SPONSOR: Costlow
This bill establishes the "Missouri Statewide Mechanical Contractor Licensing Act", which creates a statewide mechanical contractor license. The statewide mechanical contractor license will be regulated by the Division of Professional Registration (Division). This bill creates the "Office of Mechanical Contractors" within the Division to carry out the provisions of this bill.
Applicants for a statewide mechanical contractor license must meet certain criteria specified in the bill. A corporation, firm, institution, organization, or company seeking to engage in mechanical contracting must have a least one statewide license holder in its employ. A mechanical contractor must have one license holder responsible for offering field employees eight contact hours of industry training each year, and mechanical contractors will be responsible for providing proof of such training to the Division upon request. In the event of a loss of a license holder, a mechanical contractor will remain in good standing with the Division for six months after notifying the Division of such change. Within the six month period, a new license holder must be registered with the Division. If no license holder is registered within the six month period, the Division will declare the mechanical contractor inactive.
Political subdivisions can establish their own local mechanical contractor's license, but must recognize a statewide mechanical contractor license in lieu of a local license for the purposes of performing contracting work or obtaining permits to perform work within such political subdivision. No political subdivision can require the employees of a statewide licensed mechanical contractor, or its subcontractors' or manufacturers' representatives, to obtain journeymen licenses, apprenticeship licenses, or occupational licenses that require passing any examination or any special requirements to assess proficiency. If a political subdivision does not recognize a statewide mechanical contractor license in lieu of a local license, a statewide mechanical contractor license holder can file a complaint with the Division, which can investigate the complaint. If the Division finds that the political subdivision failed to recognize a statewide mechanical contractor license, the Division will notify the political subdivision of such violation and grant them 30 days to comply. If after 30 days the political subdivision does not comply, the Division will notify the Director of the Department of Revenue, who will withhold any moneys the political subdivision would otherwise be entitled to from local sales tax until the political subdivision is in compliance.
This bill establishes the "Missouri Mechanical Contractor Licensing Fund" in the State Treasury, which will be expended for the administration of this bill.
Mechanical contractor licenses will expire on a renewal date established by the Division. The Division must, prior to the renewal date, mail a renewal notice to the last known address of each person licensed. Failure to provide the Division with the information required for renewal or to pay the required fee will result in the license being declared inactive. The license will remain inactive until the license holder applies for reinstatement and pays the required fees, so long as the application for reinstatement is received within two years of the renewal date.
Any person operating as a mechanical contractor in a political subdivision that does not require a local license will not be required to possess a statewide license to operate as a mechanical contractor in such political subdivision. Additionally, any person operating as a mechanical contractor in an industrial setting will not be required to possess a statewide license to operate as a mechanical contractor in such political subdivision.
The Division can refuse to issue any license, and can cause a complaint to be filed with the Administrative Hearing Commission against any holder of a license for causes specified in the bill. Upon a finding by the Administrative Hearing Commission that grounds for disciplinary action are met, the Division can censure or place such a person on probation for a period not to exceed five years, or may suspend, for a period not to exceed three years, or revoke any license. Upon a judicial or administrative finding of a violation of this Act, the Division can assess fines up to $5,000.
Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of this bill is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
This bill is similar to SB 523 (2025).
Statutes affected: