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<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="29-101.1" title_number="29" title_name="Prohibited Acts; Penalties" subtitle_number="1">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Provide fuel gas services” means to install, maintain, alter, repair, remove, or replace propane or natural gas piping, gas utilization equipment, gas–fired equipment, appliances, or appurtenances in connection with a propane or natural gas supply system downstream of the point of delivery of the gas.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Provide fuel gas services” does not include the installation, maintenance, alteration, repair, removal, or replacement of any of the following with respect to a plumbing water supply and drainage system:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>fixtures that require additional energy sources, including clothes washers, dishwashers, food grinders, humidifiers, ice pumps, sterilizers, water coolers, and water heaters; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>operational devices, including aerators, backflow preventers, expansion tanks, filters, flow controls, heat exchangers, interceptors, meters, separators, and relief valves.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Provide plumbing services” means to install, maintain, extend, alter, or remove piping, a plumbing fixture, a plumbing appliance, a plumbing appurtenance, or other plumbing apparatus:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>within or adjacent to a building, structure, or property; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>in connection with:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>a public or private disposal system, sanitary drainage facility, or storm drainage facility;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>a venting system; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>a public or private water supply system.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Except for the first connection to a potable water supply that is downstream of a backflow preventer and the final connection that discharges indirectly into a public or private disposal system, sanitary drainage facility, or storm drainage facility, “provide plumbing services” does not include using piping, equipment, or material only for:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>environmental control;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the incorporation of a liquid or a gas into a product or a process, including product development, in the manufacturing or storage of a product;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>the installation, alteration, repair, or removal of an automatic sprinkler system, related apparatus, or standpipe that is used only for fire protection; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>an overhead or underground fire line beginning from where water is used only for fire protection.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A person may not provide, attempt to provide, or offer to provide plumbing services in any area of Montgomery County or Prince George’s County under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Commission without a license from the Commission.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A person may not assist, attempt to assist, or offer to assist in providing fuel gas services in any area of Montgomery County or Prince George’s County under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Commission without a license from the Commission.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to the provisions of § 10–226(c) of the State Government Article and paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commission’s Plumbing and Fuel Gas Board may deny a license to any applicant, reprimand a licensee, or suspend or revoke a license if the applicant or licensee:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a license or permit for the applicant or licensee or for another;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>fraudulently or deceptively uses a license;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>is guilty of gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct while providing plumbing or fuel gas services or assisting in providing plumbing or fuel gas services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>is guilty of violating the Commission’s plumbing and fuel gas regulations adopted under Title 17, Subtitle 4 of this article while providing plumbing or fuel gas services or assisting in providing plumbing or fuel gas services; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>is guilty of an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice, as defined in § 13–301 of the Commercial Law Article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>In lieu of or in addition to reprimanding a licensee or suspending or revoking a license under paragraph (1) of this subsection, and in addition to the provisions of § 29–101 of this title, the Commission’s Plumbing and Fuel Gas Board may impose a penalty not exceeding $5,000 for each violation.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>To determine the amount of the penalty imposed under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the Board shall consider:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the seriousness of the violation;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the harm caused by the violation;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>the good faith of the licensee; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>any history of previous violations by the licensee.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
