Bill Text: TX SB237 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain employees of fire protection sprinkler system contractors; providing a penalty; imposing a fee; requiring occupational licenses.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-30 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB237 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB237-Introduced.html

---

85R2349 PMO-F
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 237

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the licensing and regulation of certain employees of
fire protection sprinkler system contractors; providing a penalty;
imposing a fee; requiring occupational licenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 6003.001, Insurance Code, is amended by
amending Subdivisions (1) and (6) and adding Subdivisions (1-a),
(2-a), (2-b), and (12) to read as follows:
(1) "Dwelling technician license" means a license
authorizing a fire protection sprinkler technician to install,
service, or maintain a fire protection sprinkler system located in
a one-family or two-family residence.
(1-a) "Fire protection sprinkler system" means an
assembly of underground or overhead piping or conduits that conveys
water with or without other agents to dispersal openings or devices
to:
(A) extinguish, control, or contain fire; and
(B) provide protection from exposure to fire or
the products of combustion.
(2-a) "Fire protection sprinkler technician" means a
person who installs, services, or maintains a fire protection
sprinkler system or any part of the system as an employee of a fire
protection sprinkler system contractor.
(2-b) "General technician license" means a license
authorizing a fire protection sprinkler technician to install,
service, or maintain any fire protection sprinkler system.
(6) "License" means the document issued to a
responsible managing employee or a fire protection sprinkler
technician authorizing the employee or technician to engage in the
fire protection sprinkler system business in this state.
(12) "Underground fire main technician license" means
a license authorizing a fire protection sprinkler technician to
install, service, or maintain an assembly of underground piping or
conduits that conveys water, with or without other agents, as part
of a fire protection sprinkler system.
SECTION 2. Section 6003.002(b), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) This chapter does not authorize an individual or
organization to:
(1) practice professional engineering other than in
compliance with Chapter 1001, Occupations Code; or
(2) design or install or enter into a contract to
design or install a multipurpose residential fire protection
sprinkler system other than in compliance with Chapter 1301,
Occupations Code.
SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 6003, Insurance Code, is
amended by adding Section 6003.004 to read as follows:
Sec. 6003.004. PERSONAL INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL. The home
address, home telephone number, driver's license number, and social
security number of a license holder or an applicant for a license
under this chapter are confidential and are not subject to
disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
SECTION 4. Section 6003.052(b), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) Under rules adopted under Section 6003.051(b), the
department:
(1) may create a specialized licensing or registration
program for fire protection sprinkler system contractors; and
(2) shall create a specialized licensing program for
fire protection sprinkler technicians.
SECTION 5. Sections 6003.055(a) and (b), Insurance Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) The commissioner shall set the fee for:
(1) a registration certificate application in an
amount not to exceed $100;
(2) an initial or renewal registration certificate in
an amount not to exceed $1,200 annually; and
(3) an initial or renewal [responsible managing
employee] license fee in an amount not to exceed $200 annually.
(b) Unless the examination for a [responsible managing
employee] license is administered by a testing service, the
commissioner shall set a nonrefundable fee for each examination in
an amount not to exceed $100.
SECTION 6. Section 6003.156(a), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The state fire marshal shall establish the scope and
type of an examination required by this chapter. The state fire
marshal shall develop the examinations required under Section
6003.162 based on the most recent applicable guidelines published
by the National Fire Protection Association.
SECTION 7. Section 6003.158(b), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) A person who holds a license issued under Section
6003.153 or 6003.162 must annually complete at least eight hours of
continuing education in accordance with commissioner rules.
[Participation in the continuing education programs is voluntary.]
SECTION 8. Section 6003.159, Insurance Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 6003.159. RECIPROCAL LICENSE. The department shall
[may] waive any license requirement for an applicant who holds a
license issued by another state if the other state:
(1) [that] has license requirements substantially
equivalent to the license requirements of this state; and
(2) has a reciprocal license statute that is
substantially equivalent to this section for individuals licensed
in this state.
SECTION 9. Section 6003.160, Insurance Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 6003.160. LICENSE NOT TRANSFERABLE; SINGLE EMPLOYER
REQUIRED. (a) A registration certificate or license issued under
this chapter is not transferable.
(b) An individual who holds a license issued under Section
6003.153 or 6003.162 may not:
(1) install, service, or maintain a fire protection
sprinkler system unless the license holder is employed by a fire
protection sprinkler system contractor; and
(2) be employed by more than one fire protection
sprinkler system contractor at the same time.
SECTION 10. Subchapter D, Chapter 6003, Insurance Code, is
amended by adding Sections 6003.161, 6003.162, and 6003.163 to read
as follows:
Sec. 6003.161. FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER TECHNICIAN:
LICENSE OR SUPERVISION REQUIRED. (a) An individual may not act as
a fire protection sprinkler technician unless the individual holds
a license issued by the department under Section 6003.153 or
6003.162 or is directly supervised by an individual who holds a
license issued by the department under Section 6003.153 or
6003.162. An individual may install, service, or maintain only the
type of fire protection sprinkler systems for which the
individual's license or the individual's direct supervisor's
license has been issued under this chapter.
(b) An individual may not use the term "licensed fire
protection sprinkler technician" in the person's contracts or
advertising materials unless the individual holds a license issued
under Section 6003.162.
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, a person who holds a
license under Section 6003.153 or 6003.162 is not required to hold a
license or registration issued by another state agency in order to
act as a fire protection sprinkler technician.
Sec. 6003.162. FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER TECHNICIAN
LICENSES. (a) The department shall issue a general technician
license to an applicant:
(1) who has completed 8,000 hours of an apprenticeship
program certified by the United States Department of Labor for the
installation, service, and maintenance of fire protection
sprinkler systems;
(2) who:
(A) has 8,000 hours of experience installing,
servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems; and
(B) passes the department's general technician
license examination; or
(3) who:
(A) has 6,000 hours of experience installing,
servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems; and
(B) passes the National Institute for
Certification in Engineering Technologies Level II test for
inspection and testing of water-based systems.
(b) The department shall issue a dwelling technician
license to an applicant who:
(1) has 4,000 hours of experience installing,
servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems within
the scope of a dwelling technician license; and
(2) passes the department's dwelling technician
license examination.
(c) The department shall issue an underground fire main
technician license to an applicant who:
(1) has 4,000 hours of experience installing,
servicing, or maintaining fire protection sprinkler systems within
the scope of an underground fire main technician license; and
(2) passes the department's underground fire main
technician license examination.
(d) A license issued under this section must be conditioned
on the successful completion of the applicable license examination
and compliance with the requirements of any applicable rules
adopted under this chapter.
Sec. 6003.163. PRESENCE OF LICENSE HOLDER REQUIRED. Each
fire protection sprinkler system contractor shall ensure that at
least one person who holds a license issued under Section 6003.153
or 6003.162 is present at a location where a fire protection
sprinkler system is being installed, maintained, repaired, or
tested by an employee of the fire protection sprinkler system
contractor.
SECTION 11. Section 6003.301(a), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
violates Section 6003.151(a), 6003.153, 6003.161, or 6003.251.
SECTION 12. (a) As soon as possible after the effective
date of this Act, and not later than September 1, 2018, the
commissioner of insurance and the state fire marshal shall adopt
the rules and establish the procedures and examination requirements
necessary to implement the licensing of fire protection sprinkler
technicians under Chapter 6003, Insurance Code, as amended by this
Act.
(b) A fire protection sprinkler technician is not required
to hold a license under Section 6003.161, Insurance Code, as added
by this Act, before September 1, 2019.
SECTION 13. Notwithstanding Sections 6003.161 and
6003.162, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, the Texas
Department of Insurance shall issue a license to a qualified
applicant under this section who:
(1) applies for a license under Chapter 6003,
Insurance Code, as amended by this Act, not later than September 1,
2019;
(2) submits to the department the information required
by department rule;
(3) submits to the department the job description of
the position the applicant most recently performed and a sworn
statement by the applicant's employer attesting to the applicant's
job description;
(4) has at least the number of hours of experience
required by Section 6003.162, Insurance Code, as added by this Act,
for the applicable license for which the applicant is applying; and
(5) pays the application and licensing fee.
SECTION 14. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.