SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1324

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions, February 28, 2002

Title:  An act relating to expanding membership of the electrical board by appointment of one outside line worker.

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

Sponsors:  Representatives Conway, Campbell, Wood, Kenney and Hunt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions:  2/27/02, 2/28/02 [DPA, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Benton, Deccio, Fairley, Franklin, Gardner, Rasmussen, Regala and Winsley.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Hochstatter and Honeyford.

Staff:  Elizabeth Mitchell (786‑7430)

Background:  State law requires that persons who install or maintain wires or equipment to convey electric current be licensed.  It does not require that utilities and persons employed by utilities who install, repair, and maintain lines, wires, apparatus, or equipment used to light streets or public areas, or to transmit or distribute electricity to customers be licensed.  The workers who construct and maintain electric transmission and distribution facilities are known as outside line workers.

The Electrical Board advises the director of the department on electrical and telecommunications installation standards, inspection procedures, and adoption of rules pertaining to electrical inspections.  The board also reviews appeals of license revocations and suspensions, as well as other citations.

The 13 voting members of the board represent various segments of the electrical and telecommunications industries and the public.  The one nonvoting board member is a city building official.  These board members are appointed by the Governor with the advice of the director of the department.  The secretary of the board is the chief electrical inspector.  

Summary of Amended Bill:  One outside line worker is added as a voting member of the electrical board.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The provision that the member representing outside line workers will have a first term of four years is eliminated.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Utilities have a representative on the board, but there is no representation for outside line workers.  Outside line workers will benefit the board with knowledge of their field.

Testimony Against:  Outside line workers do not need to be certified under 19.28 RCW, so they should not be on the board.  A representative of industrial manufacturers should also be added to the board.

Testified:  Curt Copenhagen, Longview Fibre; Larry Stevens, National Electrical Contractors Assn. (con); Richard A. King, IBEW L46 et al (pro); Don Guillot, IBEW LV 77 (pro); Marc Anderson, IBEW Local 125 (pro); Patrick Woods, Dept. of Labor and Industries (pro).