An Act to revise renewal and licensing requirements for plumbers.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 36-25-19 be AMENDED:

36-25-19. A person may apply for a license required by this chapter to the commission, accompanied by a license fee established by the commission under this section. If the person is not entitled to a renewal, the commission shall register a person who satisfactorily passes an examination showing fitness to practice the person's trade. Examinations may be held in conjunction with any quarterly meeting of the commission.A license issued under this section expires on December thirty-first and may be renewed no later than the immediately following January thirty-first.

The commission shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, to establish examination and reexamination fees, and license and renewal of license fees for: plumbing contractor, plumber, water conditioning contractor, water conditioning installer, appliance contractor, appliance installer, sewer and water contractor, sewer and water installer, manufactured and mobile home contractor, manufactured and mobile home installer, underground irrigation contractor, underground irrigation installer, and individual and small on-site wastewater system installer.

No fee established under this section for an examination or reexamination may exceed one hundred dollars. No fee established under this section for a license or renewal of license may exceed three hundred dollars.

Section 2. That chapter 36-25 be amended with a NEW SECTION:

A license issued under § 36-25-19 expires annually on the following dates:

(1) For a plumbing contractor or plumber, December thirty-first; and

(2) For a water conditioning contractor, water conditioning installer, appliance contractor, appliance installer, sewer and water contractor, sewer and water installer, manufactured and mobile home contractor, manufactured and mobile home installer, underground irrigation contractor, underground irrigation installer, or individual and small on-site wastewater system installer; June thirtieth.

An expired license may be renewed no later than six months following the date of expiration.

Section 3. That § 36-25-24 be AMENDED:

36-25-24. FeesThe commission shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, on fees for an initial apprentice license, the license's annual renewal, and a temporary license shall be promulgated in rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, by the commission. The temporary license fees shall be payablemust be paid prior to taking the examination for the first time. No person may renew an apprentice license once the person has accumulated seven thousand six hundred hours of experience. No fee may exceed fifty dollars.

Section 4. That § 36-25-32 be AMENDED:

36-25-32. Commencing January 1, 2010, eachEach applicant for renewal of a plumbing contractor, plumber, restricted plumbing contractor, restricted plumber, or third year apprentice plumber licensed as an apprentice plumber by examination shall successfully complete a minimum of four hours of continuing education relating to the plumbing trade during the previous calendar year license period. An applicant for new licensure as a plumbing contractor or plumber by reciprocity shall successfully complete four hours of continuing education relating to the plumbing trade prior to license issuance.