Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No | Negative | Neutral | Neutral | Negative | Neutral |
Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas State Board
of Plumbing Examiners; authorizing a fee.
HB 636 extends the Sunset provision for The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners until 2027.
HB 636 would remove the requirement that responsible master plumbers must complete an additional training program set forth by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners before being certified as responsible master plumbers and would allow the board to employ or contract with plumbing examiners to administer the practical portion of a training program when such a program is required for the issuance of a license. The board would set the requirements for the test which may be administered online or in person.
HB 636 would also give the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners authority to assign priority and processes for conducting on-site license checks based on perceived risk to public health, safety, or property, and provide public access to information relating to disciplinary action, such as name of party, nature of complaint, and disciplinary action taken.
HB 636 would require applicants to submit to an FBI fingerprint and criminal history background check prior to obtaining a plumbing license.
HB 636 would set criteria for allowing temporary licenses to be issued and would remove the requirement that only licensed plumbers be allowed to install medical gas piping and residential fire sprinklers and no would longer require an endorsement for water supply protection specialist.
A person who performs plumbing without holding a valid permit or license would be subject to disciplinary action by the Board.
Texas Action opposes HB 636 because it violates our principles of free markets and limited government. Several aspects of this bill further the barrier to entry in the plumbing profession by unduly burdening those wanting to perform a service with unnecessary training requirements and financial burdens through annual license fees. Also, publicly posting an individual's name and disciplinary action history, with no option to rectify a complaint allegation offered to the plumber, violates individual privacy. For these reasons, Texas Action opposes HB 636.