Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED
ACT No. 9082026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 953
BY REPRESENTATIVE FONTENOT
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:2150, 2150.1, 2151(A)(2), 2156(D), (E), and (K)(1),
3 2156.1(A)(7), (B)(1), and (I), 2158(A)(introductory paragraph), and 2164(A), (B),
4 and (H), to enact R.S. 37:2151(B)(10) and (11), 2155.1, 2156.1.1, and 2158(A)(24)
5 and to repeal Chapter 16 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
6 comprised of R.S. 37:1361 through 1380, relative to licensing of plumbers; to
7 provide the State Licensing Board for Contractors the power to license and regulate
8 licensure of plumbers and plumbing contractors; to provide for definitions; to
9 provide for a Plumbing Contractors Subcommittee of the State Licensing Board for
10 Contractors; to provide relative to the membership of the State Licensing Board for
11 Contractors; to provide relative to the membership of the Plumbing Contractors
12 Subcommittee; to provide for licensing requirements; to provide relative to minority
13 outreach and recruitment; to abolish the State Plumbing Board; to provide for the
14 transfer of powers, duties, assets, and obligations from the State Plumbing Board to
15 the State Licensing Board for Contractors; to provide for an effective date; to provide
16 for the grandfathering of existing plumbing licenses; and to provide for related
17 matters.
18 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
19 Section 1. R.S. 37:2150, 2150.1, 2151(A)(2), 2156(D), (E), and (K)(1),
20 2156.1(A)(7), (B)(1), and (I), 2158(A)(introductory paragraph), and 2164(A), (B), and (H)
21 are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 37:2151(B)(10) and (11), 2155.1, 2156.1.1 and
22 2158(A)(24) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
23 §2150. Purpose; legislative intent
24 The purpose of the legislature in enacting this Chapter is the protection of the
25 health, safety, and general welfare of all those persons dealing with persons engaged
Page 1 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 in the contracting and plumbing vocation vocations, and the affording of such
2 persons of an effective and practical protection against the incompetent,
3 inexperienced, unlawful, and fraudulent acts of contractors or plumbers with whom
4 they contract. Further, the legislative intent is that the State Licensing Board for
5 Contractors shall monitor construction and plumbing projects to ensure compliance
6 with the licensure requirements of this Chapter.
7 §2150.1. Definitions
8 As used in this Chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
9 (1) "Apprentice gas fitter" means a natural person engaged in learning the gas
10 fitting trade by working under the direct, on-the-job supervision of a gas fitter and
11 in the employ of an employing entity. Apprentice gas fitters shall be indentured in
12 an apprenticeship program approved by Louisiana Works or may be unindentured
13 and in the employ of an employing entity.
14 (2) "Apprentice plumber license" means the license that may be granted to
15 a natural person engaged in learning the plumbing trade by working under the direct,
16 on-the-job supervision of a journeyman plumber or master plumber, and in the
17 employ of an employing entity. Apprentice plumbers shall be placed in an
18 apprenticeship approved by the board.
19 (3) "Board" means the State Licensing Board for Contractors.
20 (2) (4) "Commercial" means any construction project except residential
21 structures intended to be primarily occupied as a residence with no more than two
22 separate dwelling units incorporated into one structure.
23 (3) (5) "Contract" means an agreement to perform a scope of work that is
24 regulated by this Chapter. The project value includes the entire cost of the labor,
25 materials, rentals, and all direct and indirect project expenses. The cost of materials,
26 rentals, and direct and indirect expenses shall be included regardless of who pays the
27 costs or if they are donated. The "principal contract" is the agreement to perform the
28 entire scope of work for a construction project.
Page 2 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 (4) (6)(a) "Contractor" means any person who undertakes to, attempts to, or
2 submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct,
3 perform, or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration, repair,
4 improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, furnishing labor, or
5 furnishing labor together with material or equipment, or installing material or
6 equipment for any of the following:
7 (i) Any building, highway, road, railroad, sewer, grading, excavation,
8 pipeline, public utility structure, project development, housing, or housing
9 development, improvement, or any other construction undertaking for which the
10 project value is fifty thousand dollars or more when the property is to be used for
11 commercial purposes.
12 (ii) Any new residential structure for which the project value is fifty
13 thousand dollars or more when the property is used for residential purposes.
14 (iii) Any improvements or repairs to an existing residential structure for
15 which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more.
16 (iv) Any mold remediation for which the project value is seven thousand five
17 hundred dollars or more.
18 (b) The term "contractor" includes persons who receive an additional fee for
19 the employment or direction of labor, or any other work beyond the normal
20 architectural or engineering services.
21 (c) A contractor holding a license in the major classification of hazardous
22 materials, or any subclassifications thereunder, is defined in terms of work
23 performed for which the project value is one dollar or more.
24 (d) "Contractor" does not mean any person, supplier, manufacturer, or
25 employee of such person who assembles, repairs, maintains, moves, puts up, tears
26 down, or disassembles any patented or proprietary equipment supplied by such
27 person to a contractor to be used solely by the contractor for a construction
28 undertaking. "Proprietary" means specific and specialized equipment installation,
29 manufacturing processes, used, or components that are protected from disclosure to
30 third parties by the owner or manufacturer of the equipment.
Page 3 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 (5) (7) "Controlled access" means the complete building or facility area
2 under direct physical control within which an unauthorized person is denied access.
3 (6) (8) "Electrical contractor" means any person who undertakes to, attempts
4 to, or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee,
5 direct, perform, or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration,
6 repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, or furnishing
7 labor together with material and equipment, or installing the same for the wiring,
8 fixtures, or appliances for the supply of electricity to any residential, commercial, or
9 other project, for which the project value is ten thousand dollars or more. This
10 Paragraph is not deemed or construed to limit the authority of a contractor, general
11 contractor, or residential contractor, as those terms are defined in this Section, nor
12 to require such individuals to become an electrical contractor.
13 (7) (9) "Employee" means a worker whose employer deducts taxes from his
14 wages and reports his annual earnings to the Internal Revenue Service using a W-2
15 form.
16 (8) (10) "Executive director" means the person appointed by the board to
17 serve as the chief operating officer in connection with the day-to-day operation of
18 the board's business. The executive director is the appointing authority for all
19 employees of the board.
20 (11) "Gas fitter" means any natural person who possesses the necessary
21 qualifications and knowledge to install, alter, repair, improve, remove, or test natural
22 gas piping, tanks, and appliances annexed to real property but does not include any
23 person who is licensed by the Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission or
24 any services or work performed pursuant to such a license.
25 (12) "Gas fitting" means the work or business of installing, repairing,
26 improving, altering, or removing natural gas piping, fittings, valves, or tanks used
27 for conveying fuel gas for appliances on or in premises or in buildings annexed to
28 immovable property. For purposes of this Chapter, gas fitting does not include the
29 following:
Page 4 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 (a) The installation or maintenance of piping by any entity of a municipal or
2 gas district system that is subject to the regulatory authority of the Public Service
3 Commission, the New Orleans City Council, or the office of pipeline safety in the
4 Department of Conservation and Energy.
5 (b) Any work done by a person who is licensed by the Louisiana Liquefied
6 Petroleum Gas Commission or any other services performed pursuant to such a
7 license.
8 (c)(i) Piping connection, disconnection, or reconnection from the outlet side
9 of the appliance shutoff valve to the appliance inlet.
10 (d) The following persons or entities shall not be construed as a gas fitter or
11 master gas fitter for any purposes of this Chapter solely due to the performance of
12 services described in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph:
13 (i) Any person or business entity licensed by the State Licensing Board for
14 Contractors as a mechanical contractor.
15 (ii) Any person or business entity classified under the heating, air
16 conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration subclassification of
17 mechanical contractors pursuant to R.S. 37:2156.2.
18 (9) (13)(a) "General contractor" means a person who contracts directly with
19 the owner. The term "general contractor" includes the term "primary contractor" and
20 wherever used in this Chapter or in regulations promulgated thereunder "primary
21 contractor" means "general contractor".
22 (b) "General contractor" does not mean any person, supplier, manufacturer,
23 or employee of such person who assembles, repairs, maintains, moves, puts up, tears
24 down, or disassembles any patented or proprietary equipment supplied by such
25 person to a contractor to be used solely by the contractor for a construction
26 undertaking.
27 (10) (14) "Home improvement" means the reconstruction, alteration,
28 renovation, repair, modernization, conversion, improvement, removal, or demolition,
29 or the construction of an addition to any preexisting residential structure which
30 building is used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling unit, or to
Page 5 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 structures which are adjacent to such residence or building for which the project
2 value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more. "Home improvement" does not
3 include services rendered gratuitously.
4 (11) (15) "Home improvement contractor" means any person who undertakes
5 or attempts to undertake or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise,
6 superintend, oversee, direct, perform, or in any manner assume charge of a home
7 improvement project for which the project value is at least seven thousand five
8 hundred dollars but less than fifty thousand dollars. A home improvement contractor
9 shall not perform any structural work that is integral to the structural integrity of any
10 new or existing structure, including but not limited to footings, foundations, outside
11 walls, skeleton, bearing columns and interior load bearing walls, floor slabs, or
12 roofing systems to any type.
13 (16) "Journeyman plumber license" means the license that may be granted
14 to a natural person who possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to
15 install, alter, repair, and maintain plumbing systems; is supervised by a master
16 plumber; and is in the employ of an employing entity.
17 (12) (17) "License" means any form of license or registration the board is
18 authorized to issue in accordance with this Chapter.
19 (18) "Master gas fitter" means any natural person who possesses the
20 necessary skills, abilities, proficiency, and qualifications to plan and lay out the
21 details for installing and supervising the work of installing, repairing, and
22 maintaining types of materials and equipment used for the construction, repair,
23 removal, or improvement to natural gas piping systems and tanks annexed to real
24 property but does not include any person who is licensed by the Louisiana Liquefied
25 Petroleum Gas Commission or any services or work performed pursuant to such a
26 license.
27 (19) "Master plumber license" means the license that may be granted to a
28 natural person who possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to plan and
29 lay out plumbing systems; and who supervises journeyman plumbers in the
30 installation, alteration, or repair of plumbing systems.
Page 6 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 (20) "Master plumbing contractor" means any person who undertakes to,
2 attempts to, or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend,
3 oversee, direct, perform, or in any manner assume charge of the construction,
4 alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down,
5 furnishing labor, or furnishing labor together with material or equipment, or
6 installing material or equipment regarding plumbing in any structure or setting, and
7 is licensed by the board to do the same.
8 (13) (21) "Mechanical contractor" means any person who undertakes to,
9 attempts to, or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend,
10 oversee, direct, perform, or in any manner assume charge of the construction,
11 alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, or
12 furnishing labor, or furnishing labor together with material and equipment, or
13 installing the same for the construction, installation, maintenance, testing, and repair
14 of air conditioning, refrigeration, heating systems, and plumbing for all residential,
15 commercial, and industrial applications as well as ventilation systems, mechanical
16 work controls, boilers and other pressure vessels, steam and hot water systems and
17 piping, gas piping and fuel storage, and chilled water and condensing water systems
18 and piping, including but not limited to any type of industrial process piping and
19 related valves, fittings, and components, for which the project value is ten thousand
20 dollars or more. This Paragraph is not deemed or construed to limit the authority of
21 a contractor, general contractor, or residential contractor, as those terms are defined
22 in this Section, nor to require such individuals to become a mechanical contractor.
23 (14) (22) "Mold remediation contractor" means any person who engages in
24 removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventative
25 activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter that was not purposely grown at that
26 location for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more.
27 Mold remediation applies only to the regulation of mold-related activities that affect
28 indoor air quality and does not apply to routine cleaning when not conducted for the
29 purpose of mold-related activities intended to affect indoor air quality.
Page 7 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 (15) (23) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, association,
2 cooperative, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or
3 any other entity recognized by Louisiana law; and whether or not acting as a
4 principal, trustee, fiduciary, receiver, or as any other kind of legal or personal
5 representative, or as a successor in interest, assignee, agent, factor, servant,
6 employee, director, officer, or any other representative of such person; or any state
7 or local governing authority or political subdivision.
8 (24) "Plumber" means a natural person who performs the work or business
9 of installing in buildings and on premises the pipes, fixtures, and other apparatus for
10 supplying water, or removing liquid waste or water-borne waste, and fixtures, vessels
11 and process piping that is in direct contact with products for human consumption.
12 (16) (25) "Plumbing contractor" means any person who installs, maintains,
13 and repairs potable and nonpotable tap water or sewer systems within a building
14 structure or residential structure for which the project value is ten thousand dollars
15 or more undertakes to, attempts to, or submits a price or bid or offers to construct,
16 supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, perform, or in any manner assume charge of
17 the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up,
18 tearing down, furnishing labor, or furnishing labor together with material or
19 equipment, or installing material or equipment regarding plumbing.
20 (17) (26) "Principal" means an owner, shareholder, or an officer or director
21 of a corporation; a member or manager of a limited liability company; a general
22 partner of a partnership; a sole proprietor; a trustee; or a full-time employee with
23 similar operational control or significant influence with respect to any person as
24 determined by the board.
25 (18) (27) "Qualifying party" means a natural person designated by the
26 contractor to represent the contractor for the purpose of complying with the
27 provisions of this Chapter including but not limited to meeting the requirements for
28 the initial license and any continuation thereof.
29 (19) (28)(a) "Residential contractor" means any person who constructs a
30 fixed building or structure for sale or use by another as a residence or who, for a
Page 8 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 price, commission, fee, wage, or other compensation, undertakes or offers to
2 undertake the construction or superintending of the construction of any residential
3 structure which is not more than three floors in height, to be used by another as a
4 residence, for which the project value is fifty thousand dollars or more. The term
5 "residential contractor" includes all persons who receive an additional fee for the
6 employment or direction of labor, or any other work beyond the normal architectural
7 or engineering services.
8 (b) "Residential contractor" includes both of the following:
9 (i) Any person bidding or performing home improvement for which the
10 project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more.
11 (ii) Any person performing the installation of a modular home with a value
12 equal to or greater than fifty thousand dollars for which the total project value shall
13 not include the cost of the component parts of the modular home in the condition
14 each part leaves the factory pursuant to R.S. 40:1730.71.
15 (c) "Residential contractor" does not include any person engaged in building
16 residential structures that are built to the United States Department of Housing and
17 Urban Development's construction standards for manufactured housing as outlined
18 at 42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq., or mounted on a metal chassis and wheels.
19 (29) "Residential plumbing contractor" means any person who undertakes
20 to, attempts to, or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise,
21 superintend, oversee, direct, perform, or in any manner assume charge of the
22 construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up,
23 tearing down, furnishing labor, or furnishing labor together with material or
24 equipment, or installing material or equipment regarding plumbing in any residential
25 structure that is not more than three floors in height, to be used by another as a
26 residence.
27 (20) (30) "Residential roofing" means the construction, alteration, repair,
28 improvement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, furnishing labor, or furnishing
29 labor together with materials or equipment, or the installation of materials or
Page 9 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 equipment for any phase of roofing specific to a residential structure for which the
2 project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more.
3 (21) (31) "Residential roofing contractor" means any person who undertakes
4 to, attempts to, or submits a price or bid, or offers to construct, supervise,
5 superintend, oversee, direct, perform, or in any manner assume charge of a
6 residential roofing project for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred
7 dollars or more.
8 (22) (32) "Residential structure" means a building or structure that is used
9 primarily for occupancy by a person as a residence. Such structures or buildings
10 include but are not limited to single family dwellings and duplexes which are not
11 more than three floors in height and structures that are part of or adjacent to the
12 building or structures to be used as a residence. A residential structure more than
13 three floors in height may be built by a person holding a building construction and
14 residential construction license.
15 (23) (33) "Subcontract" means an agreement to perform a portion of the
16 scope of work contained in the principal contract including the entire cost of labor
17 and materials of that part of the principal contract which is performed by the
18 subcontractor.
19 (24) (34)(a) "Subcontractor" means a person who contracts to perform a
20 scope of work that is a part of the scope of work contained in the principal contract.
21 (b) "Subcontractor" does not include any person, supplier, or manufacturer
22 who assembles, repairs, maintains, moves, puts up, tears down, or disassembles any
23 patented or proprietary equipment supplied by such person to a contractor to be used
24 solely by the contractor for a construction undertaking.
25 §2151. State licensing board for contractors; membership; qualifications; tenure;
26 vacancies; term limits
27 A. There is hereby created the State Licensing Board for Contractors within
28 the office of the governor. The members shall serve without compensation.
29 * * *
Page 10 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 (2) Each member shall have been actively engaged as a responsible
2 contractor in the construction classification that he represents for the five-year period
3 prior to his appointment as a board member, except for any member appointed
4 pursuant to Paragraph (B)(7) of this Section if he represents the public at large, or
5 any member appointed pursuant to Paragraphs (B)(10) and (11) of this Section.
6 * * *
7 B. The members shall be selected and appointed as follows:
8 * * *
9 (10) There shall be one member who is an active licensed plumber, and shall
10 be appointed from a list of three names submitted by the Louisiana Pipe Trades
11 Association.
12 (11) There shall be one member who is an active licensed plumber, and shall
13 be appointed from a list of three names submitted by the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling
14 Contractors Association of Louisiana.
15 * * *
16 §2155.1. Plumbing Contractors Subcommittee; membership; terms; powers; duties
17 A.(1) There is hereby established within the board the Plumbing Contractors
18 Subcommittee, hereinafter referred to as "plumbing subcommittee", consisting of
19 the following eleven members appointed by the governor, each of whom shall be a
20 resident of this state, and each of whom shall have been actively engaged in
21 plumbing or contracting for at least five years prior to his appointment by the
22 governor.
23 (a) Three members, each of whom shall be appointed from the membership
24 of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of Louisiana.
25 (b) Three members, each of whom shall be appointed from the membership
26 of the Louisiana Pipe Trades Association.
27 (c) One member who shall be appointed from the membership of the
28 Louisiana Associated General Contractors.
Page 11 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 (d) One member who shall be appointed from the membership of the
2 Associated Builders and Contractors of Louisiana.
3 (e) One member who shall be appointed from the membership of the
4 Louisiana Home Builders Association.
5 (f) Two members to serve as members at-large, one of whom is in the
6 business of plumbing or plumbing contracting, and one of whom is not associated
7 with the business of plumbing or plumbing contracting.
8 (2) Each State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education district shall
9 be represented among the membership provided in this Subsection.
10 B.(1) The terms of office for the initial members appointed to the plumbing
11 subcommittee is three members for a three-year term, four members for a two-year
12 term, and four members for a one-year term, to be determined by the governor.
13 Thereafter, all members are to be appointed for six-year terms.
14 (2) All terms commence thirty days after appointment, and all members shall
15 serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified. Vacancies occurring
16 in the membership of the plumbing subcommittee for any reason shall be filled by
17 appointment by the governor for the unexpired term. No member appointed may
18 serve more than two consecutive six-year terms.
19 (3) A member may be removed by the governor for cause; or at the request
20 of the chairperson for failure to attend more than half of the regularly scheduled
21 meetings within a twelve-month period or for cause.
22 C. The executive director of the board shall serve as executive director of the
23 plumbing subcommittee and does not have voting privileges.
24 D.(1) A member of the board shall serve as an ex officio member of the
25 plumbing subcommittee and shall serve as the liaison between the plumbing
26 subcommittee and the board. He shall be appointed by the chairperson of the board
27 and shall serve as the chairperson of the plumbing subcommittee. His presence at a
28 meeting of the plumbing subcommittee may be counted toward establishing a
Page 12 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 quorum of the plumbing subcommittee, and he shall have voting privileges only if
2 either of the following circumstances exists:
3 (a) His presence is necessary to establish a quorum of the plumbing
4 subcommittee and there is a tie vote between the appointed members of the plumbing
5 subcommittee.
6 (b) His presence is necessary to establish a quorum of the plumbing
7 subcommittee, only one appointed member of the plumbing subcommittee is present,
8 and an additional ex officio member has been appointed pursuant to Paragraph (2)
9 of this Subsection.
10 (2) An additional ex officio member of the board shall serve on the plumbing
11 subcommittee only if his presence, along with the ex officio member serving
12 pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, is required to establish a quorum of the
13 plumbing subcommittee. This additional ex officio member shall be appointed by the
14 chairperson of the board and shall serve as the vice chairperson of the plumbing
15 subcommittee. He shall have voting privileges only if there is a tie vote between
16 appointed members of the plumbing subcommittee and the ex officio member
17 serving as chairperson of the plumbing subcommittee.
18 (3) The board shall pay per diem and travel expenses for ex officio members.
19 E. A quorum of the plumbing subcommittee consists of a majority of its
20 members and is sufficient to conduct plumbing subcommittee business. The
21 plumbing subcommittee shall meet at least once every other month to conduct its
22 business unless, for good cause, a meeting cannot be held. Notice of plumbing
23 subcommittee meetings shall be posted on the board's official website and at the
24 board's office at least ten days prior to the date when the plumbing subcommittee is
25 to meet.
26 F. Each member of the plumbing subcommittee is entitled to a per diem
27 allowance of seventy-five dollars for each meeting he attends and to be reimbursed
28 for all travel expenses necessarily incurred in attending meetings.
Page 13 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 G. Subject to the approval of the board, the plumbing subcommittee has all
2 of the following powers and duties:
3 (1) To adopt rules and regulations to govern all plumbing contractors,
4 apprentice plumbers, journeyman plumbers, and master plumbers in this state,
5 including all specialty classifications and sub-classifications of plumbing or
6 plumbing contracting as adopted by the board.
7 (2) To issue, suspend, or revoke licenses to do plumbing or plumbing
8 business in this state pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.
9 (3) To prescribe and adopt regulations and policies for continuing education
10 for plumbers. However, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the plumbing
11 subcommittee shall not approve for use by licensees any continuing education
12 courses or written training programs provided by a member of the plumbing
13 subcommittee, or by a legal entity in which a member has a controlling interest.
14 (4) To enforce against, prosecute, or enjoin all persons violating plumbing
15 or plumbing contracting provisions of this Chapter, and rules and regulations of the
16 board, and incur necessary expenses therein.
17 (5) If an alleged violation is known to the plumbing subcommittee, the
18 plumbing subcommittee may correct it or take appropriate action without formal
19 complaint.
20 H.(1) The legislature hereby recognizes the importance of the occupational
21 field of plumbing and the necessity of expanding recruitment, especially in the
22 population of minority students, as the pool of licensed plumbing professionals has
23 not grown at the same pace of need for the occupation. It is the intent of the
24 legislature that the plumbing subcommittee increase outreach to minority students
25 for recruitment into the occupational field of plumbing.
26 (2) The plumbing subcommittee, in consultation and collaboration with the
27 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Louisiana Community and
28 Technology College System, and any other vocational programs identified by the
29 board, shall survey all efforts in effect to encourage minority participation in the
Page 14 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 occupational field of plumbing. No later than April 12, 2027, the plumbing
2 subcommittee shall submit a report of the survey to the House Committee on
3 Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and
4 International Affairs. The report shall include but not be limited to all of the
5 following:
6 (a) The total number of licensed plumbers as of August 1, 2026.
7 (b) The number of licenses issued from August 1, 2026, through April 1,
8 2027, delineating the demographic information of all licensees.
9 (c) Methods to increase minority participation in the occupational field of
10 plumbing, including recruitment and educational grant opportunities.
11 §2156. Applications; licenses; fees; renewals
12 * * *
13 D. The board may assess an additional surcharge of not more than four
14 hundred dollars in connection with the application for and issuance of a contractor's
15 or plumber's license to a contractor or plumber not domiciled in this state, to be
16 utilized to defray the additional cost of the investigation of the application of the
17 non-Louisiana contractor or plumber.
18 E. When issuing a license to any contractor or plumber, the board shall state
19 the contractor's or plumber's classification on the license for which he has completed
20 all of the requirements.
21 * * *
22 K.(1) The board shall assess on each license renewal issued to a contractor,
23 except a plumbing contractor, an additional fee of one hundred dollars per year to be
24 dedicated and allocated as provided in this Subsection to any public university in this
25 state or any community college school of construction management or construction
26 technology in this state that is accredited by either the American Council for
27 Construction Education or the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
28 The board shall include on each license renewal form issued to a contractor an
Page 15 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 optional election whereby the contractor may choose to not participate in the
2 remission of the additional one-hundred-dollar dedication fee.
3 * * *
4 §2156.1. Requirements for issuance of a contractor's license
5 A. To become licensed in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, an
6 applicant shall make application to the board on a form adopted by the board and
7 shall state the classifications for which he is applying from the list of major
8 classifications listed herein or from the list of subclassifications and specialty
9 classification as adopted by rule. The major classifications are:
10 * * *
11 (7) Master Plumbing.
12 * * *
13 B.(1) An applicant for a contractor's license or registration shall submit a
14 financial statement on a form supplied by the board, current to within twelve months
15 of the date of filing the application, prepared and signed by an accountant,
16 bookkeeper, or certified public accountant and signed by the applicant, attesting the
17 statement is true and correct. In lieu of a signature by a certified public accountant
18 on the board's form, a current financial statement prepared by a certified public
19 accountant may be attached.
20 * * *
21 I.(1) Any plumbing contractor who currently holds a Master Plumber
22 License from the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana shall be exempt from any trade
23 examination requirement. Any person or business that advertises, solicits,
24 undertakes, attempts, offers, or submits a price, bid, quote or estimate to construct,
25 supervise, direct, oversee, or perform any construction, modification, repair, or
26 maintenance of any portion of a plumbing system is required to hold the appropriate
27 plumbing contractor license, classification, subclassification, or specialty
28 classification.
Page 16 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 (2) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to permit plumbing contractors
2 to perform plumbing work without first complying with the licensure provisions of
3 Chapter 16 of this Title, R.S. 37:1361 et seq. A master plumbing contractor may
4 contract to perform plumbing work for any structure. Master plumbing contractor
5 qualifying party status may be obtained only by a licensed master plumber, and upon
6 meeting all other requirements of licensure.
7 (3) A residential plumbing contractor may contract to perform plumbing
8 work only for a structure, not more than three floors in height, to be used by another
9 as a residence. Residential plumbing contractor qualifying party status may be
10 obtained by a licensed journeyman plumber or a licensed master plumber, and upon
11 meeting all other requirements of licensure.
12 * * *
13 §2156.1.1. Requirements for issuance of a plumber's license; violations; penalties;
14 classifications
15 A. Any natural person who engages in any plumbing work of any kind,
16 including as an employee of a plumbing contractor, is required to possess the
17 appropriate plumber's license. Licenses for plumbers shall be issued in accordance
18 with any of the following:
19 (1) An applicant for licensure as an apprentice plumber shall register with
20 the board in a method prescribed by the board and shall semi-annually verify his
21 employment in the trade of apprentice plumber with the board in a method
22 prescribed by the board.
23 (2) An applicant for licensure as a journeyman plumber may obtain that
24 license from the board after the completion of two thousand five hundred hours of
25 verified work as an apprentice plumber, and after passing both a written examination
26 and a practical administration approved, recognized, or administered on behalf of the
27 board.
Page 17 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 (3) An applicant for licensure as a master plumber may obtain that license
2 from the board after first becoming a licensed journeyman plumber, the completion
3 of one thousand hours of verified work as a licensed journeyman plumber, and after
4 successfully passing a written examination approved, recognized, or administered
5 on behalf of the board.
6 B. A person may not perform plumbing work, or act as a plumber as defined
7 in this Chapter, unless he holds an active license as a plumber in accordance with the
8 provisions of this Chapter. The board or plumbing subcommittee may revoke,
9 suspend, or refuse to renew a license; issue cease and desist orders to stop work;
10 issue fines and penalties; or debar any person licensed pursuant to the provisions of
11 this Chapter for a violation of any of the following requirements:
12 (1) An apprentice plumber shall work only under the supervision of a
13 journeyman plumber or a master plumber. A journeyman plumber shall not
14 supervise more than three apprentice plumbers.
15 (2) A journeyman plumber may be supervised by another journeyman
16 plumber only if that supervising journeyman plumber is an employee of, or the
17 qualifying party at, a residential plumbing contractor.
18 (3) A journeyman plumber may be supervised by a master plumber who is
19 employed by or the qualifying party of a master plumbing contractor.
20 C. The plumbing subcommittee may promulgate rules and regulations for the
21 issuance of apprentice, journeyman, and master plumber licenses or temporary
22 working permits to persons possessing equivalent licenses or experience in another
23 state and that are applying to perform work in this state, as well as any additional
24 requirements or fees to be imposed for such a license or permit. Any rule or
25 regulation promulgated pursuant to this Subsection shall comply with the Welcome
26 Home Act, R.S. 37:51 et seq., if applicable.
27 D. Additional requirements for the issuance of plumber's licenses may be
28 added by rule as the plumbing subcommittee deems appropriate.
29 * * *
Page 18 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 §2158. Revocation and suspension of licenses; issuance of cease and desist orders;
2 debarment; violations; penalty; criminal penalty
3 A. No person may engage in the business of contracting, or act as a
4 contractor as defined in this Chapter, unless he holds an active license as a contractor
5 in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. The board, plumbing
6 subcommittee, and residential subcommittee may revoke, suspend, or refuse to
7 renew a license; issue cease and desist orders to stop work; issue fines and penalties;
8 or debar any person licensed pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter for any of the
9 following violations:
10 * * *
11 (24) Undertaking, attempting, or submitting a price or bid or offers to
12 construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, perform, or in any manner assume
13 charge of the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition,
14 putting up, tearing down, furnishing labor, or furnishing labor together with material
15 or equipment, or installing material or equipment regarding plumbing work without
16 holding the plumbing contractor license required for that particular scope of work.
17 * * *
18 §2164. Violations; civil penalty; jurisdiction
19 A. Any person who violates any provision of this Chapter shall, after notice
20 and a hearing, be liable to the board for a fine of up to ten percent of the total
21 contract or the value of the work bid or being performed for which there is a
22 violation. In addition to the fine, the board may impose administrative costs and
23 attorney fees for each offense. In determining the amount of the administrative
24 penalty, the board, plumbing subcommittee, or residential subcommittee shall
25 consider the circumstances and seriousness of the violation, cooperation on the part
26 of the contractor, and the history of previous violations.
27 B. A monetary penalty assessed by the board, plumbing subcommittee, or
28 the residential subcommittee is payable within ninety days or as provided by law.
Page 19 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 Failure to pay an outstanding penalty may be cause to deny issuance or renewal of
2 a license or registration and may be subject to collection efforts as provided by law.
3 * * *
4 H. Anyone violating this Chapter who fails to cease work, after proper
5 hearing and notification from the board, shall not be eligible to apply for a
6 contractor's license or a plumber's license for a period not to exceed one year from
7 the date of official notification to cease work.
8 * * *
9 Section 2. Chapter 16 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
10 comprised of R.S. 37:1361 through 1380, is hereby repealed in its entirety.
11 Section 3. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby directed to make technical
12 changes to statutory laws as necessary to reflect the succession of the State Plumbing Board
13 by the State Licensing Board for Contractors as provided in this Act.
14 Section 4. Any person licensed in this state as an apprentice plumber, journeyman
15 plumber, or master plumber by the State Plumbing Board on or before December 31, 2026,
16 shall hold the equivalent license of the State Licensing Board for Contractors created by this
17 Act on January 1, 2027.
18 Section 5. (A) On the effective date of this Section, the State Plumbing Board is
19 abolished and its duties and functions shall be transferred to the State Licensing Board for
20 Contractors. All unfinished business, references in laws and documents, employees,
21 property, obligations, and books and records heretofore under the control of the State
22 Plumbing Board shall be transferred to the State Licensing Board for Contractors as
23 provided in this Section.
24 (B) Unfinished business. Upon the transfer of duties and functions as provided in
25 this Section, any pending or unfinished business of the State Plumbing Board shall be taken
26 over and completed by the State Licensing Board for Contractors. The State Licensing Board
27 for Contractors is the successor in every way to the State Plumbing Board.
28 (C) References in laws and documents. Wherever the State Plumbing Board is
29 referred to or designated by the constitution or by any law or contract or other document,
Page 20 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 after the effective date of the abolition of that board as provided in this Section any such
2 reference or designation is considered to apply to the State Licensing Board for Contractors.
3 (D) Legal proceedings and documents continued. Any legal proceeding to which
4 the State Plumbing Board is a party and which is filed, initiated, or pending before any court
5 on January 1, 2027, and all documents involved in or affected by such legal proceeding, shall
6 retain their effectiveness and shall be continued in the name of the State Licensing Board for
7 Contractors. All further legal proceedings and documents in the continuation, disposition,
8 and enforcement of such legal proceedings shall be in the name of the State Licensing Board
9 for Contractors, and the State Licensing Board for Contractors shall be substituted for the
10 party to which it is the successor without the necessity for amendment of any document to
11 substitute the name of that board it is succeeding or the name or title of any office, official,
12 employee, or other agent or representative of that board it is succeeding. Any legal
13 proceeding and all documents involved in or affected by such legal proceeding, which
14 proceeding has been continued in the name of the State Plumbing Board, shall retain their
15 effectiveness, and those provisions of this Act requiring that the continuation, disposition,
16 and enforcement of a legal proceeding and documents related thereto be in the name of the
17 party to which the State Licensing Board for Contractors is the successor does not affect
18 their validity.
19 (E)(1) Protection of obligations; federal assistance. All obligations of the State
20 Plumbing Board hereafter is considered to be the obligations of the State Licensing Board
21 for Contractors to the same extent as if originally made by the State Licensing Board for
22 Contractors and the same are hereby ratified. In like manner, and in order to prevent any
23 violation of the provisions, terms, or conditions of any gift, donation, deed, will, trust, or
24 other instrument or disposition by which property vested in the State Licensing Board for
25 Contractors by this Act was previously vested in the State Plumbing Board or diversion from
26 the purposes for which such property was so vested, it is hereby specifically provided that
27 each such instrument or disposition hereafter is considered to have vested such property in
28 the State Licensing Board for Contractors in the same manner and to the same extent as if
29 originally so done.
Page 21 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 (2) The State Licensing Board for Contractors is the successor in every way to the
2 State Plumbing Board, including with respect to obligations and debts of the State Plumbing
3 Board. All dedications and allocations of revenues and sources of revenues heretofore made
4 shall continue in the same manner, to the same extent, and for the same purposes as were
5 provided prior to the enactment of this Section of this Act, unless and until other provision
6 is made for such dedications and allocations.
7 (3) This Act shall not be construed or applied in any way which will prevent full
8 compliance by the state, or any department, office, or agency thereof, with the requirements
9 of any act of the Congress of the United States or any regulation made thereunder by which
10 federal aid or other federal assistance has been or hereafter is made available to this state,
11 or any department, office, agency, or subdivision thereof, anything contained in this Act to
12 the contrary notwithstanding, and such compliance hereafter shall be accomplished by the
13 State Licensing Board for Contractors.
14 (F) Transfer of property. All books, papers, records, money, actions, and other
15 property of every kind, movable and immovable, real and personal, heretofore possessed,
16 controlled, or used by the State Plumbing Board are hereby transferred to the State Licensing
17 Board for Contractors. All funds controlled by the State Plumbing Board are hereby
18 transferred to the State Licensing Board for Contractors.
19 (G) Transfer of employees. All employees engaged in the performance of duties of
20 the State Plumbing Board are hereby transferred to the State Licensing Board for Contractors
21 and are subject to applicable state civil service laws, rules, and regulations. Employee
22 positions in the unclassified service will remain in the unclassified service.
23 Section 6. The State Plumbing Board and the State Licensing Board of Contractors
24 shall take all necessary actions prior to January 1, 2027, including but not limited to
25 amending, adopting, and repealing administrative rules as are necessary to implement the
26 provisions of this Act.
27 Section 7. Sections 1 through 5 of this Act shall become effective on January 1,
28 2027.
Page 22 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 953 ENROLLED
1 Section 8. Sections 6 and 7 and this Section of this Act shall become effective upon
2 signature by the governor, or, if not signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for
3 bills to become law without signature by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section
4 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved
5 by the legislature, Sections 6 and 7 and this Section of this Act shall become effective on the
6 day following such approval.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 23 of 23
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.