SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5434

As Passed Senate, March 13, 2003

Title: An act relating to electricians.

Brief Description: Concerning certified electricians.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Commerce & Trade (originally sponsored by Senator Swecker).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Commerce & Trade: 2/13/03, 2/26/03 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/13/03, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5434 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Honeyford, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Franklin and Mulliken.

Staff: Elizabeth Mitchell (786-7430)

Background: The Department of Labor and Industries regulates the electrical profession at both the business level and the individual level: electrical contractors are licensed and individuals are certified. Current department policy requires both licensing and certification for volunteer electrical work at nonprofit corporations.

Summary of Bill: Certified electricians performing volunteer electrical work for nonprofit corporations are not required to be licensed as electrical contractors. Compensation must not be received for the work. In order to qualify for this exemption, nonprofits must have tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service, or must be nonprofit religious organizations. The size of projects is limited to a maximum value of $200,000 per project.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: Nonprofits sometimes cannot afford to hire electrical contractors to do work. Certified electricians should be allowed to perform work for no compensation at nonprofits without being licensed as contractors.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Senator Dan Swecker, prime sponsor (pro).

House Amendment(s): Properly supervised electrical trainees may perform specified volunteer electrical work without holding an electrical contractor license. The maximum value of work covered under the exemption is changed to $30,000.