State of Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board, compensation of members increased, transfer of certain funds to the Alabama Home Builders Foundation. qualified licensees permitted to perform limited electrical work related to installation, service, or repair of equipment
Additionally, SB180 will reallocate a portion of the registration and certification fees collected by the board to the Alabama Home Builders Foundation. This fund is designated exclusively for providing classroom training tools at educational institutions that offer plumbing and gas fitting curriculums. The intent behind this financial provision is to enhance the education and skill set of future tradespeople, thereby improving the quality of service in the plumbing and gas fitting industries.
SB180 aims to reform the operations of the State of Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board by increasing the compensation for its members. The bill sets the per diem compensation for board members from $200 to $750 for each day spent in active service. This significant increase is meant to attract qualified individuals to serve on the board and acknowledge the importance of their responsibilities in ensuring safe and regulated plumbing and gas fitting practices throughout the state.
However, the bill also introduces a provision that permits certified plumbers, gas fitters, and medical gas piping fitters to perform certain limited electrical work necessary to energize equipment in one-family and two-family dwellings. This aspect of the legislation could create concerns regarding the potential overlap of responsibilities and safety standards between different skilled trades, as it extends the legal scope of work for plumbing professionals to include certain electrical tasks.