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SB 5997

Making technical corrections to plumbing supervision and trainee hours reporting.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Noel Frame and 5 co-sponsors

SB 5997 removes the trainee hours-reporting penalty, expands remote supervision to residential service plumbing, and extends trainee-to-supervisor ratios through 2028.

Effective date 6/6/2024.
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Bill Summary · SB 5997

SB 5997 — Summary (Chapter 97, 2024 Laws)

Title: Making technical corrections to plumbing supervision and trainee hours reporting
Signed by Governor: 3/14/2024 — Effective: 6/06/2024

Purpose

SB 5997 makes targeted, technical changes to Washington’s plumbing certification statutes to (1) remove a penalty tied to trainee hours reporting, (2) clarify and expand when trainees may be supervised remotely, and (3) extend and clarify temporary trainee-to-supervisor ratio rules enacted in 2020.

Key provisions and changes

  • Trainee hours reporting penalty removed

    • Eliminates the statutory infraction and the explicit requirement that the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) refuse to renew a plumbing trainee certificate solely for failure to report supervised hours at renewal.
    • (The underlying reporting requirement and affidavits of experience remain in statute, but the specified penalty and nonrenewal consequence are removed.)

  • Remote supervision clarified and expanded

    • Removes the general requirement that a trainee must be physically on the same jobsite as the supervising plumber.
    • For purposes of remote supervision, narrows the allowed scope to “residential service plumbing” (see definition changes below).
    • Existing remote supervision conditions (e.g., trainee having >2,000 hours, supervisor within specified distance, availability by audio–visual device) remain in effect but are tied to the clarified “residential service plumbing” scope.

  • Trainee-to-supervisor ratios adjusted and extended

    • Confirms that up to three trainees may be supervised by one certified specialty or journey-level plumber when:
    • Each trainee is working on a separate residential structure jobsite performing residential service plumbing in a like‑in‑kind manner (i.e., similar size/type/function and same location); or
    • Up to three trainees may work on one residential jobsite performing plumbing installation under a supervising specialty/journey-level plumber.
    • Extends the temporary ratio provisions (previously set to expire 12/31/2025) through 12/31/2028. After that date, prior lower ratios will again apply per the statute as amended in 2020.

  • Definitions and scope refinements

    • Renames and redefines “service plumbing” to “residential service plumbing.”
    • Specifies that residential service plumbing covers repair/replacement of previously existing fixtures, fittings, and piping that are outside interior walls or above the floor (and drain cleaning/leak repair as described).

  • Advisory Board work group timing changed

    • Delays the next statutory convening of the Advisory Board of Plumbers’ work group to evaluate trainee ratio impacts until after the 2027 legislative session (previously scheduled after 2024).

Who is affected

  • Plumber trainees and their certification renewals (reporting penalty removed)
  • Supervising plumbers (journey-level, specialty, and residential service plumbers) — changes to supervision location and trainee ratios
  • Plumbing contractors and employers who assign trainees
  • Department of Labor & Industries and the Advisory Board of Plumbers (administration and evaluation duties)
  • Water quality/treatment stakeholders — some testimony highlighted concerns about overlap with water treatment work; commenters requested clear distinctions.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • No appropriation included; fiscal note available.
  • Legislative history: Passed Senate 49–0 (2/9/2024), Passed House 95–0 (2/27/2024), delivered to Governor 3/7/2024, signed 3/14/2024; effective 6/6/2024 (Chapter 97, 2024 Laws).

Practical impact

SB 5997 addresses statutory ambiguities from earlier changes (2020) by enabling limited, technology‑enabled remote supervision for residential service plumbing, reducing the disciplinary consequence for failing to report hours, and extending temporary trainee ratio flexibilities through 2028. The bill aims to align statutory language with the original legislative intent and current supervision practices while preserving safety-focused scope limits for remote supervision.

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

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