HB143 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jack Williams
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Plumbers and Gas Fitters, definitions, examining 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: HB143 updates Alabama's Plumbers and Gas Fitters laws by renaming and expanding the state examining board, tightening certification and bonding, creating a recovery fund, and strengthening disciplinary and funding rules.
What This Bill Does
The bill renames the Plumbers Examining Board to the State of Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board and expands its statewide regulatory authority. It adds new definitions, requires current certifications for backflow prevention work, tightens renewal and replacement certificate fees, and broadens disciplinary tools. It creates a separate funding mechanism and a recovery fund, sets bonding requirements for principals, allows inactive status, and outlines exemptions; it also clarifies funding flows and public-awareness spending, and notes a constitutional exception regarding local expenditures.

Who It Affects
Licensed plumbers, gas fitters, journeymen, apprentices, and medical gas piping fitters (and their employers) who must obtain and maintain certifications, meet bonding requirements, pay fees, and may face disciplinary actions or inactive-status options.
Local governments and training-related entities (including the Alabama Home Builders Foundation) affected by funding changes, bonding rules, and the transfer of unspent funds for classroom training, with the bill noting local expenditure implications and exceptions.

Key Provisions
Renames the Plumbers Examining Board to the State of Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board and expands its statewide regulatory authority.
Adds and clarifies definitions (e.g., apprentice, backflow prevention device, master/journeyman plumber or gas fitter, principal, medical gas piping fitter).
Establishes a separate State of Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board Fund; unspent funds exceeding 25% of prior-year budget are transferred to the Alabama Home Builders Foundation for classroom training tools; if the Foundation loses nonprofit status, funds go to the State General Fund.
Imposes bond requirements: executive director and deputy director must post a $5,000 bond; principals (principal master plumbers/gas fitters) must post a $2,000 bond; bonds are filed with the probate judge and are subject to state surety requirements.
Requires current certification for installation, testing, or maintenance of backflow prevention devices; backflow work must be performed under direction of a certified master plumber or master gas fitter.
Requires renewal of certificates annually with set fees, late renewal penalties, and a $5 reissuance fee for replacement certificates; subjects military service members to special renewal provisions.
Provides for inactive status for certified individuals who do not intend to engage as masters, with required affidavits and applicable fee payments.
Details exemptions from licensing for certain activities (e.g., maintenance work by employees, railroad or public utility work, owner- performed work).
Expands the board’s disciplinary powers, such as suspending or revoking certificates, imposing fines up to $2,000 plus costs, cease-and-desist orders, and detailed hearing procedures.
Creates a Recovery Fund to pay actual economic damages arising from licensee violations, funded by up to $100 per licensee annually; includes subrogation provisions and a process for repayment of funds when claims are paid.
Requiress display of the business name on service vehicles and authorizes public-awareness spending by the board.
Specifies effective date and notes compliance with Amendment 621 concerning local expenditures, with an explicit exception allowing the bill to take effect without local approvals.

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