State Licensing has been a major focus for the NSCA membership over the past several years. NSCA supports licensing individuals in cases where the license is specific to the individual’s type of work—the individual must not be forced to carry a license for work they do not do. Additionally, NSCA supports licensing when the law is clear and concise, fair to all parties involved and does not force membership in a specific trade group or association. NSCA does not support a license that grandfathers in the person based on unrelated work experience. We support licensing when the state or local code and laws prescribe it and when the costs associated with the license are fair and not a financial burden for the company or the individual. NSCA believes that the governance of the regulatory agency should be done by a group of industry peers.
Following, you will find a list of several key states that have introduced, passed or failed to complete state licensing prior the to legislature’s adjournment for the 2007 legislative session. These licenses are in accordance with NSCA’s position statement.
For more information on this legislation or other issues, please contact NSCA’s Director of Government & Industry Affairs, Cathy Mrosko (cmrosko@nsca.org).
Northeast
Massachusetts: Working with the Massachusetts Systems Contractors Association (MSCA), NSCA worked to contact and educate state representatives on the implications that several bills could have on the commercial electronic systems industry. NSCA's Grassroots Action Center and member testimony given at a hearing on June 5, 2007, gave legislators the ability to support both SB 204 and HB 279 if the proposed changes were approved. Read more.
Pennsylvania: Two bills were introduced during this legislative session: HB 254 (Rep. Godshall) applies to the licensure of electricians, and HB 1009 (Rep. Cappelli) applies to the licensure of electrical contractors. With a summer recess in the works, there will be opportunity to comment on these bills prior to the legislature’s return in the fall.
New Jersey: AB 1013 (Rep. Prieto) and SB 951 (Sen. Gill) require registration and modifies the exemptions for qualified journeyman electricians. Neither bill has advanced since their introductions in January 2006. New Jersey’s legislature will adjourn in December for the completion of the 2006-2007 legislative session.
East Central
Kentucky: SB 10 requires permits for the installation of HVAC and all HVAC inspectors to have at least six years of experience. This bill, signed into law on March 23, also forbids local authorities from establishing additional permitting or inspection programs for HVAC. SB 28 was also introduced in January, designating requirements for the licensing of electricians.
Wisconsin: Wisconsin legislators are looking to establish licensing requirements as companion bills AB 294 and SB 167 were introduced late April by Rep. Alvin Ott (R-3) and Senator Russell Decker (D-29). Read More.
Southeast
Alabama: Two bills have been introduced recently surrounding low-voltage issues. HB 476 (Rep. Hammon) applies to residential electrical contracting. SB 281 (Sen. Marsh) provides updates to the definitions associated with work in the low-voltage industry. Specifically, the master electrician definition has been removed, and the journeyman electrician definition is now similar to the prior master electrician definition. Definitions for the residential electrical contractor and apprentice electrician have been added. Both bills are sitting in committee.
Florida: The Florida legislature has sent a bill to the governor that would limit the number of certification exam attempts for alarm systems contractors. If signed, HB 601 would require contractors to pass an exam in no more than three attempts. This legislation allows the board to determine the number of times per year the applicant may take the examination. After three unsuccessful attempts, the board may require additional college-level or technical education courses in the areas of deficiency. Click here to review the legislation.
South
Arkansas: Governor Mike Beebe signed SB 928 into law (to become Act 495) on March 26. This Act extends the temporary licensing for electricians for work on industry projects. This also allows apprentices to continue providing work without enrolling in a community or tech college prior to having their apprentice registration card renewed.
Midwest
Iowa: House File 897 passed the Iowa legislature on April 28, 2007, This legislation changes Section 100C of Code 2007 to include alarm systems contractors and to require certification and licensure. Read More.
Missouri: SB 568, introduced by Sen. John Loudon (R-7), this bill would require the creation of the Missouri Electrical Industry Licensing Board. The board has jurisdiction over certifications of qualified individuals as defined in the bill. Contractors whose primary occupation is the design or integration, installation, maintenance or service of cabling infrastructure and products that transport voice, video, audio and data signals in a commercial or residential premise would not be held to the requirements listed in the bill.
Minnesota: Changes appear to be in the making in Minnesota with several bills being introduced that would modify the definitions for the various classes of the electrician, journeyman and contractor. Specifically, the bills removes references to specific work in the “master” categories, changing it to general electrical work. Several bills, including HB 851 (Rep. Bob Gunther R-24) and its companion SB 797 (Sen. Amy Koch R-17), HB 1208 (Rep. Tim Mahoney D-67) and SB 998 (Sen. Linda Scheid D-46) have been offered as amendments for SB 2089 (Sen. David Tomassoni D-5). The bills passed both the House and Senate; however they are meeting in conference to finalize the bill.
Montana: A bill that defines the requirements to receive the electrician license has been introduced by Sen. Lane Larson (D-22). SB 211 passed out of the Senate, but has been tabled in the House Business and Labor Committee. Montana goes out of session on April 27, 2007.
West
California: The California legislature passed a bill to allow the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to develop a process for referring cases to the Contractors State License Board upon determining that a violation of certification requirements has likely occurred. In addition, the board can charge up to $20 in additional fees, normally charged to C-10 and C-7 contractors, to enforce the provisions of the Labor Code related to electrician certification. The bill is now awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Anyone performing electrician duties employed by a C-10 licensed contractor must be certified as an electrician.
As a reminder, the California Apprenticeship Council has extended the certification date for candidates who are applying for the Voice Data Video Technician and Non-Residential Lighting Technician examinations. The new deadline to pass the examination is December 31, 2008. Electricians who are not certified by January 1, 2009, will be considered to be working illegally.
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The California Apprenticeship Council voted on July 26, 2007 to extend the deadline of January 1, 2008 to no earlier than January 1, 2009 for the requirement of a Voice/Data/Video Technician and Non-Residential Lighting Technician certification. This deadline was extended due to the number of people to be certified, as well as the need for curriculum to be developed for the certification. Tests for the certification were released in late spring; however, additional curriculum is needed for future professionals in the voice/data/video field.
Washington: Washington is another state that introduced many bills, several of which relate to licensing for HVAC work. These bills (HB 1876 and HB 1917) did not pass before the legislature adjourned on April 20, 2007.
Oregon: While several bills were introduced in the Oregon legislature this year, HB 2219 (filed at the request of Governor Ted Kulongoski) seems to be the only one moving along, having passed the House in April. This bill covers electrical contractors as well as plumbing and boiler repair.