NMSA 1978, § 12-12B-1 Short title
12-12B-1. Short title
This act [12-12B-1 to 12-12B-4 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the "Emergency Gas Pilot Relighting Act".
Laws 2011, ch. 104, § 1.
Emergency Gas Pilot Relighting
NMSA 1978 ch. 12, art. 12B
in effectNMSA 1978, § 12-12B-2 Definitions
12-12B-2. Definitions
As used in the Emergency Gas Pilot Relighting Act:
A. "gas pilot relighting technician" means an individual who has successfully completed a program pursuant to Section 3 [12-12B-3 NMSA 1978] of the Emergency Gas Pilot Relighting Act;
B. "natural gas" means any combustible vapor composed chiefly of hydrocarbons occurring naturally; and
C. "program" means a program for training and certifying persons to relight pilot lights for residential equipment and appliances pursuant to Section 3 of the Emergency Gas Pilot Relighting Act.
Laws 2011, ch. 104, § 2.
NMSA 1978, § 12-12B-3 Certification program
12-12B-3. Certification program
The higher education department and the regulation and licensing department shall recommend to appropriate institutions of higher learning a program for training and certifying individuals to relight pilot lights for residential equipment and appliances. Upon satisfactory completion of such a program, an individual shall be certified as a gas pilot relighting technician and be issued a certificate attesting to the person's completion of the program, which certificate shall expire after five years. The regulation and licensing department shall adopt rules specifying the content of the training program, requirements for successful completion of the program and the process for certification of an individual as a gas pilot relighting technician.
Laws 2011, ch. 104, § 3.
NMSA 1978, § 12-12B-4 Declaration of emergency or disaster; employment of gas pilot relighting technicians; reimbursement
12-12B-4. Declaration of emergency or disaster; employment of gas pilot relighting technicians; reimbursement
A. Upon a declaration by the governor of an emergency or disaster, a person certified as a journeyman plumber or journeyman gas fitter pursuant to the Construction Industries Licensing Act [Chapter 60, Article 13 NMSA 1978] may employ no more than five gas pilot relighting technicians during the period of the declared emergency or disaster.
B. A gas pilot relighting technician employed by a journeyman plumber or journeyman gas fitter pursuant to Subsection A of this section shall be an employee of the journeyman plumber or journeyman gas fitter and shall be covered by liability insurance provided by the journeyman plumber or journeyman gas fitter.
C. The duties of a gas pilot relighting technician employed by a journeyman plumber or journeyman gas fitter pursuant to Subsection A of this section shall be limited to work directly related to the relighting of pilot lights for residential equipment and appliances serving residences with not more than four dwelling units.
D. If authorized in the declaration of emergency or disaster issued by the governor and subject to funds being made available pursuant to such a declaration, the secretary of homeland security and emergency management may adopt rules permitting state funds to be used to pay the cost of journeyman plumbers, journeyman gas fitters or gas pilot relighting technicians for services rendered during the declared period of the emergency or disaster to restore natural gas service to residences within the area covered by the declaration of emergency or disaster.
Laws 2011, ch. 104, § 4.
Source: New Mexico Compilation Commission (nmonesource.com)URL: https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa-unanno/en/item/18512/index.doFetched: 10/20/2026