HLS 24RS-1048 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 753
BY REPRESENTATIVE DESHOTEL
PLUMBERS: Provides relative to licensure of plumbers
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 37:1361(B)(introductory paragraph) and (4), 1366(A)(1) and (L),
3 1367(A)(1), 1368(A)(1)(introductory paragraph), 1371(A)(1), 1373(A), 1377(B), and
4 1378(A)(3), (6), and (8), relative to licensure of plumbers; to provide for residential
5 plumbers; to provide for board appointments; to provide for duties of the board; to
6 provide for licensure requirements; to provide for the issuance of licenses; to provide
7 relative to fees; to provide for injunctions; to provide for definitions; to provide for
8 disciplinary actions; and to provide for related matters.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 37:1361(B)(introductory paragraph) and (4), 1366(A)(1) and (L),
111367(A)(1), 1368(A)(1)(introductory paragraph), 1371(A)(1), 1373(A), 1377(B), and
121378(A)(3), (6), and (8) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
13 §1361. State Plumbing Board; appointments; qualifications; legislative intent;
14 authority
15 * * *
16 B. The State Plumbing Board is created. The board, which shall be
17 appointed by the governor, shall consist of one registered engineer who is also
18 licensed by the State Plumbing Board, one plumbing inspector who is also licensed
19 by the State Plumbing Board, three master plumbers, three journeyman plumbers,
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1 and one tradesman residential plumber. Each appointment shall be made from a list
2 of three names for each appointment submitted by the following:
3 * * *
4 (4) The tradesman residential plumber by the executive director of the State
5 Plumbing Board of Louisiana.
6 * * *
7 §1366. Duties of the board
8 A.(1) The board shall adopt tests of qualification to be possessed by any
9 persons actually engaged in the repair of existing plumbing in one- and two-family
10 dwellings and see that any person engaged in the duties of a tradesman residential
11 plumber shall possess a tradesman residential plumber limited license.
12 * * *
13 L. The board shall assist the Board of Supervisors of Community and
14 Technical Colleges in developing training, program, and course requirements that
15 will prepare individuals to meet the qualifications established by the board for a
16 tradesman residential plumber limited license.
17 * * *
18 §1367. License required; tradesman residential, journeyman, and master plumber;
19 medical gas piping installer; medical gas and vacuum systems verifier; water
20 supply protection specialist endorsement; gas fitter and master gas fitter;
21 local examination preempted
22 A.(1) No natural person shall engage in doing the work of a tradesman
23 residential plumber unless he possesses a tradesman residential plumber limited
24 license or renewal thereof issued by the board. At the direction of a master plumber,
25 a tradesman residential plumber may independently install, alter, repair, and maintain
26 existing plumbing in one- and two-family dwellings, without the supervision of a
27 journeyman plumber.
28 * * *
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HB NO. 753
1 §1368. Issuance of tradesman residential, journeyman, and master plumber's
2 license; medical gas piping and installation license; medical gas and vacuum
3 systems verifier license; water supply protection specialist endorsement;
4 exemption; gas fitter
5 A.(1) The board shall issue a tradesman residential plumber limited license
6 to any person who meets the following qualifications:
7 * * *
8 §1371. Fees
9 A.(1) The board may fix and charge reasonable examination, licensing, and
10 renewal fees for tradesman residential, journeyman, and master plumbers, temporary
11 permit fees for journeyman plumbers, and renewal fees for inactive master plumbers.
12 The board may fix and charge reasonable examination, licensing, and renewal fees
13 for persons engaged in the work or business of medical gas piping installation and
14 for persons engaged in the work or business of a medical gas and vacuum system
15 verifier. The board may fix and charge reasonable examination, licensing, and
16 renewal fees associated with endorsements issued to journeyman or master plumbers
17 relative to the work of a water supply protection specialist. The board may also fix
18 and charge a reasonable registration fee for apprentice plumbers. These fees shall
19 not exceed the amount required to maintain the board and pay the expenses of
20 operating the board and enforcing the provisions of this Chapter.
21 * * *
22 §1373. Injunctions
23 A. The board may enjoin any person from engaging in doing the work of a
24 tradesman residential plumber, journeyman plumber, master plumber, medical gas
25 piping installer, medical gas and vacuum systems verifier, gas fitter, master gas
26 fitter, or water supply protection specialist wherever it appears that a person is
27 violating or is conspiring to violate the provisions of this Chapter. The board may
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1 also enjoin an employing entity from violating or conspiring to violate the provisions
2 of this Chapter.
3 * * *
4 §1377. Definitions; exceptions
5 * * *
6 B.(1) Journeyman plumber. A "journeyman plumber" is a natural person
7 who possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to install, alter, or repair,
8 and maintain plumbing systems; is licensed as such by the board; is supervised by
9 a master plumber; and is in the employ of an employing entity.
10 (2) Tradesman Residential plumber. A "tradesman residential plumber" is
11 a natural person who possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to install,
12 alter, repair, and maintain existing plumbing systems and is licensed by the board to
13 install, alter, repair, and maintain existing plumbing systems in one- and two-family
14 dwellings at the direction of a master plumber, without the supervision of a
15 journeyman plumber.
16 * * *
17 §1378. Revocation of licenses; other disciplinary actions
18 A. The board may, pursuant to the procedures provided in the Administrative
19 Procedure Act, revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any license or endorsement
20 issued by the board to any natural person. Grounds for revocation, or lesser
21 disciplinary action, include but are not limited to the following:
22 * * *
23 (3) The habitual performance of the work of either a tradesman residential
24 plumber, journeyman plumber, or a master plumber which is substantially below the
25 standards established by the Louisiana Department of Health or any of its agencies
26 or offices, or the habitual performance of work of a medical gas installer or medical
27 gas and vacuum systems verifier not in compliance with regulations of the state fire
28 marshal or related local governmental codes.
29 * * *
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1 (6) The habitual practice of a tradesman residential plumber, journeyman
2 plumber, master plumber, medical gas piping installer, or holder of a water supply
3 protection specialist endorsement to knowingly allow any person not licensed by the
4 board to perform plumbing work, medical gas piping installation, or the work of a
5 water supply protection specialist, except as otherwise authorized by this Chapter.
6 * * *
7 (8) The habitual violation by a master plumber, journeyman plumber,
8 tradesman residential plumber, apprentice plumber, medical gas piping installer,
9 medical gas and vacuum systems verifier, or holder of a water supply protection
10 specialist endorsement of the rules and regulations adopted by the board.
11 * * *
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)]
HB 753 Original 2024 Regular Session Deshotel
Abstract: Provides for the licensing and qualifications of a residential plumber and
discontinues the tradesman plumber limited license.
Present law (R.S. 37:1361(B)) creates the State Plumbing Board (board) and provides for
the appointment of members, including three master plumbers, three journeyman plumbers,
and one tradesman plumber.
Proposed law retains present law but changes the appointment of the tradesman plumber to
a residential plumber.
Present law (R.S. 37:1366(A)(1) and (L)) provides that any person engaged in the duties of
a tradesman plumber shall possess a tradesman plumber limited license. Present law further
requires the board to assist the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges
in developing training for the tradesman plumber limited license.
Proposed law retains present law and changes tradesman plumber limited license to
residential plumber limited license.
Present law (R.S. 37:1367(A)(1)) prohibits a natural person from engaging in the work of
a tradesman plumber without a license. Present law further provides that a tradesman
plumber may independently repair existing plumbing of one- and two-family dwellings
without supervision.
Proposed law retains present law and changes tradesman plumber limited license to
residential plumber limited license. Proposed law further provides that a residential plumber
may independently install, alter, repair, and maintain plumbing in one- and two-family
dwellings without supervision.
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Present law (R.S. 37:1368(A)(1)) requires the board to issue a tradesman plumber limited
license to any person who meets the certain qualifications.
Proposed law retains present law and changes tradesman plumber limited license to
residential plumber limited license.
Present law (R.S. 37:1371(A)(1)) allows the board to fix and charge reasonable examination,
licensing, and renewal fees for tradesman plumbers.
Proposed law retains present law and changes tradesman plumbers to residential plumbers.
Present law (R.S. 37:1373(A)) allows the board to enjoin any person from engaging in doing
the work of a tradesman plumber.
Proposed law retains present law and changes tradesman plumber to residential plumber.
Present law (R.S. 37:1377(B)(1)) defines "journeyman plumber" as a person who possesses
the necessary qualifications and knowledge to install, alter, or repair plumbing systems.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that a journeyman plumber possesses the
necessary qualifications to maintain plumbing systems.
Present law (R.S. 37:1377(B)(2)) defines "tradesman plumber" as a natural person who
possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to repair existing plumbing systems.
Proposed law changes "tradesman plumber" to "residential plumber" and provides that a
residential plumber is a natural person who possesses the necessary qualifications and
knowledge to install, alter, repair, and maintain plumbing systems.
Present law (R.S. 37:1378(A)(3), (6), and (8)) provides for certain disciplinary actions of
tradesman plumbers.
Proposed law retains present law and changes tradesman plumbers to residential plumbers.
(Amends R.S. 37:1361(B)(intro. para.) and (4), 1366(A)(1) and (L), 1367(A)(1),
1368(A)(1)(intro. para.), 1371(A)(1), 1373(A), 1377(B), and 1378(A)(3), (6), and (8))
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