SLS 18RS-787 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 482
BY SENATOR RISER
CONTRACTORS. Provides relative to licensed mechanical contractors. (8/1/18)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:1361(F)(1)(b)(i), 1377(I) and (J) and to enact R.S.
3 37:1361(F)(3), 1367(J)(3) and 1377(K)(3), relative to mechanical contractors; to
4 provide relative to scope of practice; to provide for exceptions; to provide for certain
5 terms and conditions; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 37:1361(F)(1)(b)(i), 1377(I) and (J) are hereby amended and
8 reenacted and R.S. 37:1361(F)(3), 1367(J)(3), and 1377(K)(3) are hereby enacted to read as
9 follows:
10 §1361. State Plumbing Board, appointments; qualifications; legislative intent;
11 authority
12 * * *
13 F.(1) * * *
14 (b) Nothing in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be construed to
15 supersede any of the following:
16 (i) The authority of the State Licensing Board for Contractors to regulate
17 mechanical contractors as defined in R.S. 37:2150.1, including mechanical
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 482
SLS 18RS-787 ORIGINAL
1 contractors classified under the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, duct
2 work, and refrigeration subclassification of mechanical contractors pursuant
3 to R.S. 37:2156.2.
4 * * *
5 (3) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the provisions
6 of this Subsection shall not apply to work performed by a person who is licensed
7 by the State Licensing Board for Contractors as a mechanical contractor or any
8 service or work performed pursuant to such license. The provisions of this
9 Paragraph shall apply to a licensed mechanical contractor who is either:
10 (a) Engaged or who seeks to engage in the business of heating, air
11 conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration.
12 (b) Classified under the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, duct work,
13 and refrigeration subclassification of mechanical contractors pursuant to R.S.
14 37:2156.2.
15 * * *
16 §1367. License required; tradesman, journeyman, and master plumber; medical gas
17 piping installer; medical gas and vacuum systems verifier; water
18 supply protection specialist endorsement; gas fitter and master gas
19 fitter; local examination preempted
20 * * *
21 J. * * *
22 (3) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the provisions
23 of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall not apply to the work performed by a
24 mechanical contractor licensed by the State Licensing Board for Contractors
25 or any service or work performed pursuant to such license. The provisions of
26 this Paragraph shall apply to a licensed mechanical contractor who is either:
27 (a) Engaged or who seeks to engage in the business of heating, air
28 conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration.
29 (b) Classified under the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, duct work,
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 482
SLS 18RS-787 ORIGINAL
1 and refrigeration subclassification of mechanical contractors pursuant to R.S.
2 37:2156.2.
3 * * *
4 §1377. Definitions; exceptions
5 * * *
6 I. Gas Fitter. A "gas fitter" includes any natural person who possesses the
7 necessary qualifications and knowledge to install, alter, repair, improve, remove, or
8 test natural gas piping, tanks, and appliances annexed to real property but does not
9 include either of the following:
10 (1) any Any person who is licensed by the Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum
11 Gas Commission or any services or work performed pursuant to such a license.
12 (2) Any person or business entity that is licensed by the State Licensing
13 Board for Contractors as a mechanical contractor or any service or work
14 performed pursuant to such a license. The provisions of this Paragraph shall
15 apply to a licensed mechanical contractor who is either:
16 (a) Engaged or seeks to engage in the business of heating, air
17 conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration.
18 (b) Classified under the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, duct work,
19 and refrigeration subclassification of mechanical contractors pursuant to R.S.
20 37:2156.2.
21 J. Master Gas Fitter. A "master gas fitter" includes any natural person who
22 possesses the necessary skills, abilities, proficiency, and qualifications to plan and
23 lay out the details for installing and supervising the work of installing, repairing, and
24 maintaining types of materials and equipment used for the construction, repair,
25 removal, or improvement to natural gas piping systems and tanks annexed to real
26 property but does not include either of the following:
27 (1) any Any person who is licensed by the Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum
28 Gas Commission or any services or work performed pursuant to such a license.
29 (2) Any person or business entity that is licensed by the State Licensing
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 482
SLS 18RS-787 ORIGINAL
1 Board for Contractors as a mechanical contractor or any service or work
2 performed pursuant to such a license. The provisions of this Paragraph shall
3 apply to a licensed mechanical contractor who is either:
4 (a) Engaged or seeks to engage in the business of heating, air
5 conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration.
6 (b) Classified under the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, duct work,
7 and refrigeration subclassification of mechanical contractors pursuant to R.S.
8 37:2156.2.
9 K. Gas Fitting. "Gas fitting" means the work or business of installing,
10 repairing, improving, altering, or removing natural gas piping, fittings, valves, or
11 tanks used for conveying fuel gas for appliances on or in premises or in buildings
12 annexed to real property. For purposes of this Chapter, gas fitting does not include
13 the following:
14 * * *
15 (3) Any person or business entity that is licensed by the State Licensing
16 Board for Contractors as a mechanical contractor or any service or work
17 performed pursuant to such a license. The provisions of this Paragraph shall
18 apply to a licensed mechanical contractor who is either:
19 (a) Engaged or who seeks to engage in the business of heating, air
20 conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration.
21 (b) Classified under the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, duct work,
22 and refrigeration subclassification of mechanical contractors pursuant to R.S.
23 37:2156.2.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Ridge.
DIGEST
SB 482 Original 2018 Regular Session Riser
Present law authorizes the State Plumbing Board to license any person or regulated business
entity who is engaged or who seeks to engage in the business of gas fitting for the general
public that includes installation, repair, improvement, alterations, or removal of natural gas
piping, tanks, and appliances annexed to real property.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 482
SLS 18RS-787 ORIGINAL
Present law shall not be construed to supersede the authority of the State Licensing Board
for Contractors to regulate mechanical contractors.
Proposed law specifies that the present law exemption shall include mechanical contractors
classified under the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration
subclassification of mechanical contractors.
Proposed law provides that present law shall not apply to work performed by a person who
is licensed by the State Licensing Board for Contractors as a mechanical contractor or any
service or work performed pursuant to such license. Proposed law shall apply to a licenced
mechanical contractor who is: (1) engaged or seeks to engage in the business of heating, air
conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration; or (2) classified under the heating,
air conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration subclassification of mechanical
contractors.
Present law defines "gas fitter", "master gas fitter", and "gas fitting."
Proposed law exempts from present law definitions any person or business entity that is
licensed by the State Licensing Board for Contractors as a mechanical contractor or any
service or work performed pursuant to such a license. Proposed law shall apply to a licenced
mechanical contractor who is: (1) engaged or seeks to engage in the business of heating, air
conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration; or (2) classified under the heating,
air conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration subclassification of mechanical
contractors.
Effective August 1, 2018.
(Amends 37:1361(F)(1)(b)(i), 1377(I) and (J); adds R.S. 37:1361(F)(3), 1367(J)(3) and
1377(K)(3))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.