Senate bill would raise threshold for plumbing-license suspensions, remove advisory-board recommendation

Chair Berry opened the public hearing on substitute Senate Bill 6197, which would alter how the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) suspends plumber and plumbing-contractor credentials. Jim Morishima, staff to the committee, told members the bill raises the number of infractions needed for suspension from three in a 36-month period to five in a 60-month period and removes the provision that suspensions must be recommended by the plumbers advisory board. The bill also requires a written order enumerating the infractions that led to suspension and directs L&I to provide regular enforcement updates to the advisory board.