By: Goldman (Senate Sponsor - Perry) H.B. No. 3744          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2023;   May 5, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Water,   Agriculture & Rural Affairs; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by   the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the regulation of water well drillers and water well   pump installers.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 1901.051(a), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The department[, with the advice of the council,] shall   provide for the examination of license applicants [prepare   licensing examinations].          SECTION 2.  Section 1901.155, Occupations Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 1901.155.  LICENSE EXPIRATION[; RENEWAL].  [(a)]  A   license issued under this chapter is valid for one or two years as   determined by commission rule [expires annually.  On or before the   license expiration date, a license holder must pay an annual   renewal fee to the department].          SECTION 3.  Section 1901.201, Occupations Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 1901.201.  EXAMINATION. The department may prepare,   recognize, administer, or arrange for the administration of an   examination required [shall offer examinations for a license] under   this chapter.          SECTION 4.  Section 1901.202(a), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The department shall ensure that examinations are   designed [design written examinations] to disqualify a person who   lacks the necessary knowledge of drilling, of completion and   plugging methods and techniques, and of groundwater formations to   the extent that drilling by the person would create a serious risk   of polluting fresh water.          SECTION 5.  Section 1902.051(a), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The department[, with the advice of the council,] shall   provide for the examination of license applicants [prepare   licensing examinations].          SECTION 6.  Section 1902.155, Occupations Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 1902.155.  LICENSE EXPIRATION[; RENEWAL].  [(a)]  A   license issued under this chapter is valid for one or two years as   determined by commission rule [expires annually.  On or before the   license expiration date, a license holder must pay an annual   renewal fee to the department].          SECTION 7.  Section 1902.201, Occupations Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 1902.201.  EXAMINATION. The department may prepare,   recognize, administer, or arrange for the administration of an   examination required [shall offer examinations for a license] under   this chapter.          SECTION 8.  Section 1902.202, Occupations Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 1902.202.  CONTENTS OF EXAMINATION. The department   shall ensure that examinations are designed [design written   examinations] to disqualify a person who lacks the knowledge of   pump installation to the extent that pump installation by the   person would create a serious risk of polluting fresh water.          SECTION 9.  The following provisions of the Occupations Code   are repealed:                (1)  Section 1901.054;                (2)  Section 1901.203;                (3)  Section 1901.204;                (4)  Section 1902.054; and                (5)  Section 1902.203.          SECTION 10.  Not later than January 1, 2024, the Texas   Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules to   implement the changes in law made by this Act to Chapters 1901 and   1902, Occupations Code.          SECTION 11.  Sections 1901.155 and 1902.155, Occupations   Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a license issued under   Chapter 1901 or 1902, Occupations Code, that expires on or after   January 1, 2024.  A license issued under Chapter 1901 or 1902,   Occupations Code, that expires before January 1, 2024, is governed   by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this   Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 12.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.     * * * * *