CHAPTER 253
HB 112 - FINAL VERSION
14Feb2019... 0058h
05/15/2019 1774s
2019 SESSION
19-0023
10/06
HOUSE BILL 112
AN ACT relative to the mechanical licensing board.
SPONSORS: Rep. McGuire, Merr. 29; Rep. P. Schmidt, Straf. 19; Rep. S. Beaudoin, Straf. 9; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Carson, Dist 14
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill clarifies the definitions of persons licensed by the mechanical licensing board, requires business entities to show proof of good standing and insurance, and provides for exceptions from licensure for persons performing certain electrical work.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
14Feb2019... 0058h
05/15/2019 1774s 19-0023
10/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT relative to the mechanical licensing board.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
253:1 Mechanical Licensing; Definitions. Amend RSA 153:27 to read as follows:
153:27 Definitions. In this subdivision:
I. "Board'' means the mechanical licensing board established in RSA 153:27-a.
II. "Domestic appliance technician'' means any person engaged in the installation, servicing, and repair of liquefied propane or natural gas domestic appliances designed specifically for residential use, limited to residential clothes dryers and their venting systems, domestic stove tops, cook stoves and ranges and their venting systems, or outdoor cooking equipment and pool heaters.
III. "Fuel gas fitter'' means a hearth system installation and service technician, a domestic appliance technician, a fuel gas installation technician, a fuel gas service technician, or a fuel gas piping installer regulated by this subdivision.
IV. "Fuel gas fitting'' means the installation, repair, alteration, service, demolition or removal of pipes, fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, or apparatus necessary for supplying natural gas or propane for residential or non-residential use from the point of delivery and all gas piping before connection to the combustion zone and including the applicable venting of flue gases to the outside atmosphere and the provisions for air for combustion and ventilation.
V. "Fuel gas installation technician'' means any person engaged in the installation of inside and outside piping from the outlet of the gas meter or first stage regulator or residential and non-residential fuel gas appliances and equipment, including but not limited to heating equipment systems or water heating systems using liquefied propane gas or natural gas.
VI. "Fuel gas piping installer'' means any person engaged in the installation of liquefied propane gas or natural gas piping or who is a New Hampshire licensed plumber, approved by the board through affidavit, experience, education or training in the use of NFPA 54, national fuel gas code as adopted pursuant to RSA 153:5 in the state fire code.
VII. "Fuel gas service technician'' means any person engaged in the servicing and repair of inside and outside piping from the outlet of the gas meter or first stage regulator or residential and non-residential fuel gas appliances and equipment, including but not limited to heating equipment systems or water heating systems using liquefied propane gas or natural gas.
VIII. "Fuel gas trainee'' means any person engaged in the process of meeting the licensing requirements of this subdivision, who shall work under the direct supervision of a licensed fuel gas fitter in the repair or installation of inside and outside piping from a gas meter or first stage regulator, and the repair or installation of residential and nonresidential fuel gas appliances and equipment, including but not limited to heating equipment systems, hot water heating systems, domestic appliances, or hearth equipment systems utilizing liquefied propane gas or natural gas.
IX. "Hearth system installation and service technician'' means any person engaged in the installation, servicing, and repair of liquefied propane or natural gas hearth appliances and venting systems.
X. "Journeyman plumber'' means any person who customarily performs the work of installing, maintaining, and repairing plumbing and drainage under the direction of a master plumber.
XI. "License'' means any license issued pursuant to this subdivision.
XII. "Master plumber'' means any person, firm, corporation, or limited liability company that, as a business, hires or employs a person or persons to do plumbing work, or, without hiring any person, does that work as a principal business or as auxiliary to a principal business for its own account.
XIII. "Person'' means an individual, natural person.
XIV. "Plumbing'' means the practice, materials, and fixtures used in the installing, maintenance, extension, and alteration of all piping, fixtures, plumbing appliances, and plumbing appurtenances within or adjacent to any structure, in connection with sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities; venting systems; and public or private water systems. For the purposes of this subdivision, the term "plumbing'' shall not apply beyond the first fitting beyond the foundation wall of the building or 5 feet of pipe from the building.
XV. "Plumbing apprentice'' means any person who is engaged in learning and assisting in the installation of plumbing and drainage under an apprenticeship program that meets the requirements of the state apprenticeship advisory council established in RSA 278 or the rules of the board.
XVI. "Water treatment system'' means any apparatus for treating or processing water to modify, enhance, or improve its quality or to meet a specific water quality need, desire, or standard, and the pipes, fittings, and other components servicing such apparatus.
XVII. "Water treatment technician'' means any person who installs, maintains, or repairs water treatment systems.
XVIII. "Water treatment trainee'' means any person who is engaged in learning about and assisting in installing, maintaining, or repairing water treatment systems under the direct supervision of a water treatment technician certified under this subdivision.
253:2 Business Entities License. Amend RSA 153:29-a, I to read as follows:
I. The board may issue a business entity a license without examination or continuing education requirements to corporations, partnerships, or limited liability companies engaged in fuel gas fitting and/or plumbing, provided one or more officers of the corporation, or designee, or one or more members of the partnership, or designee, or one or more managing members of the limited liability company, or designee, hold an active and current license as a domestic appliance technician, hearth system installation and service technician, fuel gas piping installer, fuel gas installation technician, fuel gas service technician, or master plumber for the appropriate mechanical business entity license, or any combination thereof, provided that the licensee of record is properly licensed for each of the business entities listed by the applicant under this subdivision. Within 30 days after the death or withdrawal of the licensed person as a corporate officer, or designee, or member of the partnership, or designee, or one or more managing members of the limited liability company, or designee, the licensed person, corporation, partnership, or limited liability company shall give notice thereof to the board and, if no other officer, partner, manager or designee, is licensed as a domestic appliance technician, hearth system installation and service technician, fuel gas piping installer, fuel gas installation technician, fuel gas service technician, or master plumber, the corporation, or partnership, or limited liability company shall not act as a fuel gas fitter or plumber until some other officer, member, or designee, has obtained a license as a domestic appliance technician, hearth system installation and service technician, fuel gas piping installer, fuel gas installation technician, fuel gas service technician, or master plumber. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board shall not require a fee for a business entity engaged in fitting and/or plumbing where a licensed domestic appliance technician, hearth system installation and service technician, fuel gas piping installer, fuel gas installation technician, fuel gas service technician, or master plumber is the sole individual holding the license of the business entity.
253:3 New Paragraph; Business Entities; Good Standing; Insurance. Amend RSA 153:29-a by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:
VI. All business entities shall provide proof of good standing with the secretary of state and proof of liability insurance prior to issuance and renewal of a business entity license.
253:4 New Paragraph; Mechanical Licensing; Exception; Electricians. Amend RSA 153:36 by inserting after paragraph VIII the following new paragraph:
IX. Any person licensed under RSA 319-C may perform work governed by their license on a gas appliance, including the operation of the appliance service gas shut off valve.
253:5 New Paragraph; Electricians; Exception Added. Amend RSA 319-C:3 by inserting after paragraph XII the following new paragraph:
XIII. Any person licensed under RSA 153:27 through 153:38 performing work governed by their license on electrical equipment, including the operation of the final disconnecting means at the equipment or appliance.
253:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: July 19, 2019
Effective Date: September 17, 2019
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 17, 2019 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 5, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| Feb. 14, 2019 | House | Floor Vote |
| May 1, 2019 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 15, 2019 | Senate | Floor Vote |
July 19, 2019: Signed by Governor Sununu 07/19/2019; Chapter 253; Eff: 09/17/2019
June 27, 2019: Enrolled 06/27/2019 HJ 20 P. 53
June 27, 2019: Enrolled (In recess 06/27/2019); SJ 21
June 13, 2019: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 1774s (Rep. Goley): MA VV 06/13/2019 HJ 19 P. 3
May 15, 2019: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-1774s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/15/2019; SJ 16
May 15, 2019: Committee Amendment # 2019-1774s, AA, VV; 05/15/2019; SJ 16
May 15, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-1774s, 05/15/2019; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 22
May 1, 2019: Hearing: 05/01/2019, Room 101, LOB, 09:00 am; SC 19
March 7, 2019: Introduced 03/07/2019 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 8
Feb. 14, 2019: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-0058h: MA VV 02/14/2019 HJ 5 P. 10
Feb. 14, 2019: Amendment # 2019-0058h: AA VV 02/14/2019 HJ 5 P. 10
Feb. 14, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-0058h for 02/14/2019 (Vote 20-0; CC) HC 11 P. 5
: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-0058h (Vote 20-0; CC)
Feb. 5, 2019: Executive Session: 02/05/2019 10:00 am LOB 306
Jan. 17, 2019: Public Hearing: 01/17/2019 10:00 am LOB 306
Jan. 2, 2019: Introduced 01/02/2019 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 2 P. 38