7-5 Vote to Accept Recommendation to move the oversight of plumbing to TDLR!
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That was the final vote of the Texas Sunset Commission on Wednesday, January 9, 2019. After much discussion, debate and presented modifications, the Commission still felt that the Sunset staff’s recommendation that the industry would be best served under the umbrella of the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation.
You could have heard a pin drop as the members were offering their votes for final tabulation. Once the announcement was seven to move over to TDLR and five to accept the modification to give the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners four more years to fix and address many issues, a collective sigh was heard across the room.
Where do we go from here? Based on the final decisions of the Sunset Commission, a bill will be drafted and sponsored by selected Commission members. It is at that point that our association can reach out to that bill sponsor(s) and ask to weigh in on the future language of the bill. The recommendations adopted at the January 9th meeting along with any additional modifications that were approved will be present in the initial Sunset bill.
It is there that conversations can be had regarding any amendments, additions, and subtractions to the bill. The bill itself will be placed on the legislative calendars to being to move through the process of bill hearings. Going through the legislative system will give our association and other stakeholders the opportunity to comment and testify as to the particulars of the bill itself.
What do we want to happen? We would like to see the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners be given time to address the issues presented by the Sunset Commission staff in their report. Will the issues be rectified and a “turn around” take place? That remains to be seen. Many of the problems presented in the report will require more staff or resources. Both have been lacking in recent years due to mandated budget cuts and hiring freezes.
As the trade association representing your industry, we value your input. Your comments to date have proved valuable as we bring those to the legislators who make up the Sunset Commission. Further, your personal contacts with these individuals have resonated. Every single legislative office that we have visited has told us that they have heard from the plumbers in their district!
What next? We wait to see which legislators will carry the Sunset bill. Next, we start the conversations. Our input will be welcomed as these bill sponsors will need industry’s help in the overall language and background of specific recommendations. We will ask to be a part of the process!
There is much to happen in the weeks ahead. We don’t see this bill being heard earlier than March, but the process will quickly unfold once a hearing date is placed on the calendar. We will then be asking you, the industry stakeholders to weigh in and provide comments.
Stay tuned. There is more to come in these exciting days ahead!
