AN ACT Relating to regulation of electricians and electrical installations; and amending RCW 19.28.510, 19.28.520, and 19.28.530.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 19.28.510 and 1996 c 241 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) No person may engage in the electrical construction trade without having a current journeyman electrician certificate of competency or a current specialty electrician certificate of competency issued by the department in accordance with this chapter. Electrician certificate of competency specialties include, but are not limited to: Residential, domestic appliances, pump and irrigation, limited energy system, signs, and nonresidential maintenance.

(2) A person who is indentured in an apprenticeship program approved under chapter 49.04 RCW for the electrical construction trade or who is learning the electrical construction trade may work in the electrical construction trade if supervised by a certified journeyman electrician or a certified specialty electrician in that electrician's specialty. All apprentices and individuals learning the electrical construction trade shall obtain an electrical training certificate from the department. The certificate shall authorize the holder to learn the electrical construction trade while under the direct supervision of a journeyman electrician or a specialty electrician working in his or her specialty. The holder of the electrical training certificate shall renew the certificate annually. At the time of renewal, the holder shall provide the department with an accurate list of the holder's employers in the electrical construction industry for the previous year and the number of hours worked for each employer. An annual fee shall be charged for the issuance or renewal of the certificate. The department shall set the fee by rule. The fee shall cover but not exceed the cost of administering and enforcing the trainee certification and supervision requirements of this chapter. Apprentices and individuals learning the electrical construction trade shall have their electrical training certificates in their possession at all times that they are performing electrical work. They shall show their certificates to an authorized representative of the department at the representative's request.

(3) Any person who has been issued an electrical training certificate under this chapter may work if that person is under supervision. Supervision shall consist of a person being on the same job site and under the control of either a journeyman electrician or an appropriate specialty electrician who has an applicable certificate of competency issued under this chapter. Either a journeyman electrician or an appropriate specialty electrician shall be on the same job site as the noncertified individual for a minimum of seventy-five percent of each working day unless otherwise provided in this chapter. ((~~The ratio of noncertified individuals to certified journeymen or specialty electricians working on a job site shall be:~~

~~(a) From September 1, 1979, through December 31, 1982, not more than three noncertified electricians working on any one job site for every certified journeyman or specialty electrician;~~

~~(b) Effective January 1, 1983,~~)) (4) The ratio of noncertified individuals to certified journeymen or specialty electricians working on a job site shall be:

(a) Not more than two noncertified individuals working on any one job site for every specialty electrician or journeyman electrician working as a specialty electrician((;

~~(c) Effective January 1, 1983,~~)); and

(b) Not more than one noncertified individual working on any one job site for every certified journeyman electrician((.)), except that the ratio requirements ((~~do not apply to a trade school program in the electrical construction trade established during 1946~~)) shall be one certified journeyman electrician to no more than four students enrolled in and working as part of an electrical construction program at public community or technical colleges, or not-for-profit nationally accredited trade or technical schools licensed by the work force training and education coordinating board under chapter 28C.10 RCW. In meeting the ratio requirements for students enrolled in an electrical construction program at a trade school, a trade school may receive input and advice from the electrical board.

An individual who has a current training certificate and who has successfully completed or is currently enrolled in an approved apprenticeship program or in ((~~a technical school~~)) an electrical construction program ((~~in the electrical construction trade in a school approved~~)) at public community or technical colleges, or not-for-profit nationally accredited technical or trade schools licensed by the ((~~commission for vocational education~~)) work force training and education coordinating board under chapter 28C.10 RCW, may work without direct on-site supervision during the last six months of meeting the practical experience requirements of this chapter.

((~~(4)~~)) (5) The electrical contractor shall accurately verify and attest to the electrical trainee hours worked by electrical trainees on behalf of the electrical contractor.

Sec. 2. RCW 19.28.520 and 1980 c 30 s 3 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 19.28.530((~~, as now or hereafter amended~~)). 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 19.28.530.

Sec. 3. RCW 19.28.530 and 1988 c 81 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Upon receipt of the application, the department shall review the application and determine whether the applicant is eligible to take an examination for the journeyman or specialty certificate of competency.

(a) To be eligible to take the examination for a journeyman certificate the applicant must have:

(i) Worked in the electrical construction trade for a minimum of four years employed full time, of which two years shall be in industrial or commercial electrical installation under the supervision of a journeyman electrician ((~~certified under this chapter~~)) and not more than a total of two years in all specialties under the supervision of a journeyman electrician ((~~certified under this chapter~~)) or an appropriate specialty electrician ((~~certified under this chapter or have~~)); or

(ii) Successfully completed an apprenticeship program approved under chapter 49.04 RCW for the electrical construction trade.

(b) To be eligible to take the examination to become a specialty electrician the applicant shall have:

(i) Worked in that specialty of the electrical construction trade, under the supervision of a journeyman electrician ((~~certified under this chapter~~)) or an appropriate specialty electrician ((~~certified under this chapter~~)), for a minimum of two years employed full time((,)); or ((~~have~~))

(ii) Successfully completed an approved apprenticeship program under chapter 49.04 RCW for the applicant's specialty in the electrical construction trade.

((Before January 1, 1984, applicants for nonresidential maintenance specialty licenses are eligible to become nonresidential maintenance specialists upon certification to the department that they have the equivalent of two years full-time experience in that specialty field. Persons applying before January 1, 1984, for a journeyman certificate are eligible to take the examination to become journeymen until July 1, 1984, upon certification to the department that they have the equivalent of five years full-time experience in nonresidential maintenance, of which two years shall be in industrial electrical installation.))

(c) Any applicant who has successfully completed a two-year ((~~technical school~~)) program in the electrical construction trade ((~~in a school that is approved~~)) at public community or technical colleges, or not-for-profit nationally accredited technical or trade schools licensed by the ((~~commission for vocational education~~)) work force training and education coordinating board under chapter 28C.10 RCW may substitute up to two years of the technical or trade school program for two years of work experience under a journeyman electrician. The applicant shall obtain the additional two years of work experience required in industrial or commercial electrical installation prior to the beginning, or after the completion, of the technical school program. Any applicant who has received training in the electrical construction trade in the armed service of the United States may be eligible to take the examination for the certificate of competency. ((~~Any applicant who is a graduate of a trade school program in the electrical construction trade that was established during 1946 is eligible to take the examination for the certificate of competency.~~))

(d) No other requirement for eligibility may be imposed.

(2) The department shall establish reasonable rules for the examinations to be given applicants for certificates of competency. In establishing the rules, the department shall consult with the board. Upon determination that the applicant is eligible to take the examination, the department shall so notify the applicant, indicating the time and place for taking the examination.