SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6547

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Commerce & Trade, January 30, 2004

Title: An act relating to adding to the electrical board one representative of each of the following: Outside journeyman lineman, industrial electricians, owners or managers of appliance repair contractors, and owners or managers of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractors.

Brief Description: Modifying the composition of the electrical board.

Sponsors: Senators Honeyford, Mulliken and Hewitt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Commerce & Trade: 2/4/04, 1/30/04 [DPS, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6547 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Minority Report: Do not pass.

      Signed by Senators Franklin and Keiser.

Staff: John Dziedzic (786-7784)

Background: The Electrical Board is composed of 14 members appointed by the Governor. The board advises the Department of Labor and Industries on all matters pertaining to the establishment and enforcement of standards for electrical and telecommunications installation. Each member of the board is designated by statute as representing a specified constituency or stakeholder affected by the regulation of electrical and telecommunications installations.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Four new positions are created on the Electrical Board. One member each is designated to represent:

      (a) outside journeymen linemen;

      (b) appliance repair contractors;

      (c) heating, ventilating, air conditioning contractors; and

      (d) industrial manufacturers that use industrial electricians.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill was not considered.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: Heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration contractors have recently been recognized as a specialty contractor in the electrical industry, and deserve a seat on the board.

Testimony Against: Concerns: Although adding an outside lineman to the Electrical Board is a good idea, the bill as drafted upsets the existing balance between labor and management representation. Additional members on the board should represent stakeholders that are licensed or certified by the board, and thus pay into the fund that finances the programs that the board oversees.

Testified: PRO: Gary Smith, Independent Business Association; Collin Smith, Sheet Metal Local 66. CONCERNS: Richard King, IBEW; Larry Stevens, National Electrical Association.