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. 974
Abstract: Establishes a residential plumber's license for plumbers performing plumbing work in
one- and two-family dwellings.
Present law provides that the State Plumbing Board shall adopt tests for qualifications for
persons engaged in plumbing installation or plumbing work.
Proposed law requires any person engaged in the duties of a residential plumber to possess a
residential plumber's license.
Proposed law prohibits a natural person from engaging in the work of a residential plumber
unless that person possess a license issued by the State Plumbing Board.
Proposed law requires any person holding a journeyman or master plumber's license who engages
in residential plumbing work obtain a residential plumber's license.
Proposed law authorizes a person holing a journeyman or master plumber's license, as of Jan. 1,
2014, to engage in residential plumbing work without a residential plumber's license until April
30, 2015.
Proposed law requires the State Plumbing Board to issue a license to any natural person who has
at least 5,000 hours of experience as a residential plumber and who desires to engage in doing the
work of a residential plumber if that person passes a written examination given by the board for
this purpose and pays the fees established by the board.
Proposed law prohibits the board from adopting or promulgating any other experience or testing
requirement for the residential plumber's license.
Present law authorizes the board to fix fees for exams, licensing and licensing renewal for
plumbers.
Proposed law provides that the plumbing board may fix and charge reasonable examination,
licensing, and renewal fees for residential plumbers.
Proposed law provides that the plumbing board may increase fees and charges in accordance with
the following schedule: (1)Residential plumber examination $75.00
(2) Initial residential plumber license fee,
payable upon successful completion of
examination $45.00
(3)Residential plumber renewal fee $45.00
(4)Residential plumber revival fee $25.00
(5)Residential plumber revival fee paid
after March 31 $30.00
(6)Residential plumber administrative charge
for processing application $40.00
Present law authorizes the board to enjoin any person engaged in plumbing work in violation of
present law.
Proposed law authorizes the plumbing board to enjoin any person from engaging in doing the
work of a residential plumber wherever it appears that a person is violating or is conspiring to
violate the provisions of present law.
Present law provides that any journeyman who has not been licensed and does work in a place
not previously under the board's jurisdiction shall be permitted to do so with the payment of a
fee.
Proposed law provides that any residential plumber who has not been licensed and does work in
a place not previously under the jurisdiction of the plumbing board shall, upon payment of the
regular examination fee, be issued a permit to continue the art of plumbing, limited to the area in
which he has been previously doing plumbing work.
Present law provides that any applicant who has practiced the art of plumbing for five years and
unable to attain a journeyman license shall pay a permit fee and practice in an acclimated area.
Proposed law provides that any applicant who has practiced the art of plumbing an area not
previously under the jurisdiction of the plumbing board for the past five years and who is unable
to meet the requirements for a residential plumber license may, upon payment of the required fee,
be issued a permit good until the next examination by the board which will permit him to
continue practicing the art of plumbing, but shall limit his practice to the place in which he has
been so licensed. Requires this individual to take each examination given by the board thereafter
until he is able to qualify under the board's regulations.
Present law provides that any person who has take four journeyman exams and fails to qualify for
a license may be issued a qualified license. Proposed law authorizes any person who has taken four residential plumbers' examinations and
still fails to qualify to be issued a qualified license to continue practicing the art of plumbing in
the place in which he was issued temporary permits.
Proposed law defines a residential plumber as a natural person who possess the necessary
qualifications and knowledge to install, alter, and repair plumbing systems, including septic tank
systems and non-medical gas piping, used in one- and two-family dwellings, which shall not
extend more than two stories above ground.
Present law authorizes the board to refuse to license or take disciplinary action against a
journeyman or master plumber for certain enumerated reasons.
Proposed law authorizes the plumbing board to revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew the
residential plumber license issued by the board to any natural person whose habitual performance
is substantially below the standards established by the Dept. of Health and Hospitals or any of its
agencies or offices.
Proposed law authorizes the plumbing board to revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew the
residential plumber license issued by the board to any natural person who knowingly allows any
person not licensed by the board to perform plumbing work, medical gas piping installation, or
the work of a water supply protection specialist.
Proposed law authorizes the plumbing board to revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew the
residential plumber license issued by the board to any natural person who habitually violates the
rules and regulations adopted by the board.
(Amends R.S. 37:1366, 1371(A) and (B)(1)(intro. para.), 1373(A), 1376(A), (B)(intro. para.), (2),
and (3), and 1378(A)(3), (6), and (8); Adds R.S. 37:1367(I), 1368(J), 1371(B)(1)(n)-(s), and
1377(I))