2024 Senate Bill 740

AI Analysis – Experimental

The legislation amends the Skilled Trades Regulation Act, specifically targeting the registration and supervision of apprentice plumbers. It mandates that individuals employed as apprentice plumbers must register with the department within 30 days of employment. The registration remains valid for five years, during which the apprentice must apply for and take the examination for a journey license. If the apprentice applies for the journey license within this period, the registration remains valid until the license is issued or the apprentice fails the examination. The board may grant extensions for the registration period upon request. The apprentice plumber's principal occupation must involve learning and assisting in plumbing installation under the direct, in-person supervision of a journey or master plumber.

Additionally, the legislation introduces a new section that stipulates the supervision ratio, requiring one journey or master plumber to supervise no more than two apprentices directly and in person. This ratio must be enforced on a jobsite basis by the department or an enforcing agency. Violations by plumbing contractors of this supervision ratio result in escalating administrative fines: $5,000 for the first violation, $10,000 for the second, and a minimum 90-day suspension of the plumbing contractor's license for the third violation. After the suspension period, the contractor can have their license reinstated by passing the plumbing contractor examination. Funds collected from fines are allocated to the enforcing agency that discovered the violation, and the department is entitled to recover actual costs and attorney fees related to the investigation and adjudication of violations.