Texas makes big move to regulate HVAC industry

danarhea · 06-26-07, 11:05 AM

Note to mods: All I have for a link is to the State of Texas web site, and the title is "A Bill", which does not begin to describe what the bill stands for, not to mention its newsworthiness. Therefore, I have used my own title for the thread, which is descriptive of what just happened here in Texas. Also, although not in the news, this is newsworthy, and you will see why when you read the thread and the link.

For years, the air conditioning and heating field in Texas has been overrun by illegal aliens, and has historically been populated by a few ex-convicts and sexual predators. the bill that I have linked to was just signed into law by Governor Perry, and the votes in the House and Senate were almost unanimous.

Here is what this bill would do:

1) EVERYBODY who goes to a customer's home to do ANY kind of air conditioning work will be required to be registered with the State of Texas. Those who do work without being registered will be committing a crime, and will be punished.

2) ANY company who hires an a/c technician not registered by the state will be fined heavily, and could lose its license, thus going out of business permanently.

Normally, I do NOT like government intervention into the marketplace, but the HVAC has done a poor job of regulating itself, so I wholeheartedly support this new law.

1) Illegal aliens will no longer be able to work as a/c technicians.

2) Ex convicts and sexual predators will not be able to go to peoples homes and do work, unless given permission by the state. The state will do a background check, and if the subject has a bad record with multiple convictions, his days as an a/c technician are over. This was needed because there have been many instances of a/c technicians stealing property belonging to customers while in their homes. There have also been a limited number of instances where sex acts have been committed against peoples' children. The new law will also put a stop to that.

Although the criminal record aspect of the new law was part of the consideration for passage, its main focus was on weeding out illegal aliens. The way I see it, if someone in Mexico (or elsewhere) wants to work at a good job in the United States, they are going to have to stand in line like everybody else. No more free rides for lawbreakers in Texas. Texas is now cracking down, and you are going to see more laws like this soon.

Copy of new law is here.

Captain America · 06-26-07, 11:16 AM

Anyone who has been to Mexico is pretty much aware of the prevailing attitude amongst the population there regarding environment concerns. It means nothing to some there to let sewage go in the road or pouring oil into the water. Nobody really cares and thinks in terms of the environment like we do here. It most likely is the result of years of conditioning and the lack of education coupled with just plain not caring.

I can see an illegal alien, especially one from Mexico, discharging refrigerant CFC's into the atmosphere and not giving it a second thought.

But to see Texas take the lead on this issue is a bit out of character. I was born and raised in Texas. It is a beautiful place. But it is big. Some of the the poorest people have plenty of property though. It's nothing to drive through rural Texas and see a delapidated house or trailer house sitting on 10 acres with three junk cars in the yard and a burn pile full of tin cans. It's common to travel the coastal areas and see sludge oil on the shorelines and smell gas seperator burn-offs in the air. Texas is heavily polluted in many areas. Maybe they also need to look into their own citizens learning a new trick too.

BWG · 06-26-07, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danarhea

2) Ex convicts and sexual predators will not be able to go to peoples homes and do work, unless given permission by the state.

Why is HVAC singled out?
What about plumbers, electricians, carpenters, tile setters, carpet installers, drywall, etc.?

danarhea · 06-26-07, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWG

Why is HVAC singled out?
What about plumbers, electricians, carpenters, tile setters, carpet installers, drywall, etc.?

Because its been the HVAC industry that has been populated by con artists looking to make a quick buck, and perform shoddy work, frequently using illegal aliens to do that shoddy work. People pay many thousands of dollars for new systems, and they should get what they pay for. I cannot begin to count the number of times that someone has called us for a price on a new unit because some other company told them their system was shot, only to find out when we get there, that the problem was nothing more than a loose wire.

Kasmos · 06-26-07, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWG

Why is HVAC singled out?
What about plumbers, electricians, carpenters, tile setters, carpet installers, drywall, etc.?

What about EVERYTHING? Why not pass a bill in every state that regulates that you need to sign up before you work with either the state or strict regulations through the employer?

I need to put in W2 forms, social security identification forms, birth certificate forms, etc., just to be able to WORK at my job.

I think it is high time for every profession to start requiring these things. Then you'll quickly find out illegal aliens won't be a problem anymore.

RightinNYC · 06-26-07, 01:35 PM

Just a side note so everyone knows - this is a totally acceptable way to title an article for breaking news. On the occasions where there isn't a specific title (like this) or where you're trying to bring together multiple news articles to have a discussion (like Iremon's Supreme Court thread), it's completely okay to come up with a "fair and balanced" title that you feel accurately describes the contents.

Just wanted to clear that up.

And re: the article - Sounds like a good idea, might make sense to expand it beyond just this area though, if it turns out to work well without too many problems in this test case.

danarhea · 06-26-07, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RightinNYC

Just a side note so everyone knows - this is a totally acceptable way to title an article for breaking news. On the occasions where there isn't a specific title (like this) or where you're trying to bring together multiple news articles to have a discussion (like Iremon's Supreme Court thread), it's completely okay to come up with a "fair and balanced" title that you feel accurately describes the contents.

Just wanted to clear that up.

And re: the article - Sounds like a good idea, might make sense to expand it beyond just this area though, if it turns out to work well without too many problems in this test case.

There will be problems - many of them, all for HVAC contractors, but in Texas, the state of honesty and integrity in the industry was so poor that something needed to be done. For every company like mine that is ethical (We won BBB Pinnacle Award this year), there are dozens who put their bottom line over the customer, with extremely detrimental effects for the customer.

Note: You would have to agree that the industry is in poor shape if a Libertarian like me, who HATES regulation, applauds this move by government.

Further note: It took me a very long time, and many tries, to be able to post this.