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## EA~~ORNEY GENE-I. OF TEXAS

PRICE DANIEL .MTORNEY GENERAL Aun~liu H.Trizx~e Novmber **18, 1948** 
Hon. C. E. Belk, Administrator Board of Plumbing Examiners Austin, Texas Opinion lo. **v-720.** Re: Theauthority of the State Board of Plumbing Examiners to sponsor anddefray the expanses of instructional institutea for plumbing inspectors. Dew Mr. Belk:

Noference Is ude tojmurwcwt opinion request as follows:

“Tbia efeas bar s*rted pra1lmiury plmmimg for ths-Irclm & rewral Plubw Inipectors’ Institutes. These Instltutor aw ‘to bo CQuductrd WJlely fQPthe Wnetlt of the ?lubing Inspectors In the State of Texas concerning accepted sanltar? plmbing practices. TheInstitute would be conducted under the sponsorship **of The** Unlwrrity **of** Texas **rad** would be tawht br instructors srloctod br the Ilnlverslty

. Thefollowing groups vill,be **asked** to co-sponsor this Inrtltute alen vith the BOMd:

“1. American Institute of Architects

**“ 2,**  TheAssociated General Contractorr A?. Associated Plumbing Contractors of ’ Texas, Inc. I). 4. Texas ?ublic Health Associattfon 

## *5.Texas lao Bulldora Asseciatio~. .

Hon. C. E. Belk, Page 2, V-720.



### "6. Texas State Association of dourneymanof the Plumbingand Pipe Fitting Industry

‘These Institutes will be conducted in Austin, Texas, and It would be nscessary to conduct comeeight or ten InstiL tutes in order to reach all Plumbing Inspectors in tha State. Thepurpose of the Ihstituts is to f ’lrst gain a unifomlty of lnsprctlon technique over the Stats t&rough education and training; and, secbad, $0lrprovo ths caliber of inspections In mny of the smaller cities over the Stmte where the local Inspectors are not fully cognizant of accepted sanitary practices. A#rou know, the construction of the Act sakes the local Plumbing Inspector the enforcemen,t armof the Board. It Is through their knowledge amdvigilance that safe and sanltarr plubing installations are aasurod

. Theexpense for instructors, manuals, plumbing exhibits, material,s, and other miscellaneous Items would be borne by the Board.

‘Will you therefore give us your opinion as to whether the broad grant of authority and discretion given the Board in the ?lumblng License Lawof 1947 includes the necsmsary authority to uke such expendltures for the purpose of Improving the strrdards of plumbing Inspections carried onby individual city governments and the resultant effect of greater protection for the health, safety andwelfare of the citicornsof the State.” Thesole responelblllty andauthority of the Board of Plwblng Examiners, under the Plublng License Lsv of 1947, codified as Article 

### 6243-101,Vernon’s Civil statutes, is to issue or rsvoko llcens6s of plumbers and plumbing Inspectors, upon ascertaining the subject’s fitness or unfitness to engage In such ocaupation. while tha Act Is designed to Improve generally the standards of plumbing workand plumbing inspections, the only function of the Board in furthsrance of tlmt design is to examine applicants and te conduct lnvsstlgations and hearing a8‘

.

Hon. C. E. Balk, Page 3, v-720.

to those charged vlth Incompetency or misconduct as defined in the Act, to determine vhether license should be issued or revoked. TheBoard, auan offlclal~ agency, has noauthority or dutj to extend its activities beyond the field of responsibility outlined ln the Act.

Bearing in mind the limited function of the Board, It appears to be clear that the Board maynot under the wording of the present lav expend Its official funds on expenses of such Institutes.

TheBoard of Plu8bitig Examiners maynot expend its iunds to pay the expenses of in6tructlonal lnstltutea for Plumblng IfZstLsctors. Yours wry truly

ATTORNkY

GM8RALOFW

NedlcDanie1 Assistant 

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ATTORREY

OERBRAL

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