HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 741

BYRepresentatives Fisch, Patrick and Sayan; by request of Department of Labor and Industries

Revising provisions relating to electrical licensing.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (8)

     Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fisch, Fisher, R. King, O'Brien, Sayan and C. Smith.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (3)

     Signed by Representatives Patrick, Sanders and Walker.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:     The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass.  (22)

     Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers, Sprenkle and B. Williams.

House Staff:    Susan Kavanaugh (786-7145)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS

MARCH 7, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Electrical installations and equipment are regulated by the Department of Labor and Industries.  Electrical contractor licenses and certificates of competency are required to engage in the electrical construction trade.

SUMMARY:

SECOND SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Inspections to enforce the state electrical construction requirements may be performed by local jurisdictions when required by local ordinances, but the Department of Labor and Industries retains the option to make inspections on state property.

State electrical inspectors are required to complete at least twenty-four hours of approved continuing education in the electrical construction trade every three years.  Administrators under an electrical contractor's license and persons holding a certificate of competency are required to complete at least sixteen hours of approved continuing education in the electrical construction trade to renew their certificates.  Certificates, when issued, must expire on the holder's birthday at least one year but not more than three years after the date of issuance.

The exemption from the electrical licensing requirements for persons making electrical installations on their own property or for their employer is revised to require persons who perform electrical installations at health care, educational or institutional facilities to have an electrical certificate of competency.  Persons employed for at least five years at these facilities on the effective date of the act are eligible to apply for a nonresidential specialty electrician certificate of competency.  Persons maintaining or servicing lighting fixture ballasts while the fixture is not energized are exempt from licensing requirements.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  An exemption from electrical licensing requirements is added for persons maintaining or servicing lighting fixture ballasts while the fixture is not energized.  The amount of the appropriation is added.

SECOND SUBSTITUTE COMPARED TO FIRST SUBSTITUTE:  Contractors, like journeymen, working on electrical equipment that is not electrified are exempted from licensing requirements.  Language is added to clarify that employees of health care, educational and institutional facilities are not required to have electrical licenses unless they work with electric equipment.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  Second substitute proposed.

Appropriation:  $358,935 from the electrical license fund to the Department of Labor and Industries.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     (Commerce & Labor)  Artie Robersen and Phil Simmons, Department of Labor and Industries; Earl Dutton, Board of Electrical Examiners; and Gary Smith, Independent Business Association (with concerns).

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Artie Roberson, Department of Labor and Industries.

House Committee - Testified Against: (Commerce & Labor)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     (Commerce & Labor)  Continuing education requirements for inspectors and licensees and certificates of competency for institutional employees will meet important safety concerns that are not presently addressed.  Allowing state inspections of state property will be a cost saving procedure.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Requiring licenses and certificates of competency for institutional employees will help present electric shock accidents to workers.  Continuing education requirements will increase competency.

House Committee - Testimony Against: (Commerce & Labor)  None Presented.

Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.