
 executive director and under rules adopted by the commission;
 (2)  submit with the application a nonrefundable
 application fee in an amount set by the commission; and
 (3)  pass an examination adopted by the department.
 (b)  The commission by rule shall specify the information
 that must be included on an application submitted to the
 department. The rules must require each application to include:
 (1)  the name and address of, and an authorization for
 the department to obtain criminal history record information for,
 each controlling person; and
 (2)  evidence that the applicant satisfies the minimum
 financial responsibility requirements established by commission
 rule.
 Sec. 1306.153.  TERM OF LICENSE.  A license issued under this
 chapter is valid for one year.
 Sec. 1306.154.  EXAMINATION. (a) An examination required
 by this chapter shall be conducted at locations throughout the
 state.
 (b)  The department shall accept, develop, or contract for
 the examination required by this chapter, including the
 administration of the examination. Each examination must test the
 knowledge of the applicant about basic contracting principles and
 roofing services.
 (c)  The executive director shall determine uniform
 standards for acceptable performance on an examination.
 SUBCHAPTER E. PRACTICE BY LICENSE HOLDER
 Sec. 1306.201.  DISPLAY OF LICENSE INFORMATION. (a)  A
 roofing contractor shall display the contractor's business name and
 the number of the license issued by the executive director on each
 vehicle owned by the contractor and used in providing roofing
 services.
 (b)  The information required to be displayed must be:
 (1)  printed in letters and numbers that are at least
 two inches high and in a color that contrasts with the color of the
 background surface; and
 (2)  affixed in conspicuous places on both sides of the
 vehicle.
 Sec. 1306.202.  COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL REQUIREMENTS.  A
 roofing contractor shall comply with local ordinances and
 regulations relating to standards and permits for roofing services.
 Sec. 1306.203.  OBTAINING A LICENSE UNDER ANOTHER NAME
 PROHIBITED. (a)  A person may not attempt to obtain a license under
 any other name during any period during which the person's roofing
 contractor license is suspended or revoked.
 (b)  Subsection (a) applies to any controlling person of a
 business entity or other group whose license is suspended or
 revoked.
 Sec. 1306.204.  NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE OF INFORMATION.  A
 roofing contractor shall timely notify the department of any change
 to the name, address, business entity, liability coverage, or legal
 service agent of the contractor.
 Sec. 1306.205.  PROHIBITED ACTS.  A roofing contractor
 providing roofing services to be paid by a consumer from the
 proceeds of the consumer's property or casualty insurance policy
 may not pay or rebate or promise to pay or rebate all or part of any
 applicable insurance deductible.
 Sec. 1306.206.  CONFLICTS OF INTEREST PROHIBITED.  (a)  In
 this section, "public insurance adjuster" has the meaning assigned
 by Section 4102.001, Insurance Code.
 (b)  A roofing contractor may not act as a public insurance
 adjuster for any property for which the contractor is providing
 roofing services, regardless of whether the contractor holds a
 license under Chapter 4102, Insurance Code.
 (c)  A roofing contractor is subject to the prohibitions
 under Section 4102.158, Insurance Code.
 SUBCHAPTER F.  ENFORCEMENT
 Sec. 1306.251.  INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS. (a)  The
 department shall investigate any complaint alleging that a
 violation of this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter has
 occurred.
 (b)  A complaint must be filed in a manner prescribed by the
 department.
 Sec. 1306.252.  ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY.  The commission or
 executive director may impose an administrative penalty on a person
 under Subchapter F, Chapter 51, regardless of whether the person
 holds a license under this chapter, if the person violates:
 (1)  this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter;
 or
 (2)  a rule or order of the commission or executive
 director.
 Sec. 1306.253.  SANCTIONS. The commission may impose
 sanctions as provided by Section 51.353.
 Sec. 1306.254.  CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a)  A person commits an
 offense if the person:
 (1)  violates the licensing requirements of this
 chapter; or
 (2)  performs roofing services without a license
 required by this chapter.
 (b)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
 SECTION 2.  Not later than February 1, 2026, the Texas
 Commission of Licensing and Regulation, the Texas Department of
 Licensing and Regulation, and the executive director of the Texas
 Department of Licensing and Regulation, as appropriate, shall adopt
 rules and forms necessary to implement Chapter 1306, Occupations
 Code, as added by this Act.
 SECTION 3.  The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
 shall issue a roofing contractor license under Chapter 1306,
 Occupations Code, as added by this Act, to an applicant who:
 (1)  applies for a license under this section not later
 than June 1, 2026;
 (2)  submits to the department the information required
 by rule;
 (3)  has at least 10 years of experience performing
 roofing services as defined by Section 1306.002, Occupations Code,
 as added by this Act; and
 (4)  pays the application fee established by the Texas
 Commission of Licensing and Regulation.
 SECTION 4.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
 section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
 (b)  Section 1306.151, Occupations Code, and Subchapters E
 and F, Chapter 1306, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, take
 effect September 1, 2026.