It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Sections 28-27-1.0, 28-27-1.2 and 28-27-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-27 entitled "Pipefitters and Refrigeration Technicians, Fire Protection Sprinkler Contractors, Journeypersons Sprinkler Fitters and Oil Heat Contracators" are hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 28-27-1.0. ADD} {DEL Bureau of pipefitters and refrigeration technicians -- Fire protection sprinkler contractors and journeypersons sprinkler fitters. DEL} {ADD Bureau of pipefitters and refrigeration technicians--Fire protection sprinkler contractors and journeypersons sprinkler fitters and oil heat contractors. -- ADD} There shall be in the department of labor, a bureau to be known as the bureau of pipefitters and refrigeration technicians, fire protection sprinkler contractors and journeypersons sprinkler fitters {ADD and oil heat contractors ADD} . The bureau under the direction and supervision of the division of professional regulation shall advise the division in the proper installation modification and disassembly for reuse of process piping systems used in the conveyance and storage of liquids, solids and industrial type gases, excluding those systems which are self-contained home appliances and all piping systems specified under the plumbing and fire protection laws which shall include all potable water supply piping, all venting, all waste piping and all disposal type apparatus and systems within the state of Rhode Island and storage of the same as described above, provided, further, however, that said bureau shall advise the division in the layout, on-site fabrication, installation, alteration, testing or repair of any automatic or manual sprinkler systems designed for the protection of the interior or exterior of a building or structure from fire, or any piping or tubing and appurtenances and equipment pertaining to such system including overhead and underground water mains, fire hydrants and hydrant mains, standpipes and hose connections to sprinkler systems, sprinkler and tank heaters, excluding electrical wiring, air lines and thermal systems used in connection with sprinkler and alarm systems connected thereto, foam extinguishing systems or special hazard systems including water spray, foam, carbon dioxide or dry chemical systems, halon and other liquid or gas fire suppression systems, and excluding any engineering design work connected with the layout of fire protection sprinkler systems.

{ADD 28-27-1.2. General license criteria guide. -- ADD} The bureau of pipefitters and refrigeration technicians fire protector sprinkler contractors or journeypersons sprinkler fitters {ADD or oil heat contractors ADD} shall assist the division of professional regulation of the department of labor to establish and from time to time update a preliminary criteria guide for the licensing of those persons regulated by this chapter. This guide shall include but not be limited to the categories or classes of occupation regulated and the requirements for licensing of each category. The guide and any revision shall be filed by the bureau with the office of the secretary of state.

{ADD 28-27-2. ADD} {DEL Licensing -- State board of pipefitter/refrigeration fire protection sprinkler contractors/journeypersons sprinkler fitters examiners created -- Chief inspector. DEL} {ADD Licensing -- State board of pipefitter/refrigeration fire protection sprinkler contractors/journeypersons sprinkler fitters and oil heat contractors examiners created -- Chief inspector. -- ADD} (a) The division of professional regulation with the assistance of the bureau shall promulgate rules and regulations for the examining and licensing of pipefitter/refrigeration technicians and contractors and fire protection sprinkler contractors/journeypersons sprinkler fitters {ADD and oil heat contractors ADD} .

(b)(1) A state board of pipefitter/refrigeration and fire protection sprinkler contractors/journeypersons sprinkler fitters {ADD and oil heat contractors ADD} examiners is hereby created in the department of labor whose duty it shall be to advise the division in their area of expertise in promulgating such policy as may be necessary to improve the operations of the division in their area of expertise, and to hold license revocation and violations hearings as described herein. The promulgation of policy shall be subject to the approval of the division.

(2) The board shall consist of {DEL seven (7) DEL} {ADD nine (9) ADD} qualified electors of the state appointed by the governor as follows:

(A) One member who shall be a master pipefitter at the time of appointment, having at least ten (10) years in business as a master pipefitting contractor;

(B) One member who shall be a refrigeration-air conditioning master contractor at the time of appointment, having at least ten (10) years in business as a refrigeration-air conditioning master contractor;

(C) One member who has been employed as a pipefitter journeyperson for ten (10) years;

(D) One member who has been employed as a refrigeration-air conditioning journeyperson for ten (10) years;

(E) One member who shall be a fire protection sprinkler systems contractor at the time of appointment, having at least ten (10) years in business as a fire protection sprinkler contractor;

(F) One member who has been employed as a journeyperson sprinkler fitter for ten (10) years;

(G) One member shall be the state fire marshal or his or her designee.

{ADD (H) Two (2) members, to be appointed from a list submitted by the Oil Heat Institute, Inc. and who have been doing business as oil heat contractors for at least ten (10) years. ADD}

(3) Members shall be appointed to serve for three (3) years and their successors shall be appointed for three (3) years.

(4) On the expiration of the term of any master {DEL or DEL} {ADD , ADD} journeyperson {ADD or oil heat contractor ADD} member of such board, the governor shall appoint for a term of three (3) years, a master {DEL or DEL} {ADD , ADD} journeyperson {ADD or oil heat contractor ADD} member having the qualifications required by this chapter to take the place of the master {DEL or DEL} {ADD , ADD} journeyperson {ADD or oil heat contractor ADD} whose term has expired.

(5) Any vacancy which shall occur for any cause shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(6) The board shall have an advisory role in the preparation and composition of the license examinations to be administered by the division. Subsequent to the administration of the examinations, the board of examiners shall review the examinations to evaluate their effectiveness.

(c) A chairperson shall be elected every three (3) years from the above members; a majority will constitute a quorum of the full bureau. The chief inspector for the division shall have both a master pipefitter I and master refrigeration I license, with a minimum of five (5) years employment in the state of Rhode Island as a journeyperson and five (5) years as a contractor. He or she shall be appointed by the licensing bureau and said position shall be in the classified service at not less than pay grade 231.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.