Title: An act relating to electrical trainees.

Brief Description: Revising provisions for electrical trainees.

Sponsors: House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Wood, Kenney, Conway, Strow, Sells, Simpson, Hasegawa and Santos).

Brief History: Passed House: 1/27/06, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 3/24/05, 2/16/06 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Ranking Minority Member; Keiser and Prentice.

Staff: John Dziedzic (786-7784)

Background: To engage in the unsupervised installation or maintenance of electrical wires and equipment used for heat, light, power or similar purposes, a person must possess a certificate of competency issued by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). Classifications of certificates of competency include master journeyman electrician, journeyman electrician, master specialty electrician and specialty electrician. To obtain a certificate of competency, an applicant must meet certain experience qualifications and pass an examination. Certificates are renewable every three years, upon a showing that the certificate holder has completed an annual eight-hour continuing education course, among other requirements.

A person who is learning the electrical trade may engage in such work if the person has been issued a training certificate and is supervised by an electrician possessing a relevant certificate of competency. A trainee certificate may be renewed every two years, upon submission of an accurate list of the trainee's employers during the period and the number of hours worked for each employer, among other requirements.

Summary of Amended Bill: As of July 1, 2007, in addition to the list of past employers and hours worked for those employers, a trainee must provide proof of 16 hours of certain course work. This course work includes continuing education courses covering national and state electrical codes or electrical theory, or equivalent courses taken as part of an approved apprenticeship or electrical training program.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill: July 1, 2006, was the compliance date in the Substitute House Bill, as referred to the Senate.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This bill is common sense legislation. If journeymen are required to complete classroom-based continuing education, it only makes sense that electrical trainees should do the same, especially since it provides trainees with more exposure to the code book. Better knowledge of the code book improves the trainee's preparation for examination and helps create a safe work environment.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Richard King, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 46; Gary Smith, Independent Business Association; Larry Stevens, Electrical Contractors.