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SB 5425

Concerning fire protection sprinkler system contractors.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Boehnke and 4 co-sponsors

SB 5425 tightens sprinkler contractor rules with higher fees, stiffer penalties, a Fire Protection Compliance Account, and stricter trainee supervision rules.

Effective date 1/1/2024.
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Bill Summary · SB 5425

SB 5425 — Summary (Fire protection sprinkler system contractors)

Status & timeline
- Passed 68th Legislature (Senate concurred in House amendments April 18, 2023).
- Governor signed May 4, 2023 (Chapter 329, 2023 Laws).
- Effective date: January 1, 2024.

Purpose
- Modernize and strengthen regulation and enforcement of fire protection sprinkler system contractors and fitter certification — by adjusting license fee caps, increasing civil penalties for violations, creating a dedicated compliance account for fines, clarifying supervision rules for trainees, and expanding enforcement authority.

Key provisions and changes
- License fee caps (maximums)
- NFPA 13D contractors (one- or two‑family residential/mobile home): cap increased from $100 to $125.
- NFPA 13R contractors (residential up to four stories): cap increased from $300 to $375.

  • Infractions & fines (contractor violations)

    • First infraction: $300–$7,500 (up from $200–$5,000).
    • Second infraction (same contractor): $400–$10,000.
    • Third and subsequent infractions: $1,000–$15,000.

  • Failure to obtain certificate of competency (unlicensed practice)

    • First infraction: $1,500–$7,500 (up from $1,000–$5,000).
    • Second infraction: $2,500–$10,000.
    • Third and subsequent: $5,000–$25,000.

  • New Fire Protection Compliance Account

    • Fines collected for contractor infractions and unlicensed-practice penalties are deposited into a new Fire Protection Compliance Account (held by the State Treasurer).
    • Account funds may be used only for enforcing fire protection statutes; subject to allotment rules but no separate appropriation required.

  • Trainee supervision and ratios (sprinkler fitting)

    • Trainee-level sprinkler fitters may work only under direct supervision by a certified journey‑level or residential fitter who is on the same jobsite and in control of the trainee’s work.
    • Ratios:
    • Residential work (NFPA 13D/13R): up to 2 trainees per certified residential or journey-level fitter.
    • Journey-level (commercial) work: up to 1 trainee per certified journey-level fitter.
    • Contractors who allow unsupervised trainees or violate ratios commit violations subject to penalties.

  • Enforcement and administration

    • State Director of Fire Protection retains authority to adopt rules, define infractions, investigate complaints, enforce the chapter, assign certificate numbers, and require affixation of a seal on each installed sprinkler system showing the installing certificate-holder’s number.
    • Fire Protection Contractor License Fund remains for fee revenue (with penalties routed to the new compliance account); fund expenditures limited to authorized chapter purposes including recall/education assistance.

Who is affected
- Fire protection sprinkler system contractors and firms (licensing and fee caps).
- Individual fitters: journey-level, residential, and trainee certificate holders (supervision rules and enforcement).
- Contractors employing trainees (subject to new ratio and supervision-based violations).
- State Director of Fire Protection (expanded enforcement/accounting duties).
- Local fire authorities, consumers, and the sprinkler industry (enforcement, education, and recall assistance funded from accounts).

Practical impact
- Increases the maximum license fees modestly and raises civil penalties to strengthen enforcement deterrence for unsafe or unlicensed sprinkler work.
- Adds clearer supervision requirements for trainees to improve on-site competency and public safety.
- Directs fine revenue to a targeted compliance account to fund enforcement of fire protection statutes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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