[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to specialty plumbing; and amending RCW 18.106.010, 18.106.040, 18.106.050, 18.27.070, 18.106.125, and 18.106.130.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 18.106.010 and 1997 c 326 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, the following words and phrases as hereinafter used in this chapter shall have the following meaning:

(1) "Advisory board" means the state advisory board of plumbers;

(2) "Department" means the department of labor and industries;

(3) "Director" means the director of department of labor and industries;

(4) "Journeyman plumber" means any person who has been issued a certificate of competency by the department of labor and industries as provided in this chapter;

(5) "Medical gas piping" means oxygen, nitrous oxide, high pressure nitrogen, medical compressed air, and medical vacuum systems;

(6) "Medical gas piping installer" means a journeyman plumber who has been issued a medical gas piping installer endorsement;

(7) "Plumbing" means that craft involved in installing, altering, repairing and renovating potable water systems, liquid waste systems, and medical gas piping systems within a building. Installation in a water system of water softening or water treatment equipment is not within the meaning of plumbing as used in this chapter;

(8) "Specialty plumber" means anyone who has been issued a specialty certificate of competency limited to:

(a) Installation, maintenance, and repair of the plumbing of single-family dwellings, duplexes, and apartment buildings that do not exceed three stories;

(b) In-line maintenance and repair of backflow prevention assemblies within buildings; or

Sec. 2. RCW 18.106.040 and 1977 ex.s. c 149 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Upon receipt of the application and evidence set forth in RCW 18.106.030, the director shall review the same and make a determination as to whether the applicant is eligible to take an examination for the certificate of competency. To be eligible to take the examination:

(a) Each applicant for a journeyman plumber's certificate of competency shall furnish written evidence that he or she:

(i) Has ((~~either~~)) completed a course of study in the plumbing trade in the armed services of the United States or at a school accredited by the coordinating council on occupational education; or ((~~that he~~))

(ii) Has had four or more years of experience under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman plumber.

(b) Each applicant for a specialty plumber's certificate of competency shall furnish written evidence that he or she:

(i) Has ((~~either~~)) completed a course of study in the plumbing trade in the armed services of the United States ((~~or at a school accredited by the commission for vocational education or its designee, or that he~~));

(ii) Has had at least three years practical experience in ((~~his~~)) the specialty; or

(iii) Meets other requirements of eligibility as determined by the department, with the advice of the advisory board.

(c) Each applicant for a backflow prevention assembly repair specialty plumber's certificate of competency shall furnish written evidence that he or she:

(i) Is certified as a backflow assembly tester by the department of health; and

(ii) Meets other requirements of eligibility as determined by the department, with the advice of the advisory board.

(2) No other requirement for eligibility may be imposed.

(3) The director shall establish reasonable rules and regulations for the examinations to be given applicants for certificates of competency. In establishing said rules, regulations, and criteria, the director shall consult with the state advisory board of plumbers as established in RCW 18.106.110.

(4) Upon determination that the applicant is eligible to take the examination, the director shall so notify ((~~him~~)) the applicant, indicating the time and place for taking the same.

Sec. 3. RCW 18.106.050 and 1997 c 326 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department may establish, with the advice of the advisory board, certificates of competency for specialty plumbers.

(2) The department, with the advice of the advisory board, shall prepare a written examination to be administered to applicants for certificates of competency for journeyman plumber and specialty plumber. The examination shall be constructed to determine:

(a) Whether the applicant possesses varied general knowledge of the technical information and practical procedures that are identified with the trade of journeyman plumber or specialty plumber; and

(b) Whether the applicant is familiar with the applicable plumbing codes and the administrative rules of the department pertaining to plumbing and plumbers.

(3) The department shall administer the examination to eligible persons. All applicants shall, before taking the examination, pay to the department a fee.

((~~(2)~~)) (4) For purposes of the medical gas piping installer endorsement, the department may enter into a contract with a nationally recognized testing agency to develop, administer, and score medical gas piping installer examinations. All applicants shall, before taking an examination for a medical gas piping installer endorsement, pay the required examination fee. The department shall set the examination fee by contract with a nationally recognized testing agency. The fee shall cover but not exceed the costs of preparing and administering the examination and the materials necessary to conduct the practical elements of the examination. The department shall approve training courses and set the fees for training courses for the medical gas piping installer endorsement.

The department shall certify the results of the examination, and shall notify the applicant in writing whether he or she has passed or failed. Any applicant who has failed the examination may retake the examination, upon the terms and after a period of time that the director shall set by rule. The director may not limit the number of times that a person may take the examination.

Sec. 4. RCW 18.27.070 and 1997 c 314 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

The department shall charge fees for issuance, renewal, and reinstatement of certificates of registration; and changes of name, address, or business structure. The department shall set the fees by rule.

Except as provided in RCW 18.106.130, the entire amount of the fees are to be used solely to cover the full cost of issuing certificates, filing papers and notices, and administering and enforcing this chapter. The costs shall include reproduction, travel, per diem, and administrative and legal support costs.

Sec. 5. RCW 18.106.125 and 1983 c 124 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:

The department shall charge fees for issuance, renewal, and reinstatement of all certificates and permits and for examinations required by this chapter. The department shall set the fees by rule.

The fees charged under this section and the fees charged for certificates of registration for specialty plumbing contractors under chapter 18.27 RCW shall cover the full cost of issuing the certificates and permits, devising and administering the examinations, and administering and enforcing this chapter. The costs shall include travel, per diem, and administrative support costs.

Sec. 6. RCW 18.106.130 and 1973 1st ex.s. c 175 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

All moneys received from certificates of competency, permits, or other sources((,)) under this chapter and from certificates of registration for specialty plumbing contractors under chapter 18.27 RCW shall be paid to the state treasurer as ex officio custodian thereof and ((~~by him~~)) placed in a special fund designated as the "plumbing certificate fund". ((He)) The treasurer shall pay out upon vouchers duly and regularly issued therefor and approved by the director. The treasurer shall keep an accurate record of payments into ((~~said~~)) the fund, and of all disbursement therefrom. ((~~Said~~)) The fund shall be charged with its pro rata share of the cost of administering ((~~said~~)) the fund.