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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE BILL NO. 447
BY SENATOR MORRELL
CONTRACTORS. Requires the State Licensing Board for Contractors to provide testing
specifically for solar installers. (8/1/14)
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 37:2156.3, relative to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors; to2
provide relative to solar energy equipment and systems; to provide for examinations;3
to provide for procedures, terms, and conditions; to provide for the adoption of rules;4
and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 37:2156.3 is hereby enacted to read as follows:7
ยง2156.3. Installation of solar energy equipment and systems8
A. No licensed contractor shall install solar energy equipment or solar9
energy systems on or after February 1, 2015, unless he is in compliance with the10
provisions of this Section and any rules adopted by the board in accordance11
with the provisions of this Section.12
B. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no later than13
January 1, 2015, the board shall adopt rules in accordance with the14
Administrative Procedure Act regulating the installation of solar energy15
equipment or solar energy systems by licensed contractors. Such rules shall, at16
a minimum, include the requirement of passage of a separate written17 SB NO. 447
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examination that evidences the contractor's knowledge and understanding of1
best practices as related to the installation and maintenance of solar energy2
equipment or solar energy systems by any contractor who does not hold a3
current Solar PV Installer certification for solar electric systems, or a current4
Solar Heating Installer certification for solar thermal hot water systems as5
issued by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.6
C. Contractors applying for the classification of Solar Energy7
Equipment, shall, in addition to all other application or licensing requirements,8
meet the following requirements prior to issuance of this classification:9
(1) Hold one or more of the following major classifications:10
(a) Building Construction.11
(b) Electrical Work.12
(c) Mechanical Work. 13
(d) Residential Building Contractor.14
(2) Complete training in the design of solar energy systems by an entity15
and course approved by the board.16
D. Any work performed to connect wiring or hookups for any17
photovoltaic panel or system wherein the panel or system is of a value, including18
labor, materials, rentals, and all direct and indirect project expenses, of ten19
thousand dollars or more shall be performed only by a contractor or20
subcontractor who holds the classification of Electrical Work or who may21
perform electrical work under the provisions of R.S. 37:2156.2(B).22
E. Any work performed to connect piping or equipment for any solar23
thermal system wherein the system is of a value, including labor, materials,24
rentals, and all direct and indirect project expenses, of ten thousand dollars or25
more shall be performed only by a contractor or subcontractor who holds the26
classification of Mechanical Work or who may perform mechanical work under27
the provisions of R.S. 37:2156.2(B).28
F. The provisions of this Section shall be applicable to entities engaging29 SB NO. 447
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in the business of selling, leasing, installing, servicing, or monitoring solar1
energy equipment. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to impose civil or2
criminal liability on homeowners or on any third party whose involvement is3
financing to the homeowner, financing for installation, or purchasing the tax4
credits described in this Section from any homeowner or contractor. Entities5
engaged in the business of arranging agreements for the lease or sale of solar6
energy systems or acquiring customers for financing entities shall not be exempt7
from the provisions of this Section.8
The original instrument was prepared by Michelle Ducharme. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Ann S. Brown.
DIGEST
Proposed law provides that no licensed contractor shall install solar energy equipment or
solar energy systems on or after February 1, 2015, unless he is in compliance with the
provisions of proposed law and any rules adopted by the board.
Proposed law provides that notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no later
than January 1, 2015, the board shall adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative
Procedure Act regulating the installation of solar energy equipment or solar energy systems
by licensed contractors. Such rules shall, at a minimum, include the requirement of passage
of a separate written examination that evidences the contractor's knowledge and
understanding of best practices as related to the installation and maintenance of solar energy
equipment or solar energy systems by any contractor who does not hold a current Solar PV
Installer certification for solar electric systems, or a current Solar Heating Installer
certification for solar thermal hot water systems as issued by the North American Board of
Certified Energy Practitioners.
Proposed law further provides that contractors applying for the classification of Solar Energy
Equipment, shall, in addition to all other application or licensing requirements, meet the
following requirements prior to issuance of this classification:
(1)Hold one or more of the following major classifications:
(a)Building Construction.
(b) Electrical Work.
(c) Mechanical Work.
(d)Residential Building Contractor.
(2)Complete training in the design of solar energy systems by an entity and course
approved by the board.
Proposed law provides that any work performed to connect wiring or hookups for any
photovoltaic panel or system wherein the panel or system is of a value, including labor,
materials, rentals, and all direct and indirect project expenses, of $10,000 or more shall be SB NO. 447
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
performed only by a contractor or subcontractor who holds the classification of Electrical
Work or who may perform electrical work under certain provisions of law.
Proposed law provides that any work performed to connect piping or equipment for any solar
thermal system wherein the system is of a value, including labor, materials, rentals, and all
direct and indirect project expenses, of $10,000 or more shall be performed only by a
contractor or subcontractor who holds the classification of Mechanical Work or who may
perform mechanical work under certain provision of law.
Proposed law shall be applicable to entities engaging in the business of selling, leasing,
installing, servicing, or monitoring solar energy equipment.
Proposed law shall not be construed to impose civil or criminal liability on homeowners or
on any third party whose involvement is financing to the homeowner, financing for
installation, or purchasing the tax credits described from any homeowner or contractor.
Proposed law also provides that entities engaged in the business of arranging agreements for
the lease or sale of solar energy systems or acquiring customers for financing entities shall
not be exempt from the provisions of proposed law.
Effective August 1, 2014.
(Adds R.S. 37:2156.3)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer
Protection, and International Affairs to the original bill
1. Provides that on or after February 1, 2015, no licensed contractor shall install
solar energy equipment or solar energy systems unless he is in compliance
with the law.
2. Provides for the minimum requirements of rules adopted by the State
Licensing Board for Contractors relative to a written examination for the
installation and maintenance of solar energy equipment or solar energy
systems.
3. Provides for licensure requirements and solar energy equipment
classification requirements.
4. Removes references to solar electric systems and solar thermal systems.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Adds the residential building contractor as one of the major classifications
that meets licensing requirements.
2. Clarifies which entities shall be affected by the provisions of proposed law.
3. Technical amendments.