TITLE 22.EXAMINING BOARDS

Part 17. TEXAS STATE BOARD OF PLUMBING EXAMINERS

Chapter 361. ADMINISTRATION

Subchapter A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

22 TAC §361.1

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners adopts amendments to §361.1(20), without changes to the proposed text as published in the November 14, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 10023).

The amendments to rule §361.1(20), which defines "Direct Supervision", are adopted in response to amendments made to the Plumbing License Law (Occupations Code, Title 8, Chapter 1301) by SB 282, 78th Legislature, Regular Session. The term "Direct Supervision" is used in §1301.002(6) of the Plumbing License Law to state that a Plumber's Apprentice is an individual who works under the "direct supervision" of a licensed plumber. §1301.002(6) also states that a Plumber's Apprentice is an individual who works under the "supervision" of a Master Plumber. The word "direct" is not used in §1301.002(6), when providing the supervision requirements of a Plumber's Apprentice by a Master Plumber. The term "Direct Supervision" is defined by Board rule §361.1(20), as requiring a licensed plumber to be present on-the-job to directly supervise a Plumber's Apprentice who is engaged in learning and assisting in the installation of plumbing work. The proposed amendments to Board rule §361.1(20) will reflect amendments made to §1301.351 of the Plumbing License Law by the 78th Legislature (SB 282, Regular Session), which allows a Plumber's Apprentice to install plumbing in a new one-family or two-family dwelling located in an unincorporated area of the state without the continuous or uninterrupted on-the-job direct supervision of a licensed plumber. The proposed amendments to Board rule §361.1(20) will also reflect amendments made to §1301.351 of the Plumbing License Law, which require a licensed plumber to have training and management responsibility for the Plumber's Apprentice and shall review and inspect the Plumber's Apprentice's work. For the purposes of enforcement of the Plumbing License Law, the proposed amendments also will require the Responsible Master Plumber of a plumbing company to provide the name and plumber's license number of the individual who was assigned to train and manage the Plumber's Apprentice and to review and inspect the Plumber's Apprentice's work.

One comment from the Texas Builder's Association was received, supporting the rule amendment.

The amendments are adopted under and affect Title 8, Chapter 1301, Occupations Code, as amended by the 78th Legislature ("Plumbing License Law" or "Law"), §1301.251 and §1301.351 and the rule it amends. Section 1301.251 requires the Board to adopt and enforce rules necessary to administer the Plumbing License Law. Section 1301.351 allows a Plumber's Apprentice to install plumbing in a new one-family or two-family dwelling located in an unincorporated area of the state without the continuous or uninterrupted on-the-job direct supervision of a licensed plumber.

No other statute, article or code is affected by the amendments.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 23, 2004.

TRD-200400472

Robert L. Maxwell

Executive Director

Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners

Effective date: February 12, 2004

Proposal publication date: November 14, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 458-2145


22 TAC §361.6

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners adopts amendments to §361.6, which specifies certain fees charged by the Board, including the fees for late renewal of each license, endorsement and registration issued by the Board. The amendments are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the November 14, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 10024).

Prior to September 1, 2003, the Plumbing License Law required all fee penalties for late renewal of a license or endorsement to be determined based on the amount of an examination fee. The 78th Legislature (Regular Session) amended §1301.403 of the Plumbing License Law (Title 8, Chapter 1301, Occupations Code), to require that the fee penalties for each late renewal of a license, endorsement or registration be based on the amount of the renewal fee. The amendments to §361.6 will reflect these changes in the Plumbing License Law. The proposed amendments to §361.1 also clarify that renewal fees may be paid electronically utilizing the internet through the Texas Online website, which may be accessed through the Board's website.

No comments were received regarding the proposed amendments.

The amendments are adopted under and affect the Plumbing License Law (Title 8, Chapter 1301, Occupations Code), §§1301.251, 1301.253 and 1301.403. Section 1301.251 requires the Board to adopt and enforce rules necessary to administer the Plumbing License Law. Section 1301.253 requires the Board to set fees in amounts that are reasonable and necessary to cover the costs of administering the Plumbing License Law. Section 1301.403 requires the Board to set late renewal fee penalties based on the amount of the renewal fee.

No other statute, article or code is affected by these amendments.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 23, 2004.

TRD-200400473

Robert L. Maxwell

Executive Director

Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners

Effective date: February 12, 2004

Proposal publication date: November 14, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 458-2145


Chapter 365. LICENSING AND REGISTRATION

22 TAC §365.2

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners adopts new §365.2, which lists the type of plumbing related work that, under certain conditions, does not require an individual to hold a plumber license in order to perform the work, without changes to the proposed text as published in the November 14, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 10027).

The adoption of new rule §365.2 is necessary in order to replace, renumber and relocate rule §365.11 (Exemptions), which is currently proposed to be repealed. The new rule §365.2 will more logically follow rule §365.1 (License and Registration Categories; Scope of Work Permitted). In addition to replacing the current §365.11, the new rule §365.2 will reflect the changes made by the 78th Legislature (Regular Session) to Subchapter B (Exemptions), of the Plumbing License Law (Chapter 1301, Occupations Code). The current Board Rule §361.1 (28), which defines "Maintenance Man or Maintenance Engineer", remains valid and unchanged and does not conflict with the proposed new rule §365.2.

No comments were received regarding the proposed new rule.

The new rule is adopted under and affect the Plumbing License Law (Title 8, Chapter 1301, Occupations Code, as amended by the 78th Legislature), §1301.251, Subchapter B, in its entirety. Section 1301.251 requires the Board to adopt and enforce rules necessary to administer the Plumbing License Law and Subchapter B, §§1301.051, 1301.052, 1301.053, §1301.054, 1301.055, 1301.056 and 1301.057 list the type of plumbing related work that, under certain conditions, does not require an individual to hold a plumber license in order to perform the work.

No other statute, article or code is affected by the new rule.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 23, 2004.

TRD-200400474

Robert L. Maxwell

Executive Director

Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners

Effective date: February 12, 2004

Proposal publication date: November 14, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 458-2145


22 TAC §365.11

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners adopts the repeal of §365.11, which lists the type of plumbing related work that, under certain conditions, does not require an individual to hold a plumber license in order to perform the work, without changes, as published in the November 14, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 10028).

The repeal of §365.11 is necessary in order to renumber and relocate the rule to §365.2, where the rule will more logically follow rule §365.1 (License and Registration Categories; Scope of Work Permitted). Additionally, the current §365.11 does not reflect the changes made by the 78th Legislature (Regular Session) to the Plumbing License Law (Chapter 1301, Occupations Code). The proposal of new rule §365.2 (Exemptions) will incorporate each of the changes to the Plumbing License Law.

No comments were received regarding the proposed repeal.

The repeal is adopted under and affect Title 8, Chapter 1301, Occupations Code, as amended by the 78th Legislature ("Plumbing License Law" or "Law"), §1301.251. Section 1301.251 requires the Board to adopt and enforce rules necessary to administer the Plumbing License Law.

No other statute, article or code is affected by this rule repeal.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 23, 2004.

TRD-200400475

Robert L. Maxwell

Executive Director

Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners

Effective date: February 12, 2004

Proposal publication date: November 14, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 458-2145