HLS 24RS-1048 REENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 753
BY REPRESENTATIVES DESHOTEL AND CHASSION
PLUMBERS: Provides relative to licensure of plumbers
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 37:1361(B) and (E), 1366(A)(1) and (L), 1367(A)(1),
3 1368(A)(1)(introductory paragraph), 1371(A)(1), 1373(A), 1377(B), and 1378(A)(3),
4 (6), and (8), relative to licensure of plumbers; to provide for the State Plumbing
5 Board; to provide for residential plumbers; to provide for board appointments; to
6 provide for duties of the board; to provide for licensure requirements; to provide for
7 the issuance of licenses; to provide relative to fees; to provide for injunctions; to
8 provide for definitions; to provide for disciplinary actions; and to provide for related
9 matters.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 37:1361(B) and (E), 1366(A)(1) and (L), 1367(A)(1),
121368(A)(1)(introductory paragraph), 1371(A)(1), 1373(A), 1377(B), and 1378(A)(3), (6),
13and (8) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
14 §1361. State Plumbing Board; appointments; qualifications; legislative intent;
15 authority
16 * * *
17 B. The State Plumbing Board is created. The board, which shall be
18 appointed by the governor, shall consist of one registered mechanical engineer who
19 is also licensed by the State Plumbing Board, one plumbing inspector who is also
20 licensed by the State Plumbing Board, three master plumbers, three journeyman
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1 plumbers, and one tradesman residential plumber, and two members of the public.
2 Each appointment shall be made from a list of three names for each appointment
3 submitted by in the following manner:
4 (1) The registered mechanical engineer and the plumbing inspector shall be
5 from a list of three names submitted by the Louisiana Department of Health.
6 (2) The plumbing inspector shall be from a list of three names submitted by
7 the Louisiana Department of Health.
8 (2) (3) Master plumbers shall be from a list of nine names submitted by the
9 Louisiana Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors or its
10 successors.
11 (3) (4) Journeymen plumbers shall be from a list of nine names submitted
12 by the Louisiana Pipe Trades Association or its successor.
13 (5) The residential plumber by the governor. (4) The tradesman plumber
14 by the executive director of the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana.
15 (6) One member of the public shall be from a list of three names submitted
16 by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
17 (7) One member of the public shall be from a list of three names submitted
18 by the president of the Senate.
19 * * *
20 E. Five Six members shall constitute a quorum.
21 * * *
22 §1366. Duties of the board
23 A.(1) The board shall adopt tests of qualification to be possessed by any
24 persons actually engaged in the repair of existing plumbing in one- and two-family
25 dwellings and see that any person engaged in the duties of a tradesman residential
26 plumber shall possess a tradesman residential plumber limited license.
27 * * *
28 L. The board shall assist the Board of Supervisors of Community and
29 Technical Colleges in developing training, program, and course requirements that
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1 will prepare individuals to meet the qualifications established by the board for a
2 tradesman residential plumber limited license.
3 * * *
4 §1367. License required; tradesman residential, journeyman, and master plumber;
5 medical gas piping installer; medical gas and vacuum systems verifier; water
6 supply protection specialist endorsement; gas fitter and master gas fitter;
7 local examination preempted
8 A.(1) No natural person shall engage in doing the work of a tradesman
9 residential plumber unless he possesses a tradesman residential plumber limited
10 license or renewal thereof issued by the board. At the direction of a master plumber,
11 a tradesman residential plumber may independently install, alter, repair, and maintain
12 existing plumbing in one- and two-family dwellings, without the supervision of a
13 journeyman plumber.
14 * * *
15 §1368. Issuance of tradesman residential, journeyman, and master plumber's
16 license; medical gas piping and installation license; medical gas and vacuum
17 systems verifier license; water supply protection specialist endorsement;
18 exemption; gas fitter
19 A.(1) The board shall issue a tradesman residential plumber limited license
20 to any person who meets the following qualifications:
21 * * *
22 §1371. Fees
23 A.(1) The board may fix and charge reasonable examination, licensing, and
24 renewal fees for tradesman residential, journeyman, and master plumbers, temporary
25 permit fees for journeyman plumbers, and renewal fees for inactive master plumbers.
26 The board may fix and charge reasonable examination, licensing, and renewal fees
27 for persons engaged in the work or business of medical gas piping installation and
28 for persons engaged in the work or business of a medical gas and vacuum system
29 verifier. The board may fix and charge reasonable examination, licensing, and
30 renewal fees associated with endorsements issued to journeyman or master plumbers
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1 relative to the work of a water supply protection specialist. The board may also fix
2 and charge a reasonable registration fee for apprentice plumbers. These fees shall
3 not exceed the amount required to maintain the board and pay the expenses of
4 operating the board and enforcing the provisions of this Chapter.
5 * * *
6 §1373. Injunctions
7 A. The board may enjoin any person from engaging in doing the work of a
8 tradesman residential plumber, journeyman plumber, master plumber, medical gas
9 piping installer, medical gas and vacuum systems verifier, gas fitter, master gas
10 fitter, or water supply protection specialist wherever it appears that a person is
11 violating or is conspiring to violate the provisions of this Chapter. The board may
12 also enjoin an employing entity from violating or conspiring to violate the provisions
13 of this Chapter.
14 * * *
15 §1377. Definitions; exceptions
16 * * *
17 B.(1) Journeyman plumber. A "journeyman plumber" is a natural person
18 who possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to install, alter, or repair,
19 and maintain plumbing systems; is licensed as such by the board; is supervised by
20 a master plumber; and is in the employ of an employing entity.
21 (2) Tradesman Residential plumber. A "tradesman residential plumber" is
22 a natural person who possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to install,
23 alter, repair, and maintain existing plumbing systems and is licensed by the board to
24 install, alter, repair, and maintain existing plumbing systems in one- and two-family
25 dwellings at the direction of a master plumber, without the supervision of a
26 journeyman plumber.
27 * * *
28 §1378. Revocation of licenses; other disciplinary actions
29 A. The board may, pursuant to the procedures provided in the Administrative
30 Procedure Act, revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any license or endorsement
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1 issued by the board to any natural person. Grounds for revocation, or lesser
2 disciplinary action, include but are not limited to the following:
3 * * *
4 (3) The habitual performance of the work of either a tradesman residential
5 plumber, journeyman plumber, or a master plumber which is substantially below the
6 standards established by the Louisiana Department of Health or any of its agencies
7 or offices, or the habitual performance of work of a medical gas installer or medical
8 gas and vacuum systems verifier not in compliance with regulations of the state fire
9 marshal or related local governmental codes.
10 * * *
11 (6) The habitual practice of a tradesman residential plumber, journeyman
12 plumber, master plumber, medical gas piping installer, or holder of a water supply
13 protection specialist endorsement to knowingly allow any person not licensed by the
14 board to perform plumbing work, medical gas piping installation, or the work of a
15 water supply protection specialist, except as otherwise authorized by this Chapter.
16 * * *
17 (8) The habitual violation by a master plumber, journeyman plumber,
18 tradesman residential plumber, apprentice plumber, medical gas piping installer,
19 medical gas and vacuum systems verifier, or holder of a water supply protection
20 specialist endorsement of the rules and regulations adopted by the board.
21 * * *
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 Reengrossed 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
nominations and appointments of members, including one engineer, one plumbing inspector,
three masters plumbers, three journeyman plumbers, and one tradesman plumber.
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Proposed law retains present law in part and provides that the board should be comprised
of the following:
(1)One registered mechanical engineer from a list submitted by LDH.
(2)One plumbing inspector from a list submitted by LDH.
(3)Three master plumber from a list submitted by LAPHCC
(4)Three journeymen plumbers from a list submitted by the La. Pipe Trades Association
or its successor.
(5)One residential plumber by the governor.
(6)One member of the public shall a list submitted by the speaker of the House of
Representatives.
(7)One member of the public from a list submitted by the president of the Senate.
Proposed law (R.S. 37:1361(E)) changes the quorum of the board from five to six.
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.
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.
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HB NO. 753
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) and (E), 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))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Commerce to the
original bill:
1. Change engineer board member to mechanical engineer board member.
2. Change board appointee from one tradesman plumber appointed by the board to
one residential plumber appointment by governor.
3. Add two board members of the public, one nominated by the speaker of the
House of Representatives and one nominated by the president of the Senate.
4. Change board membership to eleven and quorum to six.
5. Make technical changes.
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