SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1575

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Commerce & Trade, April 3, 2003

Title: An act relating to expanding membership of the electrical board by appointment of one outside line worker.

Brief Description: Expanding membership of the electrical board by appointment of one outside line worker.

Sponsors: Representatives Conway, DeBolt, Cooper, Fromhold, Crouse, Orcutt, Hudgins, Campbell, Berkey and Kenney.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Commerce & Trade: 4/3/03 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Honeyford, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Franklin, Keiser and Mulliken.

Staff: Elizabeth Mitchell (786-7430)

Background: The Electrical Board advises the Director of the Department of Labor and Industries on electrical and telecommunications installation standards, inspection procedures, and adoption of rules pertaining to electrical inspections. The board also reviews appeals of license revocations and suspensions, as well as other citations.

The 13 voting members of the board represent various segments of the electrical and telecommunications industries and the public.

Summary of Amended Bill: Four members are added to the Electrical Board: 1) an outside line worker who is a certified electrician; 2) an owner/manager of an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) business; 3) an owner/manager of an appliance repair business; and 4) a certified electrician who is a representative of an industrial manufacturer that employs plant electricians.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: The outside line worker added to the board must be a certified electrician. In addition to the outside line worker, three other members are added to the board: an owner or manager of an HVAC business; an owner or manager of an appliance repair business; and a certified electrician who is a representative of an industrial manufacturer that employs plant electricians.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: An outside line worker would add a needed perspective to the board. (Speaking to amendment): Linemen sometimes lacks understanding about the specialized equipment in industrial plants. There is not a compelling need to have an appliance repair representative on the board. A small portion of HVAC work is electrical. If an HVAC member is added to the board, it will be difficult to draw the line between HVAC and other types of work that include minimal electrical work.

Testimony Against: Linemen are not electricians, so they should not be on the electrical board. If you don't know the electrical code, you should not be on the board. (Speaking to amendment): If outside linemen are certified electricians, then it would be all right if they were on the board.

Testified: PRO: Representative Steve Conway, prime sponsor; Richard King, IBEW L46 et al; Dave Timothy, IBEW - 77; Collins Sprague, Avista Corp.; Curt Copenhagen, Longview Fibre; CON: Gary Smith, Ind. Bus. Assn.; Larry Stevens, National Elect. Contractors Assn.