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House approves bill creating residential plumber license; trade groups endorse measure
Summary
The House passed Substitute Second Substitute Senate Bill 72 to create a residential plumber license, limiting work to simpler residential jobs and allowing experienced workers to qualify by exam; the measure drew questions about apprenticeship impact and passed 51–13.
The Utah House on the Senate calendar passed Substitute Second Substitute Senate Bill 72 on a 51–13 vote, creating a new residential plumber's license intended to bring currently unregulated residential plumbing work under state oversight.
Representative Jorgensen, who presented the bill, said it "creates a new, a lower level of a plumber's license called a residential plumber's license," explaining the license would allow workers who meet experience requirements to qualify by examination and perform simpler residential plumbing tasks, similar to the existing residential electrician license.
The sponsor said the license "would not allow them to do the more, complicated plumbing work, but would allow them to do those kinds of residential jobs, similar to the residential electrician's license on units up to, 4 at a time." He added that the measure was intended to bring individuals currently operating outside formal licensing "under the jurisdiction of the state."
Representative Gus Herbston asked whether the change would affect apprenticeship programs; Jorgensen replied, "This will not have a negative effect on the apprenticeship programs at all," and said the bill could encourage experienced workers to return to school and pursue full journeyman credentials. The sponsor also said the Utah Pipe Trades Association, the Utah State Association of Pipefitters and the Utah State Plumbing Licensing Board had endorsed the concept.
After limited debate and a waived summation, the substitute bill went to a vote. The clerk announced, "the foregoing second substitute Senate bill 72 having received 51 affirmative and 13 negative votes passed this body." The bill was read for the journal and recorded as passed in March 1993.
The House did not record amendments to the operative scope of the residential license during floor consideration; the sponsor invited questions and emphasized apprenticeship pathways for workers who choose to pursue full plumber credentials.
The next procedural step recorded in the session was placement of the passed bill on the journal and transmission consistent with legislative process.
