PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-46B WAC, Electrical safety standards, administration, and installation.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 19.28 RCW, Electricians and electrical installations.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department plans to review the electrical rule for administrative additions or revisions. The electrical rules are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure the rules are consistent with the national consensus standards, industry practice, to clarify the rules, and for possible housekeeping changes.
The rule making will:
| • | Make technical reference corrections; |
| • | Change submission time, for design documents, to "on the jobsite at the time of inspection" for wind and PV systems; |
| • | Remove reciprocal and temporary electrician certification language; |
| • | Amend the time an electrical trainee has to pass the written examination; |
| • | Amend the retest times for electricians who fail the written examination; |
| • | Amend the requirements for continuing education requirements; and |
| • | Clarify inconsistencies with the language regarding the submission of documents for appeal hearings and applying of appeal bonds. |
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Parties interested in these rules may contact the individual listed below. The public may also participate by commenting after amendments are proposed by providing written comments and/or testimony during the public hearing and comment process. Public hearings will be held after the proposal is filed.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Sally Elliott, Department of Labor and Industries, Specialty Compliance Services Division, P.O. Box 44400, Olympia, WA 98504-4400, phone (360) 902-6411, fax (360) 902-5292, e-mail yous235@lni.wa.gov.
April 21, 2009
Judy Schurke
Director