§ 5-20-23. Expiration and renewal of licenses - Penalties for violation of section. (a) All licenses issued by the division of professional regulation for master plumbers, master irrigators, and master water-filtration/treatment-system installers, and journeyperson plumbers, journeyperson irrigators, or journeyperson water-filtration/treatment-system installers born in odd years shall expire on the birthday of the individual qualifying for the license in odd years and all licenses of master plumbers, master irrigators, and master water-filtration/treatment-system installers and journeyperson plumbers, journeyperson irrigators, or journeyperson water-filtration/treatment-system installers born in even years shall expire on the birthday of the individual qualifying for the license in even years and all licenses may be renewed on or before their expiration date upon payment of the appropriate renewal fee.

(b) Any master plumber, master irrigator, or master water-filtration/treatment-system installer who fails to renew his or her license as provided in subsection (a) of this section may be reinstated by the department on or after the renewal date for a period of two (2) years, upon payment of the current biennial renewal fee of two hundred forty dollars ($240) plus outstanding license fees and a twelve dollar-per-month ($12.00) administrative assessment fee for the delinquency period.

(c) Every certificate of license of a journeyperson plumber, journeyperson irrigator, or journeyperson water-filtration/treatment-system installer issued by the department is renewed on or before the licensee's second birthday following the date of issuance upon payment of a biennial renewal fee of seventy-two dollars ($72.00).

(d) Any journeyperson plumber, journeyperson irrigator, or journeyperson water-filtration/treatment-system installer who fails to renew his or her license as provided in subsection (a) of this section may be reinstated by the department on or after the renewal date for a period of two (2) years upon payment of the current biennial renewal fee of seventy-two dollars ($72.00) plus outstanding license fees and a twelve dollar-per-month ($12.00) administrative assessment fee for the delinquency period.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any license issued under this chapter that is not renewed within two (2) years of the date of its expiration is deemed to be forfeited and the person to whom the license has been issued is required to make written application for an examination prior to the issuance of a new license.

(f) Licensed master or journeyperson plumbers shall attend and complete a course of continuing education at their expense as determined by the board of examiners, but not to exceed fifteen (15) hours, prior to the renewal or reinstatement of an existing license. The board of examiners shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection, including, but not limited to, a continuing education course fee amount consistent with industry standard.

(g) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, any licensed master or journeyperson plumber who has any combination of years of experience as a licensed master plumber or journeyperson plumber, and, years of age that, when combined, shall equal a total of eighty (80) years, shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements of subsection (f). The board of examiners shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection.

History of Section. (P.L. 1945, ch. 1661, § 22; G.L. 1956, § 5-20-23; R.P.L. 1957, ch. 116, § 5; P.L. 1978, ch. 172, § 1; P.L. 1980, ch. 182, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 253, § 6; P.L. 1993, ch. 138, art. 71, § 7; P.L. 1999, ch. 115, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 425, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 214, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 13, § 4; P.L. 2004, ch. 6, § 7; P.L. 2009, ch. 257, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 258, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 252, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 26, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 31, § 1.)