HBA-DMH C.S.H.B. 3409 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 3409 By: King, Tracy Licensing & Administrative Procedures 5/8/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, water treatment professionals are referred to as residential water treatment operators. This description no longer accurately reflects the responsibilities of and duties performed by individuals who work in the water treatment technology profession. In addition, granting certification to such individuals is currently the duty of the commissioner of health. C.S.H.B. 3409 transfers this certification duty to the executive director of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) and authorizes a person certified by the executive director of TNRCC to use the title "water treatment specialist." RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority previously delegated to the Texas Board o Heath is transferred to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission in SECTION 2 (Section 3A, Article 6243-101, V.T.C.S.) of this bill. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 3409 amends The Plumbing License Law to authorize a person certified by the executive director of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) or the executive director's designee as being qualified for the installation, exchange, servicing, and repair of residential water treatment facilities to use the title "water treatment specialist." The bill transfers the authority over the certification process from the commissioner of public health to the executive director of TNRCC. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 3409 differs from the original by transferring the authority over the certification process of persons performing certain duties as a residential water treatment facility from the commissioner of public health to the executive director of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.