HB3593 - Relating to the licensing of real estate inspectors.

  89R13676 RAL-F     By: Goodwin H.B. No. 3593       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the licensing of real estate inspectors.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 1102.001(5), Occupations Code, is   redesignated as Section 1102.001(8-a), Occupations Code, and   amended to read as follows:                 (8-a)  "Qualifying [ (5)  "Core ] real estate inspection   course" means an educational course approved by the commission that   relates to real estate inspection, including a course on structural   items, electrical items, mechanical systems, plumbing systems,   roofing, business, law, standards of practice, report writing,   appliances, or ethics.          SECTION 2.  Section 1102.107, Occupations Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 1102.107.  ELIGIBILITY FOR APPRENTICE INSPECTOR   LICENSE. To be eligible for an apprentice inspector license, an   applicant must:                (1)  at the time of application be:                      (A)  at least 18 years of age; and                      (B)  a citizen of the United States or a lawfully   admitted alien;                (2)  be sponsored by a professional inspector; [ and ]                (3)   submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of   successful completion of at least four classroom hours of a   qualifying real estate inspection course as required by commission   rule; and                 (4)   satisfy the commission as to the applicant's   honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity.          SECTION 3.  Section 1102.108(a), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  To be eligible for a real estate inspector license, an   applicant must:                (1)  at the time of application have:                      (A)  held an apprentice inspector license for at   least three months; and                      (B)  performed at least 25 real estate inspections   under direct supervision;                (2)  submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of   successful completion of at least 90 classroom hours of qualifying   [ core ] real estate inspection courses , in addition to the hours   required by Section 1102.107 ;                (3)  demonstrate competence based on the examination   under Subchapter D;                (4)  be sponsored by a professional inspector; and                (5)  satisfy the commission as to the applicant's   honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence.          SECTION 4.  Section 1102.109, Occupations Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 1102.109.  ELIGIBILITY FOR PROFESSIONAL INSPECTOR   LICENSE. To be eligible for a professional inspector license, an   applicant must:                (1)  at the time of application have:                      (A)  held a real estate inspector license for at   least 12 months; and                      (B)  performed at least 175 real estate   inspections under indirect supervision;                (2)  submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of   successful completion of at least 40 classroom hours of qualifying   [ core ] real estate inspection courses, in addition to the hours   required by Sections 1102.107 and [ Section ] 1102.108;                (3)  demonstrate competence based on the examination   under Subchapter D; and                (4)  satisfy the commission as to the applicant's   honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence.          SECTION 5.  Section 1102.111(b), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  Rules adopted under Subsection (a) may not require an   applicant to:                (1)  complete more than 320 additional hours of   qualifying [ core ] real estate inspection courses;                (2)  complete more than 40 hours of field work, if the   applicant completes correspondence or other course provided by   alternative means; or                (3)  have more than seven years of relevant experience.          SECTION 6.  Section 1102.151(a), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  A license examination must evaluate competence in the   subject matter of each required qualifying [ core ] real estate   inspection course.          SECTION 7.  Section 1102.205(b), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  As a prerequisite for renewal of a real estate inspector   license, professional inspector license, or apprentice inspector   license, the inspector must participate in the continuing education   program and submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of   successful completion of at least 16 classroom hours of qualifying   [ core ] real estate inspection courses or continuing education   courses for each year of the license period preceding the renewal.          SECTION 8.  Sections 1102.107, 1102.108(a), and 1102.109,   Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to an   application for a license under Chapter 1102, Occupations Code,   submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. An   application for a license submitted before the effective date of   this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the   application was submitted, and the former law is continued in   effect for that purpose.          SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.