22 TAC §361.6
The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners proposes amendments
to §361.6, which specifies certain fees charged by the Board, including
the fees for renewal of Plumbing Inspector Licenses, Tradesman Plumber-Limited
Licenses, Plumber's Apprentice Registration, Residential Utilities Installer
Registration, Drain Cleaner Registration and Drain Cleaner-Restricted Registration.
This section also includes the renewal fees for the two combined license categories
of "Plumbing Inspector with a Master Plumber or Journeyman Plumber License"
and Master Plumber with a Journeyman Plumber License."
The proposed amendments to §361.6 are in compliance with Senate Bill
187 (77th Legislature) which established the Texas Online Authority and Senate
Bill 645 (77th Legislature) which requires state occupational licensing agencies,
including the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, to raise license and
endorsement fees to pay for the development and use of "Texas Online", a state
web site for electronic occupational license transactions. The Texas Online
Authority has advised the Board that the online renewal of these licenses
and registrations will be implemented by September 1, 2003. The Texas Online
Authority is requiring the Board to begin collecting the additional fees on
September 1, 2003. The annual license and registration renewal fees that were
set by the Texas Online Authority are:
Master Plumber License combined with a Journeyman Plumber License renewal
fee to increase by $5 (from $175 to $180) Plumbing Inspector License renewal
fee to increase by $5 (from $50 to $55.) Plumbing Inspector License combined
with a Master or Journeyman Plumber License renewal fee to increase by $5
(from $50 to $55.) Tradesman Plumber-Limited License renewal fee to increase
by $2 (from $25 to $27.) Plumber's Apprentice Registration renewal fee to
increase by $2 (from $10 to $12) Residential Utilities Installer Registration
renewal fee to increase by $2 (from $10 to $12) Drain Cleaner Registration
renewal fee to increase by $2 (from $10 to $12) Drain Cleaner-Restricted Registration
renewal fee to increase by $2 (from $10 to $12)
Robert L. Maxwell, Administrator of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners,
has determined that there will be a fiscal impact for persons required to
comply with these rule amendments. For the first five-year period that the
rules are in effect, persons who renew the following licenses or endorsements
will pay increased fees in the following amounts:
Master Plumber License combined with a Journeyman Plumber License $25
Plumbing Inspector License $25
Plumbing Inspector License combined with a Master or Journeyman Plumber
License $25
Tradesman Plumber-Limited License $10
Plumber's Apprentice Registration $10
Residential Utilities Installer Registration $10
Drain Cleaner Registration $10
Drain Cleaner-Restricted Registration $10
Mr. Maxwell has also determined that each year of the first five years
the rules are in effect there should be no fiscal impact on state government
if the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners is funded by the 78th Legislature
in the same or similar manner that the agency was funded by the 77th Legislature
to pay the Texas Online Fees to the Department of Information Resources. If
the agency is not funded by the 78th Legislature to pay the additional fees
to the Department of Information Resources in the same manner as it currently
is funded, the adoption of the rule will have a significant impact on the
agency. Final adoption of this proposed rule and implementation of the online
renewal of the license and registration fees is contingent upon the agency
being funded to pay the fees to the Department of Information Resources, in
the same manner that it currently is funded for this purpose.
Mr. Maxwell has also determined that each year of the first five years
the rules are in effect there should be no mandated fiscal impact on local
government as well as small businesses. Any local governments or small businesses
that choose to pay the renewal fees for any of their employees who hold a
license or registration will be impacted by the amount of the fee increases.
Neither local governments nor small business are required by state law or
this rule to pay for the renewal licenses of their employees. The public benefit
anticipated as a result of enforcing these rules will be the ability for individuals
to renew the licenses and registrations described above using the Internet
and paying with a credit card. The Board will also expend fewer resources
processing renewals, which will allow the Board to use the saved resources
to provide better customer service to the public and all of its licensees
and registrants.
Comments on the proposed rule changes may be submitted within 30 days of
publication of these proposed rule amendments in the
Texas Register
, to Robert L. Maxwell, Administrator, Texas State Board
of Plumbing Examiners, 929 East 41st Street, P.O. Box 4200, Austin, Texas
78765-4200.
The amendments are proposed under and affect Texas Revised Civil
Statutes Annotated Article 6243-101 ("Act"), §5(a), Senate Bill 187 (77th
Legislature), Senate Bill 645 (77th Legislature) and the rule it amends. §5(a)
of the Act authorizes, empowers and directs the Board to prescribe, amend
and enforce all rules and regulations necessary to carry out the Act. Senate
Bill 187 (77th Legislature) which established the Texas Online Authority and
Senate Bill 645 (77th Legislature) which requires state occupational licensing
agencies, including the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, to raise
license and endorsement fees to pay for the development and use of "Texas
Online", a state web site for electronic occupational license transactions.
No other statute, article or code is affected by this proposed amendment.
§361.6.Fees.
(a)
The Board has established the following fees:
(1)
Licenses, Endorsements and Registrations
(A)
Master
Plumber
license--$175;
(B)
Journeyman
Plumber
license--$25;
(C)
Medical gas installation endorsement (Master)--$50;
(D)
Medical gas installation endorsement (Journeyman)--$12;
(E)
Plumbing inspector license--$50;
(F)
Water supply protection specialist endorsement (Journeyman)--$12;
(G)
Water supply protection specialist endorsement (Master)--$50;
(H)
Tradesman Plumber-Limited License--$25;
(I)
Plumber's Apprentice Registration/Application--$10;
(J)
Residential Utilities Installer Registration/Application--$10;
(K)
Drain Cleaner Registration/Application --$10;
(L)
Drain Cleaner-Restricted Registration/Application--$10.
(2)
Examinations
(A)
Master
Plumber
examination--$150;
(B)
Journeyman
Plumber
examination--$25;
(C)
Medical gas installation endorsement (Master)--$75;
(D)
Medical gas installation endorsement (Journeyman)--$25;
(E)
Plumbing inspector examination--$50;
(F)
Water supply protection specialist endorsement (Journeyman)--$25;
(G)
Water supply protection specialist endorsement (Master)--$75;
(H)
Tradesman Plumber-Limited Licensee--$25.
(3)
Renewals
(A)
Master
Plumber
license--$180;
(B)
Journeyman
Plumber
license--$27;
(C)
Medical gas installation endorsement (Master)--$55;
(D)
Medical gas installation endorsement (Journeyman)--$14;
(E)
Plumbing inspector license--
$55;
[
$50;
]
(F)
Water supply protection specialist endorsement (Journeyman)--$14;
(G)
Water supply protection specialist endorsement (Master)--$55;
(H)
Plumbing
Inspector with a Master and/or Journeyman
License--
$55;
[
$50;
]
(I)
Master
Plumber
with Journeyman
Plumber
License--
$180;
[
$175;
]
(J)
Tradesman Plumber-Limited License--
$27;
[
$25;
]
(K)
Plumber's Apprentice Registration--
$12;
[
$10;
]
(L)
Residential Utilities Installer Registration--
$12;
[
$10;
]
(M)
Drain Cleaner Registration--
$12;
[
$10;
]
(N)
Drain Cleaner-Restricted Registration--
$12.
[
$10.
]
(4)
Other fees
(A)
Late renewal
(i)
Master
Plumber
:
(I)
less than 90 days--one-half examination fee--$75;
(II)
more than 90 days--examination fee--$150;
(ii)
Medical gas installation endorsement (Master):
(I)
less than 90 days--one half examination fee--$37.50;
(II)
more than 90 days--examination fee--$75;
(iii)
Medical gas installation endorsement (Journeyman):
(I)
less than 90 days--one half examination fee--$12.50;
(II)
more than 90 days--examination fee--$25;
(iv)
Journeyman
Plumber
:
(I)
less than 90 days--one-half examination fee--$12.50;
(II)
more than 90 days--examination fee--$25;
(v)
Water supply protection specialist (Journeyman):
(I)
less than 90 days--one half examination fee--$12.50;
(II)
more than 90 days--examination fee--$25;
(vi)
Water supply protection specialist (Master):
(I)
less than 90 days--one half examination fee--$37.50;
(II)
more than 90 days--examination fee--$75;
(vii)
Plumbing Inspector:
(I)
less than 90 days--one half examination fee--$25;
(II)
more than 90 days--examination fee--$50;
(viii)
Master
Plumber
with Journeyman
Plumber
:
(I)
less than 90 days--one half examination fee--$75;
(II)
more than 90 days--examination fee--$150;
(ix)
Plumbing Inspector with Master and/or Journeyman
Plumber
:
(I)
less than 90 days--one half examination fee--$25;
(II)
more than 90 days--examination fee--$50;
(x)
Tradesman Plumber-Limited License:
(I)
less than 90 days--one half examination fee--$12.50;
(II)
more than 90 days--examination fee--$25;
(xi)
Plumber's Apprentice Registration:
(I)
less than 90 days--one half registration fee--$5;
(II)
more than 90 days--registration fee--$10;
(xii)
Residential Utilities Installer Registration:
(I)
less than 90 days--one half registration fee--$5;
(II)
more than 90 days--registration fee--$10;
(xiii)
Drain Cleaner Registration:
(I)
less than 90 days--one half registration fee--$5;
(II)
more than 90 days--registration fee--$10;
(xiv)
Drain Cleaner-Restricted Registration:
(I)
less than 90 days--one half registration fee--$5;
(II)
more than 90 days--registration fee--$10.
(B)
Instructor Certification Training (Per Day)--$100.
(C)
Duplicate license or registration--$10.
(D)
Returned check--$25.
(b)
Methods of payment
(1)
Examination fees shall be paid in the form of cash, cashiers
check, or money order, or, only in the case of the Plumbing
Inspector
[
Inspector?s
] examination, including, but not limited to
a check from a political subdivision.
(2)
License, Registration and Endorsement fees shall be paid
in the form of cash, cashiers check, personal check (including company check),
or money order, or, only in the case of the Plumbing Inspector License, including,
but not limited to a check from a political subdivision.
(3)
License, Registration and Endorsement renewal fees shall
be paid in the form of cash, cashiers check, personal check (including company
check), or money order, or, only in the case of the Plumbing Inspector license,
including, but not limited to a check from a political subdivision.
(4)
An individual shall pay the appropriate fee prior to the
time of examination or at the time of examination. For License, Registration,
Endorsement, and renewal, the appropriate fee shall be paid prior to issuance
of the License, Registration, Endorsement, or renewal.
(5)
The board, under any special circumstances it finds appropriate,
may:
(A)
waive any requirements concerning the method or timing
of payment of any fee;
(B)
refund any fee; or
(C)
waive payment of any fee not required by statute.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal
has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal
authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on May 12, 2003.
TRD-200302963
Robert L. Maxwell
Administrator
Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners
Earliest possible date of adoption: June 22, 2003
For further information, please call: (512) 458-2145