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House Commerce panel advances bill to change State Plumbing Board membership and officer qualifications
Summary
The House Committee on Commerce voted to report Senate Bill 175 with amendments after testimony that the bill would alter which plumbing professionals may fill six seats on the State Plumbing Board and require the board chair and vice chair be active master plumbers.
Senator Womack asked the House Committee on Commerce on June 2 to report Senate Bill 175, which would change membership and officer qualifications on the State Plumbing Board.
The bill, as described by Senator Womack, would “change the qualifications for these six seats,” removing two journeyman-plumber-nominated seats and creating two master-plumber-nominated seats while preserving industry nominations from the Louisiana Pipe Trades. Womack said the changes are intended “to better represent the industry advocating for economic growth and protection of the public through the qualified workforce.”
The bill also would specify that the board chair and vice chair “shall be an active master plumber listed as the responsible master plumber of his or her company,” a change supporters said aligns plumbing governance with other regulatory boards.
Trey Black of Gulf Mechanical Company, speaking for the trade group PHCC of Louisiana, said the seats are gubernatorial appointments that carry six-year terms. Crystal Carter, executive director for PHCC of Louisiana, explained the bill’s provision allowing members to remain in office after a term expires is intended only to avoid gaps in representation while the governor makes appointments, not to extend membership beyond the regular transition period.
Representative Newell asked how the replacement process would ensure timely submission of nominees so that members do not remain in place for long periods after their terms expire. Carter answered that delays can occur between submission and appointment, and the existing statutory language is meant to prevent vacancies during those normal transition intervals.
Representative Jordan and other members asked about the roles of PHCC and the Louisiana Pipe Trades Association; testimony indicated PHCC represents both union and nonunion contractors and the pipe trades are union affiliates that historically have had seats on the board. Trey Black said the Senate negotiated language so the union affiliates could continue to appoint nominees while agreeing that master plumbers should hold the chair and vice chair.
Vice Chair Thomas moved to report the bill favorably as amended; there were no objections and SB 175 was reported with amendments.
The committee record shows the bill carried a set of technical amendments adopted at the meeting. No formal opposition testimony was recorded in the committee minutes.
Looking ahead, the measure will be placed on the House calendar for further consideration.
