Bill Text: HI HB695 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 695 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Electricians; Contractors; Licensing Exemption

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-27 - The committee(s) on CPC recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB695 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HB695-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	695
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to electricians and contractors.

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

SECTION 1. Act 35, Session Laws of Hawaii 2010, set forth requirements to be met by applicants for licensure as electricians, effective July 1, 2013. Since 2010, the legislature has found that the Act has inadvertent, unintended consequences. In the event of a catastrophic occurrence or complex maintenance work affecting the electric utility, contractors may need to use mainland personnel because there are not enough electricians, splicers, and linemen in this State who are experienced and qualified to do high-voltage work, over 480 volts.

Most in-state electrical workers are only experienced in low-voltage work, or 120 to 240 volts. The personnel from the mainland would not have licenses to work in the State and would be prohibited from working in the State even though they are authorized to work in other states.

The lack of qualified electricians in such situations would be harmful to the State's well-being. Therefore, an exception to the licensing requirement is necessary to allow electric utilities to hire out-of-state electricians to assist in performing high-voltage work.

The purpose of this Act is to exempt out-of-state electricians performing high-voltage electrical work for a public utility from:

(1) The licensing laws for electricians; and

(2) Quotas governing contractors on construction sites who employ individuals performing electrical work.

SECTION 2. Chapter 448E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§448E- Exemption; out-of-state electricians. Any person who is:

(1) Licensed or certified in another state or municipality as an electrician to perform electrical utility work identical or substantially similar to that of a:

(A) Journey worker electrician;

(B) Journey worker specialty electrician;

(D) Supervising specialty electrician;

(E) Maintenance electrician;

(F) Journey worker industrial electrician; or

(G) Supervising industrial electrician,

licensed under this chapter;

(2) Has not had the license or certification revoked or suspended for cause, and is in good standing; and

(3) Is retained by a public utility that holds a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the public utilities commission to perform high-voltage electrical work involving 480 volts or more for the public utility, including emergency repair work or maintenance work,

shall be exempt from this chapter."

SECTION 3. Section 444-9.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§444-9.5 Licensing of electrical or plumbing workers. (a) At least half of all individuals performing electrical or plumbing work employed on a construction job site by an electrical or plumbing contractor shall be licensed or otherwise exempt from licensure in accordance with chapter 448E. The board may waive this requirement in any county when there are insufficient licensed electrical or plumbing workers in that county to comply with this section.

(b) All individuals employed on a construction job site by an electrical or plumbing contractor who are licensed in accordance with chapter 448E shall visibly display their license on their person while on the construction job site[.], unless otherwise exempt from licensure under chapter 448E. Only individuals displaying their license at the time of a site inspection and individuals exempt from licensure under chapter 448E shall be counted as a licensee to determine compliance with this section."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2013.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Electricians; Contractors; Licensing Exemption

Description:

Exempts out-of-state electricians performing high-voltage electrical work for a public utility from licensing laws for electricians and from quotas governing contractors on construction sites who employ individuals performing electrical work.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.