Swimming pool maintenance and repair work. Limited licenses. Regulations

(a) As used in this section, “swimming pool maintenance and repair work” means the performance of all plumbing, heating and electrical work necessary to service, modify, repair, replace, alter or maintain any swimming pool, hot tub, spa or similar recreational or therapeutic equipment, where such work commences at an outlet, receptacle, connection, back-flow preventor or fuel supply pipe previously installed by a person holding the proper license. “Swimming pool maintenance and repair work” includes: (1) The renovation or repair of nonpotable water structures or components of a pool, hot tub or spa, including, but not limited to, the shell, tiling and coping, concrete finish or vinyl liner of such pool, hot tub or spa; and (2) the draining, acid washing, backwash filtration of a swimming pool. The renovation or repair of nonpotable water components of a pool, hot tub or spa required to be installed, renovated or repaired by a licensed plumber or electrician shall not be considered swimming pool maintenance and repair work. The holder of a limited license for swimming pool maintenance and repair work issued pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 400, provided such license holder is acting within the scope of the license. (b) On or after July 1, 2000, the following limited licenses for swimming pool maintenance and repair work may be issued by the Department of Consumer Protection upon authorization of the Plumbing and Piping Work Board established under the provisions of section 20-331: A limited swimming pool maintenance and repair contractor's license and a limited swimming pool maintenance and repair journeyman's license. (c) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, with the advice and assistance of the Plumbing and Piping Work Board, shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to implement the provisions of this section. Such regulations may establish: (1) The amount and type of experience and training required to qualify an applicant for an examination for any limited license for swimming pool maintenance and repair work, (2) the specific trade areas for which limited licenses for swimming pool maintenance and repair work shall be issued and specific trade areas for which no such limited licenses shall be required, (3) swimming pool maintenance and repair work trainee requirements and training specifications, (4) continuing professional education requirements for persons licensed pursuant to this section, provided such persons shall be required to complete not less than three hours of such continuing education biennially, (5) qualifying criteria for accredited professional continuing education programs, and (6) criteria for waiver of professional continuing education requirements for good cause. (d) Any person engaged in swimming pool maintenance and repair work prior to July 1, 1999, may apply to the Department of Consumer Protection for the appropriate limited license and such license shall be issued without examination upon demonstration by the applicant of experience and training equivalent to the experience and training required to qualify for examination for the appropriate limited license, if such applicant makes such application to the department not later than January 1, 2006.