June 17, 2019

MONDAY MORNING MESSENGER

In Brief In this issue of the Monday Morning Messenger , find out the final outcome of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners,plumbing laws and rules in the State of Texas, the Governor has come to a final decision. Also, on the legislative front, Governor Abbott signed major alternative fuel funding legislation. Discover what it means for Texas in our second story of the morning. Thirdly, check out our Regulatory Spotlight of the week, to find out what important regulatory registration is due to the feds. Lastly, find out about what popular jewelry designer to the Stars brand that will continue to hold a trunk show at the 2019 Crossroads Propane Expo hosted by the Texas Propane Gas Association in Corpus Christi to raise money for the TPGA Scholarship Foundation.

MEMBERS ONLY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER In this issue In Brief Plumbing Board Saved Legislative Update Hazmat Registration Convention Spotlight CALENDAR June 18, 2019 ProCOT Meeting Austin, TX Before July 1, 2019 Hazmat Registration Due July 1, 2019 2019 Crossroads Propane Expo & Conference Early bird discount deadline

Top Story

Governor Issues Executive Order to Save State Plumbing Board, Laws & Rules

Hours before a rally of 10,000 plumbers at the Texas Capitol last Friday, the Governor issued an executive order to save the State Board of Plumbing Examiners. "By virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Texas Constitution and the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, I do hereby suspend Section 1301.003 of the Texas Occupations Code to prevent the imminent abolition of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners and expiration of the Plumbing License Law on September 1, 2019, and to delay that abolition and expiration until disaster needs subside, or the 87th legislature addresses the matter. To facilitate the legislature's consideration of the issue, this suspension shall have the force and effect of law until May 31, 2021." - Governor Abbott The Governor was able to find a way through Hurricane Harvey recovery to save the State Board of Plumbing Examiners, plumbing laws and rules scheduled to be abolished on September 1, 2019. The regulation of plumbing, laws, and regulations will not be restricted to Hurricane Harvey recovery areas. It was just a loophole and a way the Governor could save the agency until the next legislative session in 2021. The plumbing exemption with the Railroad Commission is intact another day.

Legislative Update

Alt Fuel Trust Fund Bill Signed by Texas Governor

HB 3745 by Rep. Bell and sponsored by Sen. Birdwell transfers the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) to a trust fund outside the state treasury to be managed by the Comptroller's Office and a trustee. For years, the Texas legislature has used over $1B of TERP to balance the state budget, and it was inaccessible for allocation. Now, TERP in its entirety can be used for its intended purpose to fund cleaner vehicles like propane on Texas roads. Additionally, every 2 years, the association and clean air stakeholders will not have to lobby to get TERP fees renewed and get TERP funded. In the same legislation, TERP will now be funded perpetually until Texas reaches compliance with EPA air quality standards. This is a big win for alternative fuels and propane. In this past biennium, $6M in TERP funds were awarded for propane vehicles alone. School districts, propane marketers and other fleets were able to leverage state funds and go propane. TPGA hopes to continue this momentum in this upcoming biennium, starting in the 4th quarter of 2019.

Regulatory Spotlight

Hazmat Registration: Due to U.S. DOT PHMSA

Your hazmat registration may be due to the Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Each registration year is the one-year period from July 1 to June 30. Who Must Register? A quantity of hazardous material that requires placarding. The placarding requirements are set forth in 49 CFR 172 Subpart F. Note that the transportation of any quantity of a hazardous material in a bulk packaging requires placarding and therefore registration. This includes residues that remain in an un-purged tank truck or rail tank car. Registration Fees For 2019-2020 The annual fee for small businesses and not-for-profit organizations for registration year 2019-2020 and the following years will remain at $250, (plus a $25 processing fee for each registration form), & $2,575 (plus a $25 processing fee for each registration form) for all other registrants. Total with processing fee is $275 for small business and $2,600 non-small business. A company (whether you're a propane dealer, propane wholesaler, propane bulk station and terminal) is classified as a small business for the purposes of hazmat registration, if their company has under 500 employees.

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Convention Spotlight

Kendra Scott Trunk Show Will Raise Money for TPGA Scholarships

The TPGA Scholarship Foundation has decided to fund (6) $3,000 scholarships totaling $18,000 to students fulfilling their dreams of receiving a higher education. The foundation raises funds through a myriad of fundraisers. One of those and new convention tradition, is the Kendra Scott Trunk Show on the Expo floor. Kendra Scott Jewelry will be on hand with their new Summer Collection. 20% of the proceeds will go to the TPGA Scholarship Foundation. The trunk show is exclusively open to tradeshow and conference registrants as well as exhibitors. You must be registered for the 2019 Crossroads Propane Expo & Conference to have access to trunk show.