(a) Purpose.

1. (1)

   1. (A) The State Board of Health, by rule and after public hearing, may set reasonable license or examination fee for all licenses called for under Acts 1951, No. 200, as amended, including but not limited to Master Plumber License, Journeyman Plumber License, and Apprentice Plumber License registration.
   2. (B) It may, among other things:

(i) Issue restricted licenses; and

1. (ii) Adopt rules defining restrictions in the type of work allowed, geographical area served, and term of that type of restricted license.
2. (2) Restricted plumber licenses are limited to gas fitter, governmental maintenance, service line installation, solar mechanic, and hospital maintenance licenses provided that the applicant has demonstrated competency for the particular phase of plumbing for which the person is licensed.

(b) Definitions. As used in this part:

1. (1) “Administrative authority” means the individual official, board, department, or agency established and authorized by the state, county, city, or other political subdivision to administer and enforce the provisions of Acts 1951, No. 200, as adopted or amended;
2. (2) “Apprentice plumber” means a person other than a master, journeyman, or restricted plumber license holder who is registered under an Arkansas master plumber and enrolled in the apprentice plumber training program outlined in Arkansas Code § 17-38-401 et seq.;

3. (3) “Automatic licensure” means granting occupational licensure to individuals who establish residency in this state and qualify under the Arkansas Occupational Licensing of Uniformed Service Members, Veterans, and Spouses Act of 2021, Arkansas Code § 17-4-101 et seq., without an individual having met occupational licensure requirements provided:

   1. (A) Under the Arkansas Code; or
   2. (B) By other provisions in this part;

4. (4) “Automatic occupational licensure” means the granting of occupational licensure to an applicant who establishes residency in this state without the individual’s having met occupational licensure requirements provided:

   1. (A) Under Title 17 of the Arkansas Code; or
   2. (B) By this part;
5. (5) “Committee of Plumbing Examiners” means the persons designated by the State Board of Health to determine eligibility of applicants for various types of plumbing and gas licenses in accordance with Acts 1951, No. 200, as amended;
6. (6) “Department” means the Plumbing and Natural Gas Section of the Department of Health;
7. (7) “Department-accredited training program for backflow prevention assembly testing” means a forty-hour course of classroom, including but not limited to related plumbing codes and wet lab training approved by the Plumbing and Natural Gas Section, followed by an examination;
8. (8) “Gas inspector” means an appointed person qualified for inspecting all aspects of natural gas installation as defined under Acts 1951, No. 200, as amended;
9. (9) “Gas utility” means a firm or corporation engaged in the distribution of natural gas, manufactured gas, and/or a mixture of natural gas and manufactured gas, delivered to the consumer through a system of distribution piping;
10. (10) “Gas utility serviceperson” means an employee of a gas utility specially trained for gas service work with the utility;
11. (11) “Hospital maintenance plumber” means a hospital employee other than a supervising hospital maintenance plumber who is engaged in practical hospital maintenance plumbing under supervision;

12. (12) “Hospital maintenance plumbing” means the repair and/or replacement of potable water piping, natural gas piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with the water supply, sanitary drainage, or gas systems of:

    1. (A) A hospital;
    2. (B) Convalescent facilities; or
    3. (C) Both;
13. (13) “Hospital maintenance trainee” means a hospital employee who is engaged in learning, acquiring experience, and assisting licensed hospital maintenance plumbers in order to become a hospital maintenance plumber;
14. (14) “Journeyman plumber” means any person other than a master plumber who is engaged in the practical installation of plumbing;

15. (15) “Master plumber” means any person:

    1. (A) Skilled in the planning, superintending, and practical installation of plumbing; and
    2. (B) Who is familiar with the laws and rules governing the same;
16. (16) “Plumbing inspector” means an appointed person qualified for inspecting all aspects of sanitary plumbing and natural gas installation as defined under Acts 1951, No. 200, as amended;
17. (17) “Restricted plumber” means a person qualified and licensed in a special phase of plumbing only, providing that such person has demonstrated competency for that particular phase of plumbing;

18. (18) “Restricted water and sewer service line installation plumber” means a person who has:

    1. (A) Met the qualification for a restricted plumbing license to install potable water and/or sanitary sewer service lines as defined in the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code, 17 CAR pt. 65; and
    2. (B) Successfully passed the examination for such license in this state;
19. (19) “State-certified backflow prevention assembly testing technician” or “testing and repair technician” means any person meeting all the applicable certifications to test or test and repair backflow devices within the scope of a plumbing system;

20. (20) “Substantially similar” means an occupational licensing entity of another state or political subdivision of that state or territory or district of the United States that:

    1. (A) Has adopted a national model plumbing and/or gas code; and
    2. (B) Utilizes a comprehensive examination created and proctored by a national examination agency or equivalent;

21. (21) “Supervising hospital maintenance plumber” means a hospital employee:

    1. (A) Skilled in the planning, superintending, and practical work involved with hospital maintenance plumbing;
    2. (B) Who is familiar with all laws and rules pertaining to such plumbing; and
    3. (C) Who is responsible for such work in the hospital where they are employed;

22. (22) “Uniformed service member" means an:

    1. (A) Active or reserve component member of the:

       1. (i) United States Air Force;
       2. (ii) United States Army;
       3. (iii) United States Coast Guard;
       4. (iv) United States Marine Corps;
       5. (v) United States Navy;
       6. (vi) United States Space Force; or
       7. (vii) National Guard;
    2. (B) Active component member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps; or
    3. (C) An active or reserve component member of the United States Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service; and
23. (23) “Uniformed service veteran" means a former member of the United States uniformed services discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.