Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Commerce & Labor Committee

HB 2470

Brief Description:  Revising provisions for plumbing contractors.

Sponsors:  Representatives Conway, Campbell, Cairnes, Cooper, Hunt, Hurst, Quall, Armstrong, Delvin, Tokuda and Kenney.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Requires plumbing contractors to verify hours worked by plumbing trainees, and that certified plumbers properly supervised such hours.

$Permits the Department of Labor and Industries, in certain circumstances, to audit records and issue infractions to plumbing contractors that verify trainee hours.

$Requires that registration fees paid by plumbing contractors be deposited in the plumbing certificate fund.

Hearing Date:  1/31/02

Staff:  Jill Reinmuth (786‑7134).

Background:

The Department of Labor and Industries administers various state laws governing construction‑related businesses and trades.  Construction contracting and plumbing are among the businesses and trades regulated by the department.

State law requires contractors to register with the department.  Contractors also must meet certain requirements relating to registration, bonding and insurance, and notice to customers.  The registration requirements do not apply to licensed plumbers, unless they wish to advertise and bid for jobs. 

State law also requires plumbers to be licensed by the department.  Plumbers meet certain experience and/or educational requirements, and pass an examination to obtain the required certificate.

Summary of Bill:

Changes are made to the state laws governing contractors and plumbers.

"Plumbing contractor" is defined as a person who primarily engages in or employs other persons to engage in work in the plumbing trade. 

Plumbing contractors are prohibited from advertising, offering to do work, submitting a bid to do work, or performing plumbing work without being registered contractors.

Plumbing contractors must verify the hours worked by plumbing trainees, and the proper supervision of such hours by certified plumbers.

The department may audit the records of a plumbing contractor that verified trainee hours in circumstances in which the department demonstrates a likelihood of excessive or improper hours being reported.  The department must limit its audit to records necessary to verify hours.  Information obtained from a plumbing contractor in an audit is confidential and not subject to public disclosure. 

The department may issue a notice of infraction if a plumbing contractor is not a registered contractor.  The department also may issue a notice of infraction if a plumbing contractor does not accurately verify trainee hours, or that such hours were properly supervised. 

Contractor registration fees paid by plumbing contractors are deposited in the plumbing certificate fund, rather than the general fund.  These fees must be used to issue certificates, administer and enforce contractor registration and plumber licensing provisions, and administer plumber examinations.

Rules Authority:  The department must adopt rules implementing procedures for auditing reports of hours worked by plumbing trainees.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.