Jun. 21, 2017
HARRISBURG — The House of Representatives Tuesday approved legislation to establish a state certification program for Pennsylvania plumbers, said Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington), author of the measure.
Christiana’s proposal,
House Bill 442, would ensure plumbers licensed through the program have the knowledge and expert training needed to safely perform maintenance on homes and protect public health.
“Having state-licensed plumbers will give homeowners greater peace of mind when selecting a professional to perform service and maintenance in their homes,” Christiana said. “People want to know that the contractor they are hiring knows what he or she is doing and will not take any dangerous shortcuts that could lead to unsafe water supplies or damage to their homes.”
The bill would also help plumbers compete for work in Pennsylvania and surrounding states.
“Many of our neighbors already have state licensing programs in place so our plumbers aren’t able to work within their borders,” Christiana said. “I want our plumbers from Beaver County working in Ohio, our plumbers in Monroe County taking jobs in New Jersey and our plumbers from York accepting work in Maryland.”
Additionally, Christiana noted his bill would help boost interest in career training within the plumbing field.
“We often talk about the number of high-paying trades that are overlooked or underused by high school students and the plumbing industry is a perfect example,” Christiana said. “This bill would set apart highly skilled and trained professionals from those who are not.”
House Bill 442 now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Representative Jim Christiana
15th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Abbey Haslam
717.260.6222
ahaslam@pahousegop.com
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