HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                     HB 1510

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

Sponsors:  Conway and Scott

Hearing:  February 10, 1999

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$The membership of the electrical board is increased from 10 to 11 members with the addition of an outside line worker.

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Labor and Industries regulates the installation and repair and maintenance of electrical wires and equipment. The department is helped in its regulatory functions by the Electrical Board.  The 10-member board consists of:

CAn electrical utility employee.

CThree licensed electrical contractors, one of whom may represent an electrical trade association.

CA manufacturer of electrical materials.

CThree certified electricians.

CA professional electrical engineer.

CA representative of the public with knowledge of the electrical industry.

The Chief Electrical Inspector is secretary to the board.  Members of the board are appointed by the Governor with the advice of the director of the Department of Labor and Industries.  They serve for four year terms. 

The board advises the director of the Department of Labor and Industries on the regulation of electricians and electrical installations. The board makes recommendations to the director on the issuance or repeal of rules.  It is also the final authority for appeals of citations and license revocations or suspensions. 

The department and the board regulate the licensing of electrical contractors, the certification of electrical administrators, and the permitting and inspection of electrical work.  This regulatory authority does not apply to work performed by utilities.  The electrical statute specifically exempts the installation, repair, or maintenance of  lines, wires, apparatus, or equipment used in the lighting of streets, alleys, ways, or public areas or squares, or used to transmit electricity to customers.  The workers that perform this type of work are known as outside line workers.

SUMMARY OF BILL:

The membership of the Electrical Board is increased from 10 to 11 members.  The Governor appoints an outside line worker to fill the added seat on the Board.  The term for the new member is the same as for other board members, four years.

RULES AUTHORITY:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule making powers of an agency.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of a session in which bill is passed.