5713-S.E AMH KESS REIN 101

ESSB 5713 - H AMD TO H AMD (H-2724.4/03)459 ADOPTED 4/18/03

By Representative Kessler

   On page 14 of the striking amendment, beginning on line 23, strike all of sections 501 and 502 and insert the following:

   "NEW SECTION. Sec. 501. A new section is added to chapter 19.28 RCW under the subchapter heading "provisions applicable to electrical installations" to read as follows:

   (1) The repair, maintenance, or replacement of an electric appliance, if performed by an employee of a manufacturer-authorized dealer or service company, is exempt from licensing and certification requirements under RCW 19.28.091 and RCW 19.28.161.

   (2) A joint legislative task force is created to review licensing and certification requirements under RCW 19.28.091 and RCW 19.28.161 as they pertain to the repair, maintenance, or replacement of an electric appliance, and as they compare to licensing and certification requirements in other states. The task force membership shall consist of: (a) One member from each caucus of the senate commerce and trade committee, appointed by the president of the senate; (b) one member from each caucus of the house commerce and labor committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and (c) representatives of electrical contractors, journey level electrical workers, appliance repair businesses, appliance repair technicians, and residential consumers, appointed jointly by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives. The department of labor and industries shall cooperate with the task force and provide such technical expertise as the task force cochairs may reasonably require. The task force shall choose its cochairs from among its membership. The task force shall use legislative facilities and staff from senate committee services and the office of program research. Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and RCW 43.03.060, such reimbursement to be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives. The task force shall report its findings and recommendations for legislation or rulemaking, if any, to the legislature by December 1, 2003.

   (3) For the purposes of this section, “repair, maintenance, or replacement of an electric appliance” means servicing, maintaining, repairing, or replacing household appliances and similar utilization equipment, other than space heating equipment, in a residential occupancy. The appliance or utilization equipment must be self-contained and built to standardized sizes or types. The appliance or utilization equipment must be connected as a single unit to a single source of electrical power limited to a maximum of 250 volts, 60 amperes, single phase.

   (a) "Repair, maintenance, or replacement of an electric appliance" includes the like-in-kind replacement of the appliance or utilization equipment if the same unmodified electrical circuit is used to supply the equipment being replaced. It also includes:

   (i) The like-in-kind replacement of electrical components within the appliance or equipment;

   (ii) The disconnection and reconnection of low-voltage control and line voltage supply whips not over six feet in length provided there are no modifications to the characteristics of the branch circuit; and

   (iii) The installation of an outlet box and outlet at an existing appliance or equipment location when converting the appliance from a permanent electrical connection to a plug and cord connection. Other than the installation of the outlet box and outlet, there can be no modification to the existing branch circuit supplying the appliance or equipment.

   (b) "Repair, maintenance, or replacement of an electric appliance" does not include:

   (i) The installation, repair, or modification of branch circuits conductors, services, feeders, panelboards, disconnect switches, or raceway/conductor systems interconnecting multiple appliances, equipment, or other electrical components; or

   (ii) Any work governed under Article(s) 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 510, 511, 513, 514, 515, or 516 NEC (i.e., classified locations).

   (4) For the purposes of this section, "electric appliance" means appliances and utilization equipment including, but not limited to, dish washers, ovens, water heating equipment, cook tops, ranges, instant hot water dispensers, garbage disposers, vent hoods, warming drawers, and grills.

   (b) "Electric appliance" does not include systems and equipment such as office equipment, vehicle repair equipment, commercial kitchen equipment, self-contained hot tubs and spas, grinders, scales, alarm/energy management/similar systems, luminaires, furnaces/heaters/air conditioners/heat pumps, sewage disposal equipment, door/gate/similar equipment, or individual components installed so as to create a system (e.g., pumps, switches, controllers, etc.)."

EFFECT: Exempts the repair, maintenance, or replacement of an electric appliance in a residential occupancy from electrical licensing and certification requirements if the work is performed by an employee of a manufacturer-authorized dealer or service company.

Defines "repair, maintenance, or replacement of an electric appliance" and "electric appliance."

   Does not expire the exemption.

Does not exempt the repair, maintenance, or replacement of an electric appliance in a location other than a residential occupancy.

Does not exempt the repair, maintenance or replacement of small commercial/industrial appliances, and other small utilization equipment from electrical licensing and certification requirements.