Senate committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

Changes the long and short titles.

Amends GS 87-21(b), which sets outs restricted licenses or classifications by the Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, by deleting the existing language of subsubdivision (b)c, which authorized the Board to establish additional restricted classifications of licenses for three specified situations, and replaces it with the following.

Requires the Board to establish and issue: (1) a State and local government plumbing, heating group number one, heating group number two, or heating group number three technician license for use by persons who do not possess the required contractor license, as specified, but desire to engage in the installation, repair, or replacement of plumbing, heating group number one, heating group number two, or heating group number three, solely as an employee of a State or local government agency; and (2) a State and local government plumbing, heating group number one, heating group number two, or heating group number three technician license for use by persons who do possess the required contractor license, as specified, but also desire to engage in the installation, repair, or replacement of plumbing, heating group number one, heating group number two, or heating group number three as an employee of a State or local government agency without listing their contractor license in the name of the State or local government agency. Further provides that licensed contractors who obtain the State and local government technician license under subsubdivision 2 may contract and perform work under their contractor license only during hours the contractor is not actively employed with the State or local government as a technician, and is on-site carrying out the contracting activity personally. Additionally, provides under new subdivision 2 that no work can be performed by the State or local government agency in reliance upon the technician license when the licensee is not present.

Amends GS 87-26, concerning plumbing and heating contractor licenses issued in the name of corporations, partnerships, or assumed or designated trade name, by adding a new subsection (f) to establish that nothing in the statute can be deemed to limit the ability of a licensee under Article 2 of GS Chapter 87 (Plumbing and Heating Contractors) who is regularly employed by a local board of education to maintain an individual license or to contract or perform work during the hours the licensee is off-duty from the regular employer. Makes conforming change to GS 115C-542 to authorize local boards of education to employ personnel who are licensed to perform maintenance and repairs on school property for plumbing, heating, and fire sprinklers pursuant to Article 2 of GS Chapter 87.

Changes the effective date of the act to October 1, 2016 (was, October 1, 2015).