Read first time 01/12/12.   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection.

     AN ACT Relating to requiring training for eligibility for certain electrician certifications; amending RCW 19.28.181 and 19.28.211; adding a new section to chapter 19.28 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 19.28 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An applicant for a journeyman certificate of competency under RCW 19.28.191(1)(f) or a specialty electrician certificate of competency under RCW 19.28.191(1)(g) must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department completion of in-class education as follows:
     (a) Twenty-four hours of in-class education if two thousand hours or more but less than four thousand hours of work are required for the certificate;
     (b) Forty-eight hours of in-class education if four thousand or more but less than six thousand hours of work are required for the certificate;
     (c) Seventy-two hours of in-class education if six thousand or more but less than eight thousand hours of work are required for the certificate;     
     (d) Ninety-six hours of in-class education if eight thousand or more hours of work are required for the certificate.
     (2) For purposes of this section, "in-class education" means approved classroom training covering this chapter, the national electric code, or electrical theory; or equivalent classroom training taken as part of an approved apprenticeship program under chapter 49.04 RCW or an approved electrical training program under RCW 19.28.191(1)(h).
     (3) Classroom training taken to qualify for trainee certificate renewal under RCW 19.28.161 qualifies as in-class education under this section.

Sec. 2   RCW 19.28.181 and 2001 c 211 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any person desiring to be issued a certificate of competency as provided in this chapter shall deliver evidence in a form prescribed by the department affirming that said person has met the qualifications required under RCW 19.28.191 and section 1 of this act. An electrician from another jurisdiction applying for a certificate of competency must provide evidence in a form prescribed by the department affirming that the person has the equivalent qualifications to those required under RCW 19.28.191.

Sec. 3   RCW 19.28.211 and 2009 c 36 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall issue a certificate of competency to all applicants who have passed the examination provided in RCW 19.28.201, met the in-class education requirements of section 1 of this act if applicable, and who have complied with RCW 19.28.161 through 19.28.271 and the rules adopted under this chapter. The certificate may include a photograph of the holder. The certificate shall bear the date of issuance, and shall expire on the holder's birthday. The certificate shall be renewed every three years, upon application, on or before the holder's birthdate. A fee shall be assessed for each certificate and for each annual renewal.
     (2) If the certificate holder demonstrates to the department that he or she has satisfactorily completed an annual eight-hour continuing education course, the certificate may be renewed without examination by appropriate application unless the certificate has been revoked, suspended, or not renewed within ninety days after the expiration date. For pump and irrigation or domestic pump specialty electricians, the continuing education course may combine both electrical and plumbing education provided that there is a minimum of four hours of electrical training in the course.
     (a) The contents and requirements for satisfactory completion of the continuing education course shall be determined by the director and approved by the board.
     (b) The department shall accept proof of a certificate holder's satisfactory completion of a continuing education course offered in another state as meeting the requirements for maintaining a current Washington state certificate of competency if the department is satisfied the course is comparable in nature to that required in Washington state for maintaining a current certificate of competency.
     (3) If the certificate is not renewed before the expiration date, the individual shall pay twice the usual fee. The department shall set the fees by rule for issuance and renewal of a certificate of competency. The fees shall cover but not exceed the costs of issuing the certificates and of administering and enforcing the electrician certification requirements of this chapter.
     (4) The certificates of competency and temporary permits provided for in this chapter grant the holder the right to work in the electrical construction trade as a master electrician, journeyman electrician, or specialty electrician in accordance with their provisions throughout the state and within any of its political subdivisions without additional proof of competency or any other license, permit, or fee to engage in such work.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act takes effect July 1, 2013.