Press release submitted by Mr. Heuberger
In 2019, Texas Legislature failed to pass a bill extending the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. This year the House by a vote of 143 – 4 passed HB 636 which extends the TSPBE until 2027.
Representative VanDeaver voted in favor of the bill. This bill not only extends the regulation of plumbers in Texas but it also allows the tradesman plumber-limited License to be taught in a career and technology program. Persons who successfully complete the program will be allowed to take the tradesman examination to become licensed as a tradesman. Individuals taking the course will not be required to register as a plumber’s apprentice to take the class. Instructors will be required to be either a master plumber, journeyman plumber or a plumbing inspector.
Local Master Plumber William (Buddy) Heuberger supported a similar measure last session.
Last session, the largest concern of a vast majority of Texas plumbers was the elimination of the TSPBE and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation assuming regulatory authority over plumbers. HB 636, as adopted by the House, keeps the TSBPE intact with several beneficial changes.
HB 636 makes other minor changes to the plumbing license law. It eliminates the requirement for a master plumber to complete a 24hour training class on how to operate a business before becoming a responsible master plumber and own or operate a plumbing company. It also allows the TSBPE to issue Texas plumbing license to out of state individuals as long as their state has similar licensing requirements as Texas. A change that will benefit most licensed plumbers allows all plumbers twelve months to complete their annual continuing education requirement. Currently some plumbers only have a three-month time period to complete the continuing education while others have twelve months. Modifications are made in disciplinary actions, background checks and enforcement.
HB 636 is pending in the Senate Natural Resources & Economic Committee. I ask each person to contact Senator Hughes office at 903.581.1776 or 512.5436.0101 and ask him to support HB 636 as adopted by the House and get it placed on the Senate calendar for a vote as soon as possible. If the legislature fails to adopt a plumbing license bill, state regulation of plumbers will end May 31, 2021.
If the Senate fails to pass HB 636 by a 2/3rds vote the bill will not take effect until September 1, 2021. A potential gap in statutory authority will exist between May 31 and September 1.
Texas has been regulating plumbers since 1897. In 1897 the legislature requires all cities to regulate plumbing and plumber is the city had cesspools or an underground sewer system. Our water sources were contaminated with sewer which caused out beaks of waterborne disease which caused numerous deaths. The city license was valid only in the city where it was issued and was becoming very political. In 1947 the legislature passed a bill authorizing a state issued license which was valid for the entire state and created the TSBPE. The law has been amended several times since 1947.
Plumbers protect the health and safety of the citizens of Texas by properly installing sewer, water, gas, medical gas in our homes, businesses and medical facilities.
Plumbing is a cornerstone of a modern civilization but often taken for granted until disasters, the recent winter storm, Hurricane Harvey and the flooding across Central Texas, reveal our dependency on proper plumbing to protect our health and safety. The proper installation, maintenance, and repair of plumbing systems and fixtures is vital to a developed civilization. Poor quality plumbing can breed diseases in the water supplied to homes and businesses, such as legionnaires disease or bacterial dysentery. Improperly installed water heaters can cause explosions or fires that result in serious injury or death. Plumbing also encompasses piping for gases in medical settings, like hospitals or dental offices, which can be catastrophic if improperly installed or maintained. Regulation ensures that only qualified individuals perform plumbing work to best protect the public. Poor quality plumbing can breed diseases.
The Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development Committee held a public hearing on HB 636 Thursday in the Senate Chamber. William (Buddy) Heuberger testified before this committee in favor of HB 636. He has testified several times in the past on various plumbing, rainwater and crime stopper legislation before House committees, in various meeting rooms. This was the first time he testified in the Senate Chamber.
Heuberger said, “I will remember the experience forever. It was an honor and privilege to be able to take part in our legislative process.”
Click here to follow Texas Plumbers Law Facebook group or check out the website, https://texasplumbertraining.com/ contain more detailed information on HB 636 and other legislation concerning Texas plumbing regulation.
