BILL REQ. #:  S-4156.1 

Read first time 01/16/2006.   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development.

     AN ACT Relating to elevator mechanic licenses; and amending RCW 70.87.240.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 70.87.240 and 2004 c 66 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any person, firm, public agency, or company wishing to engage in the business of performing conveyance work within the state must apply for an elevator contractor license with the department on a form provided by the department and be a registered general or specialty contractor under chapter 18.27 RCW.
     (2) Except as provided by RCW 70.87.270, any person wishing to perform conveyance work within the state must apply for an elevator mechanic license with the department on a form provided by the department.
     (3) An elevator contractor license may not be granted to any person or firm who does not possess the following qualifications:
     (a) Five years' experience performing conveyance work, as verified by current and previous elevator contractors licensed to do business; or
     (b) Satisfactory completion of a written examination administered by the department on this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.
     (4) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, RCW 70.87.305, and 70.87.245, an elevator mechanic license may not be granted to any person who does not possess the following qualifications:
     (a) Satisfactory completion of a written examination administered by the department on this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter; and
     (b) An acceptable combination of documented experience and education credits:
     (i) Not less than three years' experience performing conveyance work, as verified by current and previous employers licensed to do business in this state or public agency employers; ((and)) or
     (((b) Satisfactory completion of a written examination administered by the department on this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter))
     (ii) Not less than three years' experience performing conveyance work, as verified by current and previous employers licensed to do business in the location where the work was performed or public agency employers, at least one year of which must be conveyance work performed within the state of Washington. In evaluating an application that is based in part on work performed outside the state of Washington, the department shall determine whether the work performed outside the state of Washington was performed in a state having standards substantially equal to this chapter and shall consult with its counterpart agency in the state where the work was performed to determine whether the applicant's employer, or its successor in interest, is an entity in good standing under the laws of the state where the work was performed. The department may consider the employer's reputation, its compliance with the laws of the state, whether it has outstanding violations of state or federal law, and whether those violations are related to the work performed by the applicant. The department may deny an application based on work performed outside the state if the employer's past performance is unsatisfactory or cannot be determined, or if the employee's past work history cannot be verified.
     (5) Any person who furnishes the department with acceptable proof that he or she has performed conveyance work in the category for which a license is sought shall upon making application for a license and paying the license fee receive a license without an examination. The person must have:
     (a) Worked without direct and immediate supervision for a general or specialty contractor registered under chapter 18.27 RCW and engaged in the business of performing conveyance work in this state. This employment may not be less than each and all of the three years immediately before March 1, 2004. The person must apply within ninety days after the effective date of rules adopted under this chapter establishing licensing requirements;
     (b) Worked without direct and immediate supervision for an owner exempt from licensing requirements under RCW 70.87.270 or a public agency as an individual responsible for maintenance of conveyances owned by the owner exempt from licensing requirements under RCW 70.87.270 or the public agency. This employment may not be less than each and all of the three years immediately before March 1, 2004. The person must apply within ninety days after the effective date of rules adopted under this chapter establishing licensing requirements;
     (c) Obtained a certificate of completion and successfully passed the mechanic examination of a nationally recognized training program for the elevator industry such as the national elevator industry educational program or its equivalent; or
     (d) Obtained a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship program for an elevator mechanic, having standards substantially equal to those of this chapter, and registered with the Washington state apprenticeship and training council.
     (6) A license must be issued to an individual holding a valid license from a state having entered into a reciprocal agreement with the department and having standards substantially equal to those of this chapter, upon application and without examination.