Good morning all. Last week was an extremely busy one for the association. Several of our top flagged bills received hearings in the Texas House and Texas Senate.
In this issue of the Monday Morning Messenger, the Texas Propane Gas Association (TPGA), we highlight only a couple of those top-tier bills that had hearings and plan to trickle in updates on the others in the weeks to follow.
TPGA Executive Director Bill Van Hoy testified on two propane training-related bills in the Senate last week. Read more about the legislation and the Senate hearing in our first story of the morning.
Secondly, states all over the country are introducing pre-emption bills to prohibit cities from requiring all-electric homes and buildings, including Texas. The Texas legislation that includes propane received a hearing last week; read more about the hearing in our second story of the morning.
TPGA is excited to announce the opening of our Texas scholarship application round. We invite Texas children and grandchildren of TPGA members to apply. Learn more about the 2021 program in our third story of the morning.
The Propane Education & Research Council, in partnership with the National Propane Gas Association and the U.S. Department of Labor, will be holding a webinar on NPGA's Registered Apprenticeship Program this week. Check out our last story for more about this webinar to inform the propane industry on this new program.
Check out our Quick Links section to register for the Propane Council of Texas' upcoming webinar on their new appliance rebate program. Also, as always, please find a link to our TPGA store, where members can log in and start saving on hundreds of items.
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In this issue
- In Brief
- RRC Training Legislation
- Ban the Gas Ban Hearing
- TPGA Scholarship Open
- NPGA/DOL Apprenticeship
- Quick Links
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Calendar
April 12-30, 2021
April 13, 2021
April 14, 2021
April 20, 2021
April 20-21, 2021
April 22 2021
Earth Day
April 22, 2021
May 13, 2021
May 31, 2021
Last Day of Texas Legislature
May 31, 2021
May 31, 2021
May 31, 2021
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Propane Training Bills
Considered in the Texas Senate
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Last week, the Senate Natural Resources Committee met to consider two Senate bills introduced by East Texas Senator Bryan Hughes regarding the Alternative Fuels Safety Division training, which oversees over 12,500 certified LPG/CNG/LNG professionals.
SB 1582 is a Railroad Commission of Texas(RRC) sponsored bill, allowing the RRC to do online proctoring of exams, which they have been doing during the pandemic and hope to continue to offer the online exams in addition to in-person examinations.
The SB 1668 (a work in progress so not linked) would allow dispenser operators / DOT cylinder certification level employees the option to take the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC)'s newly updated nationally developed and acclaimed Dispensing Propane Safely Program. The interactive one training program is free and available through PERC online learning management systems.
Those who complete the course through PERC receive a certificate of completion, and the course appears on their permanent online downloadable transcript housed on PERC's online system.
Tractor Supply testified that they have over 210 locations with 174 dispensing propane in Texas, and there isn't sufficient training availability to have their employees trained through the Commission.
TPGA Executive Director Bill Van Hoy testified in front of Texas Senators in favor of bills. Stating anything that will expedite the training and testing process is appreciated. He noted that COVID and the recent storms strained the training and testing process, which he stated that it needs an audit and cleanup. More Texans want to go to work but can't, but there is limited capacity not only in training but also in the testing.
Later this afternoon, the Texas House Energy Resources Committee will hear the House companion bill, HB 3885 by Rep. John Raney (R- Bryan/College Station) on allowing cylinder filler employees the option to take PERC's Dispensing Propane Safely Course for initial training.
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Propane Ban Gas Ban Bill
Gets Hearing in the Texas House
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Last week, Rep. Jay Dean laid out a revised version of TX HB 1501, the Propane Ban Gas Ban Bill. The committee substitute (CS) linked below adds language to strengthen the bill that would prevent local governments, cities, and counties from prohibiting propane and natural gas appliances, connections, and systems as some cities across the nation look to electrify everything.
Sierra Club provided written testimony entitled "Sierra Club has serious concerns about HB 1501" to House State Affairs committee members, but says it is open to the legislation if the bill is clarified that cities would still be allowed promote, not require, but promote electric policies, recommendations and offer rebates if they so choose.
Dubbed a consumer choice protection bill by the bill author, HB 1501 was left pending. All house bills that are not deemed an emergency item by the Governor are left pending upon their first hearing as standard operating procedure.
TPGA will continue to update its members on HB 1501 as it makes its way through the legislative process.
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Scholarships Available for
Your Kids & Grandkids: Apply Now
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The TPGA Scholarship Foundation is dedicated assisting children and grandchildren of the Texas Propane Gas Association member companies reach their goals of higher education.
The Foundation has distributed $150,000 worth of scholarships over the last 23 years.
The TPGA Scholarship Foundation invites Texas high school seniors and undergraduates to apply for a scholarship if they will be enrolled full-time in a college, university or trade school during the 2021-2022 school year.
Check out criteria, required documents for submission and apply at
POST the below POSTER and SHARE POSTER with your Texas employees.
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Questions? Please contact us by phone at (800)325-7427 or email
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Submission deadline is June 1, 2021. |
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Dispelling Myths of Apprenticeship Programs & Introducing the
NPGA & U.S. DOL Program
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As Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) continue to work together to address the propane industry’s workforce development needs, join NPGA and PERC as they begin a series of webinars to roll out and highlight NPGA’s Registered Apprenticeship Program.
In the first webinar on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 10AM, Jim Foti from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship will dispel the myths around apprenticeship programs in the past. Advocates believe apprenticeship programs provide a major benefit to employers and employees to identify and retain well trained employees.
Mr. Foti will share examples of successful programs, benefits to employers, and pro-tips on how to minimize the administrative burden.
Additionally, National Propane Gas Association will provide an overview of the four apprenticeship programs approved for the propane industry.
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ProCOT WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
TUNE IN TO LEARN MORE
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EXTENDED TAX FILING DEADLINE FOR BUSINESS & INDIVIDUAL
TAX RETURNS IS JUNE 15TH
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ORDER ONLINE
& SAVE ON SHIPPING
PROPANE SERVICE CORP
LOGIN, SHOP & SAVE
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COUNTDOWN TO CONVENTION
JOIN US FOR BUSINESS
& BEACHES: AUGUST 12-14TH
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
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