SENATE BILL REPORT

                           EHB 1756

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE, FEBRUARY 21, 1994

Brief Description:  Requiring the use of licensed or certified electricians for certain purposes.

SPONSORS: Representatives Veloria, Brumsickle and Casada

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Fraser, Pelz, Prince, Sutherland and Wojahn.

Staff:  Traci Ratzliff (786‑7452)

Hearing Dates: March 29, 1993; April 2, 1993; February 16, 1994; February 21, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Electrical work must be done by electricians who have earned a certificate of competency from the Department of Labor and Industries.  There are a few exemptions to this law including one for people doing electrical work on their own homes, farms, businesses, or property, and one for employees who are doing electrical work on the premises of their employers.   

SUMMARY:

Limits are placed on two exemptions from having to use a certified electrician.

The exemption for work done on one's own home, farm, business, or property does not apply if the electrical work is on construction of a new building meant for rent, sale, or lease.

The exemption for work done by an employees on the premises of their employers does not apply if the electrical work is on construction of a new building meant for rent, sale, or lease.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill would require owners who build new buildings on their property that will be sold, leased or rented to use certified electricians to do the electrical work and will provide much needed protection to individuals utilizing these buildings.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

This bill is unnecessary.  Electrical work, regardless of whether it is done by a certified electrician or a property owner, must be inspected by local or state inspectors to assure that the electrical work has been done correctly.

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Representative Veloria, prime sponsor; Larry Stevens, United Subcontractors Association; T.K. Bentler, IBEW Local 46 Electrical Workers; CON:  Bart Flora, property manager; Arnold Fox, Washington Apartment Association; Bill Brumfield, private citizen; Linda Ostrich, Executive Director, Rental Housing Association