Hempstead considers plumber fraud law

Members of the Hempstead Town Board are to propose legislation that would penalize fraudulent uses of plumbing licenses, according to a news release.

The board is expected to vote Tuesday — though Tuesday’s meeting agenda had not yet been posted online as of Thursday — to schedule a public hearing on the legislation for April 10, the release stated.

The legislation comes after town officials heard of situations where licensed master plumbers act as if they completed the work and meet the town’s plumbing inspectors at the sites. Instead, an unlicensed plumber or a plumber who does not work for a licensed master plumber actually did the labor but has a licensed master plumber put his or her name on the permit, according to the release

The bill would affect the master plumber “who helps perpetuate this type of fraud,” and could result in a license suspension or revocation following a hearing of the Plumbers Examining Board, the release stated. The building commissioner could also impose civil penalties of at least $3,000 per violation.

Licensed master plumbers must go through a testing process to work in the town’s unincorporated areas. There are currently 760 licensed plumbers in the town who passed the three-part test — which includes a practical portion — after working for a licensed plumber for at least seven years, the release stated.