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House approves licensure for designers of private wastewater systems; bill includes $25 initial fee
Summary
First substitute HB14, creating a state certification and licensing framework for designers and installers of individual wastewater systems, passed the House 67–5; sponsors said grandfathering protects current practitioners and the licensing fee will fund program administration.
The Utah House on Jan. 23 approved the first-substitute version of House Bill 14, which establishes certification and licensing for individuals who design, install or perform percolation testing on individual (non-municipal) wastewater disposal systems. Representative Hatch, the bill sponsor, said the substitute incorporates concerns from practitioners and allows grandfathering for those with existing experience.
Hatch told the chamber the measure aims to protect groundwater and public health in areas served by private septic and wastewater systems. He said the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) would receive rulemaking authority to administer the certification program; members pressed the sponsor on whether that authority would supplant local health departments. Hatch answered that DEQ would have rulemaking and oversight authority but did not intend to remove authorities from local officials.
Representative Snow declared a conflict because she installs and tests septic systems in private life; Snow spoke in favor after noting the conflict was recorded. Members asked about fiscal impacts: the sponsor cited a projected positive fiscal note of $75,000 for program administration and said initial certificate fees would be $25, deposited into a restricted account to administer the program rather than the general fund.
Several members urged care on fee design so that costs do not disproportionately fall on low-income homeowners; Representative Adair and Representative Philpott raised concerns about potential impacts when homeowners later must connect to sewer systems. After debate and clarifications about licensing, grandfathering, and DEQ’s role, the House voted to pass the measure 67–5 and referred it to the Senate.
Representative Hatch said he would work with staff to clarify any remaining statutory language before the Senate consideration.
