Bill Text: CT SB00863 | 2011 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Licensing Of Swimming Pool Installers, Electronic Notice Of Proposed Agency Regulations And Minor And Technical Changes To Department Of Consumer Protection Statutes.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-1)
Status: (Passed) 2011-07-08 - Signed by the Governor [SB00863 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2011-SB00863-Chaptered.html
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Substitute Senate Bill No. 863
AN ACT CONCERNING THE LICENSING OF SWIMMING POOL INSTALLERS, ELECTRONIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED AGENCY REGULATIONS AND MINOR AND TECHNICAL CHANGES TO DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION STATUTES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, (1) "swimming pool" means a permanent spa or any in-ground or partially above-ground structure intended for swimming that is greater than twenty-four inches in depth, and (2) "swimming pool builder" means a person who, for financial compensation, excavates and grades for and constructs and installs a swimming pool, including, but not limited to, tiling, coping, decking and installation of associated circulation equipment such as pumps, filters and chemical feeders.
(b) On or after the adoption of regulations required pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, no person shall build a swimming pool unless such person holds a swimming pool builder's license issued by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection.
(c) Not later than July 1, 2012, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement the provisions of this section, including establishing the amount and type of experience, training, continuing education and examination requirements for a person to obtain and renew a swimming pool builder's license.
(d) Any person who builds a swimming pool on residential property owned by such person shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
(e) The holder of a swimming pool builder's license issued pursuant to this section shall comply with the provisions of chapter 400 of the general statutes regarding registration as a home improvement contractor.
(f) A person licensed as a swimming pool builder pursuant to this section shall not perform electrical work, plumbing and piping work or heating, piping and cooling work, as defined in section 20-330 of the general statutes, unless such person is licensed to perform such work pursuant to chapter 393 of the general statutes.
(g) On and after the adoption of regulations required pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, any person applying to the Department of Consumer Protection for a swimming pool builders' license shall be issued such license without examination upon demonstration by the applicant of experience and training equivalent to the experience and training required to qualify for examination for such license, if such applicant makes such application to the department not later than January 1, 2014.
(h) The initial fee for a swimming pool builder's license shall be one hundred fifty dollars and the renewal fee for such license shall be one hundred dollars. Licenses shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance.
Sec. 2. Section 20-341 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) Any person who wilfully engages in or practices the work or occupation for which a license is required by this chapter, chapter 399b or by section 1 of this act without having first obtained an apprentice permit or a certificate and license for such work, as applicable, or who wilfully employs or supplies for employment a person who does not have a certificate and license for such work, or who wilfully and falsely pretends to qualify to engage in or practice such work or occupation, or who wilfully engages in or practices any of the work or occupations for which a license is required by this chapter after the expiration of such person's license, shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor, provided no criminal charges shall be instituted against such person pursuant to this subsection unless the work activity in question is reviewed by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's authorized agent, and the commissioner or such agent specifically determines, in writing, that such work activity requires a license and is not the subject of a bona fide dispute between persons engaged in any trade or craft, whether licensed or unlicensed. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) or (e) of section 53a-29 and subsection (d) of section 54-56e, if the court determines that such person cannot fully repay any victims of such person within the period of probation established in subsection (d) or (e) of section 53a-29 or subsection (d) of section 54-56e, the court may impose probation for a period of not more than five years. The penalty provided in this subsection shall be in addition to any other penalties and remedies available under this chapter or chapter 416.
(b) The appropriate examining board or the Commissioner of Consumer Protection may, after notice and hearing, impose a civil penalty on any person who engages in or practices the work or occupation for which a license or apprentice registration certificate is required by this chapter, section 1 of this act, chapter 394, [or] chapter 399b or chapter 482 without having first obtained such a license or certificate, or who wilfully employs or supplies for employment a person who does not have such a license or certificate or who wilfully and falsely pretends to qualify to engage in or practice such work or occupation, or who engages in or practices any of the work or occupations for which a license or certificate is required by this chapter, section 1 of this act, chapter 394, [or] chapter 399b or chapter 482 after the expiration of the license or certificate or who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, section 1 of this act, chapter 394, [or] chapter 399b or chapter 482 or the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Such penalty shall be in an amount not more than one thousand dollars for a first violation of this subsection, not more than one thousand five hundred dollars for a second violation of this subsection and not more than three thousand dollars for each violation of this subsection occurring less than three years after a second or subsequent violation of this subsection, except that any individual employed as an apprentice but improperly registered shall not be penalized for a first offense.
(c) If an examining board or the Commissioner of Consumer Protection imposes a civil penalty under the provisions of subsection (b) of this section as a result of a violation initially reported by a municipal building official in accordance with subsection (c) of section 29-261, the commissioner shall, not less than sixty days after collecting such civil penalty, remit one-half of the amount collected to such municipality.
(d) A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or section 1 of this act shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection (a) of section 42-110b.
(e) This section shall not apply to any person who (1) holds a license issued under this chapter, section 1 of this act, chapter 394, [or] chapter 399b or chapter 482 and performs work that is incidentally, directly and immediately appropriate to the performance of such person's trade where such work commences at an outlet, receptacle or connection previously installed by a person holding the proper license, or (2) engages in work that does not require a license under this chapter, section 1 of this act, chapter 394, [or] chapter 399b or chapter 482.
Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 20-417aa of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(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 or repair 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 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 or 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.
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 4-168 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):
(a) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, an agency, prior to adopting a proposed regulation, shall: (1) Give at least thirty days' notice by publication in the Connecticut Law Journal of its intended action. The notice shall include (A) either a statement of the terms or of the substance of the proposed regulation or a description sufficiently detailed so as to apprise persons likely to be affected of the issues and subjects involved in the proposed regulation, (B) a statement of the purposes for which the regulation is proposed, (C) a reference to the statutory authority for the proposed regulation, (D) when, where and how interested persons may obtain a copy of the small business impact and regulatory flexibility analyses required pursuant to section 4-168a, and (E) when, where and how interested persons may present their views on the proposed regulation; (2) give notice [by mail] to each joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of the subject matter of the proposed regulation; (3) give notice [by mail] to all persons who have made requests to the agency for advance notice of its regulation-making proceedings. The agency may charge a reasonable fee for such notice based on the estimated cost of providing the service; (4) provide a paper copy or electronic version of the proposed regulation to persons requesting it. The agency may charge a reasonable fee for copies in accordance with the provisions of section 1-212; (5) no later than the date of publication of the notice in the Connecticut Law Journal, prepare a fiscal note, including an estimate of the cost or of the revenue impact (A) on the state or any municipality of the state, and (B) on small businesses in the state, including an estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the proposed regulation and the projected costs, including but not limited to, reporting, recordkeeping and administrative, associated with compliance with the proposed regulation and, if applicable, the regulatory flexibility analysis prepared under section 4-168a. The governing body of any municipality, if requested, shall provide the agency, within twenty working days, with any information that may be necessary for analysis in preparation of such fiscal note; (6) afford all interested persons reasonable opportunity to submit data, views or arguments, orally at a hearing granted under subdivision (7) of this subsection or in writing, and to inspect and copy the fiscal note prepared pursuant to subdivision (5) of this subsection; (7) grant an opportunity to present oral argument if requested by fifteen persons, by a governmental subdivision or agency or by an association having not less than fifteen members, if notice of the request is received by the agency within fourteen days after the date of publication of the notice; and (8) consider fully all written and oral submissions respecting the proposed regulation and revise the fiscal note in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (5) of this subsection to indicate any changes made in the proposed regulation. No regulation shall be found invalid due to the failure of an agency to give notice to each committee of cognizance pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, provided one such committee has been so notified.
Sec. 5. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 20-306 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):
(a) (1) The Department of Consumer Protection shall notify [by mail] each person licensed under this chapter of the date of the expiration of such license and the amount of the fee required for its renewal for one year. Such license renewals shall be accompanied by the payment of the professional services fee for class G, as defined in section 33-182l, in the case of a professional engineer license, a professional engineer and land surveyor combined license, or a land surveyor license. The license shall be considered lapsed if not renewed within thirty days following the normal expiration date.
Sec. 6. Section 30-20 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):
(a) A package store permit shall allow the retail sale of alcoholic liquor not to be consumed on the premises, such sales to be made only in sealed bottles or other containers. The holder of a package store permit may, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Department of Consumer Protection pursuant to the provisions of chapter 54, offer free samples of alcoholic liquor for tasting on the premises, conduct demonstrations and conduct tastings or demonstrations provided by a permittee or backer of a package store for a nominal charge to charitable nonprofit organizations. Any offering, tasting or demonstration held on permit premises shall be conducted only during the hours a package store is permitted to sell alcoholic liquor under section 30-91. No store operating under a package store permit shall sell any commodity other than alcoholic liquor except that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, such store may sell (1) cigarettes, (2) publications, (3) bar utensils, which shall include, but need not be limited to, corkscrews, beverage strainers, stirrers or other similar items used to consume or related to the consumption of alcoholic liquor, (4) gift packages of alcoholic liquor shipped into the state by a manufacturer or out-of-state shipper, which may include a nonalcoholic item in the gift package that may be any item, except food or tobacco products, provided the dollar value of the nonalcoholic items does not exceed the dollar value of the alcoholic items of the package, (5) nonalcoholic beverages, (6) concentrates used in the preparation of mixed alcoholic beverages, (7) beer and wine-making kits and products related to beer and wine-making kits, (8) ice in any form, (9) articles of clothing imprinted with advertising related to the alcoholic liquor industry, (10) gift baskets or other containers of alcoholic liquor, (11) multiple packages of alcoholic liquors, as defined in subdivision (3) of section 30-1, provided in all such cases the minimum retail selling price for such alcoholic liquor shall apply, and (12) lottery tickets authorized by the Division of Special Revenue, if licensed as an agent to sell such tickets by said division. A package store permit shall also allow the taking and transmitting of orders for delivery of such merchandise in other states. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a package store permit shall allow the participation in any lottery ticket promotion or giveaway sponsored by the Division of Special Revenue. The annual fee for a package store permit shall be five hundred thirty-five dollars. [plus the sum required by section 30-66. ]
(b) A grocery store beer permit may be granted to any grocery store and shall allow the retail sale of beer in standard size containers not to be consumed on the premises. A holder of a grocery store beer permit shall post in a prominent location adjacent to the beer display, the retail price for each brand of beer and said retail price shall include all applicable federal and state taxes including the applicable state sales taxes. The annual fee for a grocery store beer permit shall be one hundred [sixty] seventy dollars. [plus the sum required by section 30-66. ]
(c) "Grocery store" means any store commonly known as a supermarket, food store, grocery store or delicatessen, primarily engaged in the retail sale of all sorts of canned goods and dry goods such as tea, coffee, spices, sugar and flour, either packaged or in bulk, with or without fresh fruits and vegetables, and with or without fresh, smoked and prepared meats, fish and poultry, except that no store primarily engaged in the retail sale of seafood, fruits and vegetables, candy, nuts and confectioneries, dairy products, bakery products or eggs and poultry shall be included in the definition of "grocery store".
Sec. 7. Section 30-36 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):
A druggist permit may be issued by the Department of Consumer Protection to a drug store proprietor. No druggist permit shall be issued covering a new drug store or a new location for an old drug store until the Commission of Pharmacy is satisfied that a drug store at such location is necessary to the convenience and best interest of the public. A druggist permit (1) shall allow the use of alcoholic liquors for the compounding of prescriptions of physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants and dentists and for the manufacturing of all United States Pharmacopoeia and National Formulary preparations and all other medicinal preparations, (2) shall allow the retail sale of alcoholic liquor in containers of not less than eight ounces or one hundred eighty-seven and one-half milliliters and not more than one quart or one liter capacity except that beer may be sold in containers of not more than forty ounces or twelve hundred milliliters capacity, to any person, and (3) shall forbid the drinking of such alcoholic liquor on the premises of any drug store. Such permittee shall keep all alcoholic liquors in compartments, which compartments shall be securely locked except during those hours when the sale of alcoholic liquor is permitted by law. The holder of a druggist permit shall not display any alcoholic liquors or containers, marked or labeled or in any other way suggesting the contents of intoxicating liquors, in the windows of the permit premises. The Commission of Pharmacy shall revoke or suspend the pharmacy license of any pharmacist upon whose premises any violation of any provision of this section occurs. The annual fee for a druggist permit shall be five hundred thirty-five dollars. [plus the sum required by section 30-66. ]
Sec. 8. Section 30-66 of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective October 1, 2011)