Requires persons engaged in the installation, improvement, repair and maintenance of medical gas piping or the instruction thereof to be licensed by the department of state.

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S1528-2013 Actions

• May 22, 2013: ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
• May 21, 2013: 2ND REPORT CAL.
• May 20, 2013: 1ST REPORT CAL.619
• Jan 9, 2013: REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION

S1528-2013 Meetings

Consumer Protection: May 20, 2013

S1528-2013 Calendars

Floor Calendar: May 21, 2013 , Floor Calendar: May 22, 2013 , Floor Calendar: May 23, 2013 , Floor Calendar: May 29, 2013

S1528-2013 Votes

S1528-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1528

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring master
plumbers engaged in the installation, repair or maintenance of medical
gas piping or engaged in the instruction to be licensed by the
department of state

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL:
Requires persons engaged in the installation, improvement, repair and
maintenance of medical gas piping or the instruction thereof to be
licensed.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
1) Defines department, medical gas Piping, and secretary. 2) License
required. No person shall engage in installation, improvement, repair
or maintenance unless issues a license. No person shall provide
instruction regarding installation, improvement, repair or
maintenance unless issued a license. 3) Powers of the secretary of
state. 4) License; medical gas piping installation and maintenance.
5) License; medical gas piping instruction. 6) Violations. 7)
Transition provisions.

JUSTIFICATION:
New York State has a very vast array of villages, towns, counties and
cities that have differing requirements for the installation of
medical gas systems. Some require a licensed master plumber, some
require a permit, some require a certification report after
completion and some require nothing at all. Where a master plumber's
license is required, installers work under the license of the owner
and are not required to be trained nor certified to install these
systems.

The master plumber's license covers the owner and company for the
installation of water, waste and vent piping and fixtures. Suffolk
County has medical gas listed under this license but practically
speaking there is no formal education or instruction for medical gas
systems installed anywhere in the training syllabus. Every licensed
plumber that we have met has confirmed that they never learned
anything about medical gas system installation or the equipment that
is ,installed or tested.

The current situation is that by law, a licensed plumber is allowed to
do the work regardless of experience or training, but anyone trained,
experienced and credentialed cannot do the work without a license.
This additional license will help resolve this issue as well as help
ensure that the work being done on these safety systems is done
safely and correctly.

NFPA 99 Standard for Health Care Facilities is the code that is
followed for the installation of medical gas systems in health care
facilities. The 2002 and 2005 editions have mandated that installers
comely with the requirements of ANSI ASSE Standard 6000, specifically
ASSE 6010 Professional Qualification Standards for a Medical Gas
System Installer. Prior editions had mandated that "The installation


of medical gas systems be made by qualified, competent technicians
who are experienced in making such installations." National
inspection Testing Corporation (NITC) is a nationally recognized
third patty testing company that provides a multitude of
certifications from master plumber, electrician, steamfitter, HVAC,
etc. The medical gas installer course has a prerequisite of four
years of piping experience. It is a 32 hour course on medical gas
system codes and requirements including hands on brazing of medical
gas piping. This legislation would allow oversight of the "loophole"
and be a fair way to reduce the risk of a tragedy while not causing
anyone to be unable to perform this work. Any licensed plumber would
simply be required to, take the 32 hour course and attain the medical
gas certification. The cost is relatively minimal and
the cost for licensing is Rico expected to be negligible too. The
expectation is that there would be approximately several hundred
individuals that would need to obtain the training and licensing
statewide which would also add some additional revenue to the state
as well.

Additionally, the new code allows for installation of these systems by
welding or by using a "swaging" process that any properly trained
mechanical person can perform. Since there are significant areas
throughout the state that use open shop labor, this will allow for a
method to control the installation of these life safety systems to
the qualified, competent trained individuals that are actually
installing these systems, not just cover the business owner who
typically runs the business and does not perform the physical work.
On the union side, they provide this credential through their class,
but again not every installer has this when working a medical gas job
since there is no oversight due to the only requirement being the
licensed master plumber business owner.

The union credential could be approved by the state as sufficient to
satisfy the requirement, or use the nationally recognized third party
testing company and be 100% certain of compliance and reap the
additional revenues for the state.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2011-12: 5.4702 Consumer Protection; Assembly Economic Development
2009-10; S.3675 Consumer Protection; A.5417 Economic Development
2008:5.7965 Consumer Protection/A.9886 Economic Development

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect the first of January following enactment.

S1528-2013 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    1528

                         2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                                 (PREFILED)

                               January 9, 2013
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by Sen. FLANAGAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
    printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection

  AN ACT to amend the general  business  law,  in  relation  to  requiring
    master  plumbers engaged in the installation, repair or maintenance of
    medical gas piping or engaged in the instruction to be licensed by the
    department of state

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new article
  28-F to read as follows:

                                ARTICLE 28-F
                             MEDICAL GAS PIPING
  SECTION 491. DEFINITIONS.
          492. LICENSE REQUIRED.
          493. POWERS OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
          494. LICENSE; MEDICAL GAS PIPING INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE.
          495. LICENSE; MEDICAL GAS PIPING INSTRUCTION.
          496. VIOLATIONS.
          497. TRANSITION PROVISIONS.
    S  491.  DEFINITIONS.  AS  USED  IN  THIS  ARTICLE, UNLESS THE CONTEXT
  REQUIRES OTHERWISE:

    1. "DEPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
    2. "MEDICAL GAS PIPING" MEANS MEDICAL GAS  PIPING  WITHIN  ANY  HEALTH
  CARE  FACILITY  LICENSED  PURSUANT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, AND LOCATED
  AFTER THE SOURCE VALVE AND INTENDED FOR PATIENT USE.
    3. "SECRETARY" MEANS THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
    S 492. LICENSE REQUIRED. 1. NO PERSON SHALL ENGAGE  IN  THE  INSTALLA-
  TION, IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF MEDICAL GAS PIPING UNLESS HE
  OR SHE HAS BEEN ISSUED A LICENSE THEREFOR PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD05658-01-3

 S. 1528                             2

    2.  NO  PERSON  SHALL  PROVIDE INSTRUCTION REGARDING THE INSTALLATION,
  IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF MEDICAL GAS PIPING  UNLESS  HE  OR
  SHE HAS BEEN ISSUED A LICENSE THEREFOR PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE.
    S 493. POWERS OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE. IN ADDITION TO THE POWERS AND
  DUTIES  PROVIDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS ARTICLE, THE SECRETARY SHALL HAVE THE
  POWER TO:

    1. APPOINT A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF  ASSISTANTS,  INSPECTORS  AND  OTHER
  EMPLOYEES  AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTI-
  CLE AND TO PRESCRIBE THEIR DUTIES;
    2. EXAMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS AND FITNESS OF APPLICANTS  FOR  LICENSES
  AND PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS THEREFOR;
    3.  KEEP  RECORDS  OF  ALL  LICENSES ISSUED, SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, AND
  ORDERS DIRECTING THE CESSATION OF UNLICENSED ACTIVITIES; AND
    4. ADOPT SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY  TO  IMPLEMENT
  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
    S  494.  LICENSE; MEDICAL GAS PIPING INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE.  1.
  EVERY PERSON TO ENGAGE IN THE INSTALLATION, IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR OR MAIN-
  TENANCE OF MEDICAL GAS PIPING SHALL MAKE APPLICATION  TO  THE  SECRETARY
  FOR  A  LICENSE THEREFOR. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL BE IN A FORM AND MANNER
  PRESCRIBED BY THE SECRETARY AND SHALL CONTAIN SUCH  INFORMATION  AS,  IN
  THE  SECRETARY'S  JUDGMENT, IS REASONABLE AND NECESSARY TO DETERMINE THE
  QUALIFICATION AND FITNESS FOR LICENSING OF THE APPLICANT.
    2. EVERY APPLICANT FOR  A  LICENSE  TO  ENGAGE  IN  THE  INSTALLATION,
  IMPROVEMENT,  REPAIR  OR  MAINTENANCE  OF MEDICAL GAS PIPING SHALL BE OF
  GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AND SHALL PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO THE SECRETARY THAT HE
  OR SHE:

    A. (1) IS A MASTER PLUMBER, OR A JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER WHO  HAS  SUCCESS-
  FULLY COMPLETED AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ACCREDITED AND APPROVED BY THE
  FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
    (2)  IS  AN APPRENTICE PLUMBER WHO HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED NOT LESS
  THAN THREE YEARS OF AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ACCREDITED AND APPROVED BY
  THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
    (3) IS A PIPE FITTER OR STEAM FITTER EMPLOYED BY A  PLUMBING  CONTRAC-
  TOR, OR
    (4)  IS  CERTIFIED  IN HIS OR HER AREA OF EXPERTISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
  THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION STANDARDS;
    B. HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED NOT LESS THAN THIRTY-TWO HOURS OF CLASS-
  ROOM TRAINING RELATING TO THE MOST RECENT EDITION OF THE STANDARD ON GAS
  AND VACUUM SYSTEMS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL FIRE  PROTECTION  ASSOCIATION;
  AND
    C.  (1)  HAS  PASSED AN EXAMINATION OFFERED BY THE NATIONAL INSPECTION
  TESTING AND CERTIFICATION CORPORATION OR  ANY  SUBSTANTIALLY  EQUIVALENT
  EXAMINATION APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY, THAT DEMONSTRATES THE APPLICANT'S
  COMPETENCE TO INSTALL, IMPROVE, REPAIR OR MAINTAIN MEDICAL GAS PIPING,
    (2)  HAS  PASSED  AN  EXAMINATION  AS A BRAZER OFFERED BY THE AMERICAN
  WELDING SOCIETY, AND HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A  TRAINING  PROGRAM  IN
  THE  INSTALLATION  OF MEDICAL GAS PIPING APPROVED BY A MAJOR MEDICAL GAS
  PRODUCER, OR
    (3) IS CERTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROPRIATE  AMERICAN  SOCIETY
  OF SANITARY ENGINEERING STANDARDS FOR THE OPERATIONS TO BE PERFORMED.
    3.  ANY  PERSON  WHO  WILL  ENGAGE  ONLY  IN BRAZING INCIDENTAL TO THE
  INSTALLATION, IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF MEDICAL  GAS  PIPING
  SHALL  BE LICENSED BY THE DEPARTMENT IF HE OR SHE IS OF GOOD MORAL CHAR-
  ACTER AND PROVIDES EVIDENCE TO THE SECRETARY THAT HE OR SHE:


 S. 1528                             3

    A. (1) IS A MASTER PLUMBER, OR A JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER WHO  HAS  SUCCESS-
  FULLY COMPLETED AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ACCREDITED AND APPROVED BY THE
  FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
    (2)  IS  AN APPRENTICE PLUMBER WHO HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED NOT LESS
  THAN THREE YEARS OF AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ACCREDITED AND APPROVED BY
  THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
    (3) IS A PIPE FITTER OR STEAM FITTER EMPLOYED BY A  PLUMBING  CONTRAC-
  TOR, OR
    (4)  IS  CERTIFIED  IN HIS OR HER AREA OF EXPERTISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
  THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION STANDARDS;
    B. HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED NOT LESS THAN TWENTY HOURS OF  CLASSROOM
  TRAINING  RELATING  TO THE PERFORMANCE OF BRAZING DUTIES REQUIRED IN THE
  INSTALLATION, IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF MEDICAL GAS  PIPING;
  AND
    C.(1)  HAS  PASSED  AN  EXAMINATION OFFERED BY THE NATIONAL INSPECTION
  TESTING AND CERTIFICATION CORPORATION OR  ANY  SUBSTANTIALLY  EQUIVALENT
  EXAMINATION  APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY THAT DEMONSTRATES THE APPLICANT'S
  COMPETENCE  IN  PERFORMING  BRAZING  INCIDENTAL  TO  THE   INSTALLATION,
  IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF MEDICAL GAS PIPING,
    (2)  HAS  PASSED  AN  EXAMINATION  AS A BRAZER OFFERED BY THE AMERICAN
  WELDING SOCIETY AND HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE
  BRAZING OF MEDICAL GAS PIPING BY A MAJOR MEDICAL GAS PRODUCER, OR
    (3) IS CERTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROPRIATE  AMERICAN  SOCIETY
  OF SANITARY ENGINEERING STANDARDS FOR THE OPERATIONS TO BE PERFORMED.
    S  495.  LICENSE;  MEDICAL  GAS PIPING INSTRUCTION. 1. EVERY PERSON TO
  ENGAGE IN PROVIDING INSTRUCTION REGARDING THE INSTALLATION, IMPROVEMENT,
  REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF MEDICAL GAS PIPING SHALL  MAKE  APPLICATION  TO
  THE  SECRETARY  FOR  A  LICENSE THEREFOR. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL BE IN A
  FORM AND MANNER PRESCRIBED BY  THE  SECRETARY  AND  SHALL  CONTAIN  SUCH
  INFORMATION AS, IN THE SECRETARY'S JUDGMENT, IS REASONABLE AND NECESSARY
  TO  DETERMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS AND FITNESS FOR LICENSING OF THE APPLI-
  CANT.
    2. EVERY APPLICANT FOR A LICENSE TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION REGARDING  THE
  INSTALLATION,  IMPROVEMENT,  REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF MEDICAL GAS PIPING
  SHALL BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER  AND  SHALL  PROVIDE  EVIDENCE  TO  THE
  SECRETARY THAT HE OR SHE:

    A.  (1) IS A MASTER PLUMBER OR JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER, OR A PIPE FITTER OR
  STEAM FITTER EMPLOYED BY A PLUMBING CONTRACTOR, OR
    (2) HAS BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE  OF  INSTALLING  MEDICAL
  GAS  PIPING,  OR IS CERTIFIED IN HIS OR HER AREA OF EXPERTISE IN ACCORD-
  ANCE WITH THE NATIONAL FIRE  PROTECTION  ASSOCIATION  STANDARDS  FOR  AT
  LEAST  FIVE  CONSECUTIVE  YEARS  PRECEDING THE DATE OF APPLICATION FOR A
  LICENSE;
    B. HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED NOT LESS THAN FORTY  HOURS  OF  INSTRUC-
  TIONAL  TRAINING  IN  THE  FIELD  OF  MEDICAL  GAS  PIPING INSTALLATION,
  IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE AS APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY; AND
    C.(1) HAS PASSED AN EXAMINATION OFFERED  BY  THE  NATIONAL  INSPECTION
  TESTING  AND  CERTIFICATION  CORPORATION OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT
  EXAMINATION APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY THAT DEMONSTRATES THE  APPLICANT'S
  COMPETENCE  TO  TEACH  IN  THE FIELD OF MEDICAL GAS PIPING INSTALLATION,
  IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE,
    (2) HAS PASSED AN EXAMINATION AS A  BRAZER  OFFERED  BY  THE  AMERICAN
  WELDING  SOCIETY  AND  HAS  SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A TRAINING PROGRAM IN
  INSTRUCTIONAL TRAINING APPROVED BY A MAJOR MEDICAL GAS PRODUCER, OR
    (3) IS CERTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROPRIATE  AMERICAN  SOCIETY
  OF SANITARY ENGINEERING STANDARDS FOR THE OPERATIONS BEING PERFORMED.

 S. 1528                             4

    S  496.  VIOLATIONS.  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO REVOKE OR
  SUSPEND ANY LICENSE, OR IN LIEU THEREOF TO IMPOSE A FINE  NOT  EXCEEDING
  ONE  THOUSAND DOLLARS PAYABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, OR REPRIMAND ANY LICEN-
  SEE OR DENY ANY APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE OR RENEWAL THEREOF UPON PROOF:

    1.  THAT  THE APPLICANT OR LICENSEE HAS VIOLATED ANY OF THE PROVISIONS
  OF THIS ARTICLE OR ANY RULE OR REGULATION PROMULGATED PURSUANT THERETO;
    2. THAT THE APPLICANT OR  LICENSEE  HAS  PRACTICED  FRAUD,  DECEIT  OR
  MISREPRESENTATION;
    3.  THAT THE APPLICANT OR LICENSEE HAS MADE A MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT IN
  THE APPLICATION FOR OR RENEWAL OF HIS OR HER LICENSE; OR
    4. THAT THE APPLICANT OR LICENSEE  HAS  DEMONSTRATED  INCOMPETENCE  OR
  UNTRUSTWORTHINESS IN HIS OTHER ACTIONS.
    S  497.  TRANSITION  PROVISIONS.  1. ANY PERSON WHO HAS ENGAGED IN THE
  INSTALLATION, IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF MEDICAL  GAS  PIPING
  FOR NOT LESS THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
  THIS   ARTICLE   MAY  BE  LICENSED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  FOUR  HUNDRED
  NINETY-FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE IF SUCH PERSON HAS MET THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF
  PARAGRAPH  C  OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF SUCH SECTION WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE
  EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE.
    2. ANY PERSON WHO HAS  ENGAGED  ONLY  IN  BRAZING  INCIDENTAL  TO  THE
  INSTALLATION,  IMPROVEMENT,  REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF MEDICAL GAS PIPING
  FOR NOT LESS THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS PRECEDING THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE
  OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE LICENSED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION
  FOUR  HUNDRED  NINETY-FOUR  OF  THIS  ARTICLE IF SUCH PERSON HAS MET THE
  REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH C OF SUCH SUBDIVISION WITHIN TWO YEARS OF  THE
  EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE.
    S  2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
  ing the date on which it shall have become a law.