HB265 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jack Williams

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Plumbers and Gas Fitters, definitions, exaimining board, disbursement of funds, certification, renewals, fees, disciplinary actions, Secs. 34-37-1, 34-37-2, 34-37-5, 34-37-6, 34-37-8, 34-37-9, 34-37-12, 34-37-13, 34-37-14, 34-37-15, 34-37-17 am'd.

Summary

HB265 would overhaul Alabama's Plumbers and Gas Fitters regulatory program by expanding definitions, funding, and certification rules, with new penalties and requirements for backflow devices and medical gas piping.

What This Bill Does

The bill broadens the board’s scope and renames it to regulate state-wide plumbers, gas fitters, and medical gas piping fitters; it creates new definitions and requires current certification for installing, testing, or maintaining backflow prevention devices. It sets up a dedicated fund, directing unencumbered board funds to the Alabama Home Builders Foundation for classroom training (with excess funds handled if the Foundation changes status), and it adds rules for displaying business names, renewing and replacing certificates, bonding, and disciplinary actions. It also expands inactive status options and lays out exemptions for certain activities, along with new penalties and cease-and-desist powers, with an effective date three months after passage.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: Licensed Plumbers, Gas Fitters, Master/Journeyman/Apprentice, and principals of plumbing or gas-fitting businesses; they would need current certifications (including for backflow devices and medical gas piping), renew certificates, possibly pay new or updated fees, post required bonds, and could face disciplinary actions or be placed in inactive status.
• Group 2: The public/consumers and local government entities; the public would benefit from statewide, enforceable licensing and safety rules (especially for backflow devices and medical gas piping), while local governments are affected by funding provisions and the bill’s stated exemptions from certain local-expenditure requirements.

Key Provisions

• Defines and renames the Plumbers Examining Board to the State of Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board and expands its statewide regulatory authority.
• Creates a board fund and directs unencumbered funds to the Alabama Home Builders Foundation for classroom training; excess funds flow to the General Fund if the Foundation loses nonprofit status.
• Requires current certification for installing, testing, or maintaining backflow prevention devices; adds medical gas piping endorsements and related supervision requirements.
• Sets renewal, late renewal penalties, and replacement certificate fees; authorizes bonding requirements for principals (bond amount up to $15,000 with a cash bond option of $2,000).
• Authorizes disciplinary actions by the board, including suspensions, revocations, fines up to $2,000, cease-and-desist orders, and mandated training for violations.
• Mandates display of business names on vehicles (minimum 4-inch lettering) and imposes registration, examination, and bonding requirements for apprentices, journeymen, and masters.
• Establishes exemptions allowing certain maintenance, utility, railroad, and owner-operator work to proceed without a license under specified conditions.
• Provides for inactive status for those not serving as master plumbers or gas fitters, with related notification and fee provisions.
• Effective date is the first day of the third month after the bill becomes law; the bill notes its local-funding impact is exempt under constitutional provisions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Boards and Commissions