H-0922.2                  _______________________________________________

                                                      HOUSE BILL 1757

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Heavey, Veloria, Brumsickle, Lisk and King

Read first time 02/08/93.  Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

Requiring continuing education for electricians.

          AN ACT Relating to continuing education requirements for electricians; and amending RCW 19.28.550.

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

        Sec. 1.  RCW 19.28.550 and 1986 c 156 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall issue a certificate of competency to all applicants who have passed the examination provided in RCW 19.28.540, and who have complied with RCW 19.28.510 through 19.28.620 and the rules adopted under this chapter.  The certificate shall bear the date of issuance, and shall expire on ((the holder's birthdate two)) October 31st or April 30th, not less than six months nor more than three years immediately following the date of issuance.  The certificate shall be renewed every ((two)) three years, upon application, on or before the holder's birthdate.  A fee shall be assessed for each certificate and for each annual renewal.

(2) If the certificate holder demonstrates to the department that he or she has satisfactorily completed an annual eight-hour continuing education course, the certificate may be renewed without examination by appropriate application unless the certificate has been revoked, suspended, or not renewed within ninety days after the expiration date.

(a) The contents and requirements for satisfactory completion of the continuing education course shall be determined by the director and approved by the board.

(b) The department shall accept proof of a certificate holder's satisfactory completion of a continuing education course offered in another state as meeting the requirements for maintaining a current Washington state certificate of competency if the department is satisfied the course is comparable in nature to that required in Washington state for maintaining a current certificate of competency.

(3) If the certificate is not renewed before the expiration date, the individual shall pay twice the usual fee.  The department shall set the fees by rule for issuance and renewal of a certificate of competency.  The fees shall cover but not exceed the costs of issuing the certificates and of administering and enforcing the electrician certification requirements of this chapter.

(4) The certificates of competency and temporary permits provided for in this chapter grant the holder the right to work in the electrical construction trade as a journeyman electrician or specialty electrician in accordance with their provisions throughout the state and within any of its political subdivisions without additional proof of competency or any other license, permit, or fee to engage in such work.

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