Proposed Plumber/Consumer Bill Overview

1.  Plumbing Contractors must have at least one plumber employed to register

2.  Enhanced tools for license enforcement:

   1. Trucks must be marked with contractor business name and registration number

   2. Phone can be disconnected if advertiser is in violation of licensing and/or false advertising laws

   3. Violators become subject to audit of employment records

   4. Increased fines for violators
3. Enhanced Consumer Remedies and Protections:

   1. False advertising prosecuted as criminal offense

   2. Unlicensed plumbers can not file suit to collect unpaid bill

   3. Plumber license and name must be on every residential invoice

   4. Violators names are published regularly

   5. Consumers can collect treble damages caused by unlicensed plumber

See a copy of the draft here

Homeowners, legitimate plumbing contractors, skilled plumbers and law enforcement agencies will all benefit from this bill.

Scam artists, cheating contractors, pretend plumbers, false advertisers and hustlers will be opposed to this bill

Note:

plumbing without a license and false advertising are already against the law - We need these enforcement tools.

 

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Get involved with this legislation. Help stop the fraud before it is too late.

 

 

We tried to pass legislation in the short Senate session (January 2012). Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles was prime sponsor. We just ran out of time. SSB6476 didn't get out of the Rules Committee Feb 14 2012 after getting through the Labor Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. It will be resurrected in the 2013 session next year if there is enough plumber and consumer support.

• WA Senate Bill SSB 6476 - Unlicensed Plumbers - Plumbing ContractorsFull Text copy of the bill
• Bill SSB 6476 Report - a senate staff summary and analysis  document
• Testimony re: Unlicensed Plumbing: The first hearing tape Jan 12, 2012 Senate Committee Work Session (17 min): Video
• Testimony re: Unlicensed Plumbing:Senate Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection Commitee public hearing Jan 26.
• Justification for Proposed New Section Consumer Protection in Chapter 18.106 RCW Plumber Licensing
• Who testified on SB6476 with comments  document

• Why You Should Be Concerned About Fake Plumbers and Plumber Fraud - WA Senate Bill SB 6476 needs your help
• Letter to the Senate Rules Committee re: SSB 6476 Unlicensed Plumbers Feb 12, 2012
• Consumer Fraud Alert - Senate Bill SB6476 - Roadkilled
• What Happenened to our Unlicensed Plumber Fraud Bill?

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