DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Ponti HB No. 1048
Abstract: Requires the LSUCCC to adopt the International Plumbing Code.
Present law authorizes the state plumbing board to revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew a license
or endorsement issued by the board for a number of reasons, including the habitual performance
of the work of either a journeyman plumber or a master plumber which is substantially below the
standards established by the Dept. of Health and Hospitals (DHH) or the habitual performance of
work of a medical gas installer or medical gas and vacuum systems verifier not in compliance
with regulations of the state fire marshal or related local governmental codes.
Proposed law retains present law but adds that the performance of work substantially below
standards promulgated by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council (LSUCCC) or
its successor as grounds for revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew a license or endorsement.
Present law requires the state health officer through the office of public health (OPH) of the
DHH to prepare and promulgate all rules and regulations necessary to assure safe building
plumbing systems, including but not limited to the building water supply piping system, the
building drain system, and the building mechanical piping system.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law requires the state health officer to prepare and promulgate rules and regulations
within the state's Sanitary Code covering all matters within his jurisdiction.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that present law shall not permit the state health
officer to establish rules, regulations, policies, or interpretations that supercede or circumvent or
seek to supercede or circumvent the International Plumbing Code, as adopted and promulgated
by the LSUCCC.
Proposed law provides that in all cases of conflict between the rules and regulations promulgated
pursuant to the rules and regulations within the state's Sanitary Code as promulgated by the state
health officer and the International Plumbing Code, International Building Code, Chapter 29-
Plumbing Systems, or the International Residential Code, VII-Plumbing, as adopted and
promulgated by the LSUCCC, the provisions of the International Plumbing Code, International
Building Code, Chapter 29-Plumbing Systems, or the International Residential Code,
VII-Plumbing, as adopted and promulgated by the LSUCCC shall apply. Proposed law provides that the building official or his designee shall have the authority to
enforce and interpret the plumbing provisions of the state uniform construction code.
Present law provides that the state health officer and the OPH of DHH has the exclusive
jurisdiction, control, and authority of a number of matters that relate to plumbing.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that nothing in present law shall grant state health
officer or the OPH of DHH the authority to supercede the authority of municipalities or parishes
to enforce and interpret the plumbing provisions of the state uniform construction code.
Proposed law provides that the building official or his designee shall have the authority to
enforce and interpret the plumbing provisions of the state uniform construction code.
Present law provides that the Louisiana Building Code shall consist of a number of designated
and described codes and standards, including Part XIV (Plumbing) of the state Sanitary Code as
promulgated by the secretary of DHH.
Proposed law removes the inclusion of Part XIV (Plumbing) of the state Sanitary Code as
promulgated by the secretary of DHH and adds the International Plumbing Code, the
International Building Code, Chapter 29-Plumbing Systems, and the International Residential
Code, VII-Plumbing.
Present law provides that the Louisiana Building Code shall be administered by the facilities
planning and control department of the Division of Administration and that nothing contained in
the La. Building Code shall affect the secretary of DHH in his administration of the provisions of
Part XIV(Plumbing) of the state Sanitary Code.
Proposed law retains present law, but deletes that nothing contained in the La. Building Code
shall affect the secretary of DHH in his administration of the provisions of Part XIV(Plumbing)
of the state Sanitary Code.
Present law provides that the primary function of the LSUCCC is to review and adopt the state
uniform construction code, provide for training and education of code officials, and accept all
requests for amendments of the code, except the La. State Plumbing Code Part XIV (Plumbing)
of the state Sanitary Code.
Proposed law retains present law but removes the exception for the La. State Plumbing Code.
Proposed law provides that the building official or his designee shall have the authority to
enforce and interpret the plumbing provisions of the state uniform construction code.
Present law requires the LSUCCC to evaluate, adopt, and amend only the latest editions of the
state uniform construction code with the exception of the La. State Plumbing Code Part XIV
(Plumbing) of the state Sanitary Code which shall be promulgated and amended by the state
health officer acting through OPH of DHH. Proposed law retains present law but removes the exception for the La. State Plumbing Code.
Present law shall not be construed so as to prevent the state health officer from enforcing the La.
State Plumbing Code, the enforcement of which is his statutory and regulatory responsibility.
Proposed law removes present law and requires the LSUCCC to evaluate, adopt, and amend the
International Plumbing Code as part of the state uniform construction code and that the building
official or his designee shall have the authority to enforce and interpret the plumbing provisions
of the state uniform construction code.
Present law provides that, excluding the applicable requirements of the La. State Plumbing Code,
the state uniform construction code shall not apply to the construction or improvement inside the
secured or fenced confines of the following types of industrial facilities that are engaged in
activities defined or classified under one or more of a number of subsectors, industry groups, or
industries of the 2007 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Proposed law retains present law and changes the La. State Plumbing Code to the International
Plumbing Code.
Present law provides that in cases of conflict between the state Sanitary Code and the
International Mechanical Code, the state Sanitary Code shall be used. In cases of conflict
between the Life Safety Code and either the La. Building Code, the plumbing part of the state
Sanitary Code, the International Building Code, the International Mechanical Code and the
National Electric Code, the Life Safety Code shall be used.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law provides that all plumbing and sanitary references in Part V-Mechanical in the
International Residential Code shall be replaced with the applicable provisions of the La. State
Plumbing Code, Part XIV, Plumbing, of the state Sanitary Code.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Proposed law provides that the LSUCCC shall adopt and promulgate the International Plumbing
Code, International Building Code, Chapter 29-Plumbing Systems, and the International
Residential Code, VII-Plumbing, no later than Jan. 1, 2015. The codes shall be effective 60 days
following promulgation.
Proposed law requires the La. State Plumbing Code Part XIV (Plumbing) of the state Sanitary
Code as amended by the state health officer acting through the OPH of DHH shall remain in
effect until 60 days following the promulgation of the International Plumbing Code, International
Building Code, Chapter 29-Plumbing Systems, and the International Residential Code,
VII-Plumbing by the LSUCCC.
Proposed law provides the deadline for the LSUCCC to promulgate International Plumbing Code, International Building Code, Chapter 29-Plumbing Systems, and the International
Residential Code, VII-Plumbing shall be effective upon signature of the governor or upon lapse
of time for gubernatorial action.
Proposed law provisions relative to plumbing will not be enforced for 60 days following
promulgation by the LSUCCC.
(Amends R.S. 37:1378(A)(3) and R.S. 40:5, 1722(B)(2), 1723(B), 1730.22(C), 1730.28(A)(1),
(3)(a), and (5), and 1730.29(A)(intro.para.); Adds R.S. 40:4(C) and (D) and 1730.23(I); Repeals
R.S. 40:4(A)(7), 1722(D), and 1730.28(A)(3)(h))