FINAL BILL REPORT

                  ESSB 6521

                          C 241 L 96

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Establishing electrical administration procedures.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Heavey and Sutherland; by request of Department of Labor & Industries).

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:  The Department of Labor and Industries administers the electrical contractor licensing and electrical certificates of competency statutes.  The department issues the following licenses and certificates: electrical contractor license, electrical contractor administrator certificate, journeyman electrician certificate, specialty electrician certificate, and trainee certificate.

An electrical contractor's license may be obtained by submitting an application to the department, posting a bond or other security in the amount of $4,000, and employing an individual who possesses a general or specialty electrical contractor administrator certificate.  The administrator is responsible for ensuring that all electrical work completed by the firm is done in compliance with state laws.  An administrator must take an exam in order to obtain a certificate.

A training certificate may be obtained by individuals who are enrolled in an electrical construction trade apprenticeship program or who are learning the electrical trade.  These individuals may work in the electrical trade if they are supervised by a certified electrician and they possess a training certificate.  A training certificate must be renewed annually.  A trainee is required, when renewing the certificate, to submit to the department a list of the holder's employers for the previous year and the number of hours worked for each employer.

The department has authority to deny, suspend or revoke electrical licenses and certificates for certain violations of state law.

The department and certain cities are responsible for inspecting electrical wiring, and equipment in or on all buildings to assure compliance with state law.  Questions have been raised regarding whether all electrical wiring and equipment must be visually inspected, or whether other testing methods may be utilized to verify the safety of such wiring and equipment.

Summary:  The department is authorized to deny renewal of an electrical license or certificate if outstanding penalties are owed for a final citation.

The department is prohibited from accepting an application for an electrical contractor administrator's certificate for up to two years if the applicant's previous administrator's certificate is revoked for a serious violation of state law and all appeals are exhausted.

The department is authorized to audit the records of an electrical contractor to verify the hours of experience submitted by an electrical trainee.  The information obtained from the Department of Labor and Industries during the audit is confidential information and is not open to public inspection.

The language governing the inspection of electrical wiring and equipment is modified to allow an inspector to employ any testing methods that assures that wiring and electrical equipment is in conformance with the state electrical code.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    43 6

House     96 0 (House amended)

Senate    42 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  June 6, 1996