| March 10, 2005 Connecticut General Law Committee RE: HB 6857 Thank you Mr. Chairman and members of the Connecticut General Law Committee for allowing this hearing to discuss continuing education for plumbers. My name is Murray Renshaw, I'm 58 years of age. Renshaw Plumbing and Heating is located in New London. I began my apprenticeship at age 19, served a 5 year apprenticeship sponsored by Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 305. I served as president of the local union and have been in my own business for 25 years. I have seen good times and bad times. I've worked on large jobs and small jobs installing plumbing, heating and sprinkler systems. I've grappled with the continuing education law as enacted and I support full repeal of a law I consider nothing more than an unfunded mandate and another layer of bureaucracy. The law is simply unwarranted. The need for a 6 to 9 hour class every year has not been established. I've tried, unsuccessfully to establish specifically what the State wants us to learn. To date, I have not been able to get a straight answer from anyone. Presently, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection supervises 180 licenses. CEU'S are required for home inspectors, landscape architects, real estate appraisers, real estate brokers and salespersons, shorthand reporters, pharmacists and plumbers. Would you believe attorneys are not included? I'm going to assume none of the members of the General Law Committee are plumbers and you are all professional people. We all like the sound of "continuing education" The fact of the matter is plumbers already have a continuing education program in place. Most of us learn something every day-there is always a new problem to solve or a new product to install or a new material to use. That's the nature of our business. IF IT ISN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT: That old adage describes our situation perfectly. First and foremost, we obtain a plumbing permit from our local building department. When the installation is complete, the inspector visits the job, inspects our work and the installation either passes or fails. State statues require all building officials to attend 30 hours of class per year. The system in place works well. Without adding more burden to the industry and cost to the consumer. Plumbers and steamfitters are constantly updating and educating themselves on new code requirements and trade practices. Larger jobs require blueprints, plans and specifications which outline and specify installations, rules and regulations. There are better ways to communicate. If the State of Connecticut wants us to become informed on an important issue, e mail the information or send out technical bulletins via US Postal Service. The 6-9 hour class requirement is ridiculous. How about the retirees??? The existing law is a slap in the fact to men and women who have been the backbone of our industry. Most retired plumbers continue to pay for and proudly carry their licenses. They have a great deal of pride and dignity. They want to continue to carry that license they worked so hard to obtain. To sum up Mr. Chairman, I respectfully request the General Law Committee to support HB6857 and repeal a law that should never been enacted. Sincerely, Murray Renshaw |