HBA-ALS H.B. 2475 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2475
By: Wise
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
4/13/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires that a licensed plumber connect water or sewer service
in small towns with a population over 5,000, except for connections to
homesteads.  However, many colonia home purchasers are unable to qualify
for homestead status, and therefore, must hire a professional plumbers,
rather than being able to utilize self-help labor under the Texas Small
Town Environment Program (STEP).  The purpose of this legislation is to
make changes to the STEP program regarding the provision of plumbing
services to economically distressed areas in the state, particularly in the
colonias.  H.B. 2475 exempts from plumbing licensing requirements certified
self-help projects under the STEP program in certain economically
distressed areas.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 3, Title 109A, Article 6243-101, V. T. C. S.
(The Plumbing License Law), by adding Subsection (c) to provide that
plumbing work may be done without a license by an organization providing
"Self Help" work through a STEP program, certified by the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission, in an area of a county within 150 miles
of the international border the majority population of which is designated
as having low income or very low income according to the federal Office of
Management and Budget poverty index and qualifies as an economically
distressed area under Section 17.921, Water Code (Definitions) or that has
the physical and economic characteristics of a colonia.  Redesignates
existing Subsections (c)-(e) to Subsections (d)-(f). 
 
SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.