House File 213 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 52) Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to electrician licensure by modifying existing 2 provisions and specifying new classifications. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1310HV 83 5 rn/rj/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 103.1, Code 2009, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsections: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 11A. "Residential electrician" means a 1 4 person having the necessary qualifications, training, 1 5 experience, and technical knowledge to perform a residential 1 6 installation. 1 7 NEW SUBSECTION. 11B. "Residential installation" means the 1 8 wiring for or installation of electrical wiring, apparatus, 1 9 and equipment in a residence consisting of no more than four 1 10 living units within the same building. 1 11 NEW SUBSECTION. 11C. "Residential master electrician" 1 12 means a person having the necessary qualifications, training, 1 13 experience, and technical knowledge to properly plan, lay out, 1 14 and supervise the performance of a residential installation. 1 15 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 103.10A INACTIVE MASTER ELECTRICIAN 1 16 LICENSE. 1 17 The board may by rule create an inactive master electrician 1 18 license and establish a fee for such a license. An applicant 1 19 for an inactive master electrician license shall, at a 1 20 minimum, meet the requirements of this chapter and 1 21 requirements established by the board by rule for licensure as 1 22 a class A master electrician or a class B master electrician. 1 23 A person licensed as an inactive master electrician shall not 1 24 be authorized to act as a master electrician, but shall be 1 25 authorized to apply for a class A master electrician license 1 26 or a class B master electrician license at a future date 1 27 subject to conditions and under procedures established by the 1 28 board by rule. The conditions and procedures shall include 1 29 but not be limited to completion of the required number of 1 30 contact hours of continuing education courses specified in 1 31 section 103.18, and paying the applicable license fee 1 32 specified in section 103.19 for a class A master electrician 1 33 license or class B master electrician license. 1 34 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 103.12A RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICIAN AND 1 35 RESIDENTIAL MASTER ELECTRICIAN LICENSE == QUALIFICATIONS. 2 1 1. The board may by rule provide for the issuance of a 2 2 residential electrician license, and may by rule provide for 2 3 the issuance of a residential master electrician license. 2 4 a. A residential electrician license or residential master 2 5 electrician license, if established by the board, shall be 2 6 issued to applicants who meet qualifications determined by the 2 7 board, and shall be valid for the performance of residential 2 8 installations, subject to limitations or restrictions 2 9 established by the board. 2 10 b. A person who, on or after the effective date of this 2 11 Act, holds a special electrician license authorizing 2 12 residential electrical installation, granted pursuant to 2 13 section 103.13, shall be eligible for conversion of that 2 14 special license to either a residential electrician license or 2 15 a residential master electrician license, if established by 2 16 the board, in accordance with requirements and procedures 2 17 established by the board. 2 18 2. A person licensed by the board as a class A journeyman 2 19 electrician or a class B journeyman electrician, or as a class 2 20 A master electrician or a class B master electrician, shall 2 21 not be required to hold a residential electrician or 2 22 residential master electrician license to perform any type of 2 23 residential installation authorized for a person licensed 2 24 pursuant to this section. 2 25 3. The board may reject an application for licensure under 2 26 this section from an applicant who would be subject to 2 27 suspension, revocation, or reprimand pursuant to section 2 28 103.35. 2 29 Sec. 4. Section 103.13, Code 2009, is amended to read as 2 30 follows: 2 31 103.13 SPECIAL ELECTRICIAN LICENSE == QUALIFICATIONS. 2 32 1. The board shall by rule provide for the issuance of 2 33 special electrician licenses authorizing the licensee to 2 34 engage in a limited class or classes of electrical work, which 2 35 class or classes shall be specified on the license. Each 3 1 licensee shall have experience, acceptable to the board, in 3 2 each such limited class of work for which the person is 3 3 licensed.The board may reject an application for licensure 3 4 under this section from an applicant who would be subject to 3 5 suspension, revocation, or reprimand pursuant to section 3 6 103.35.3 7 2. Notwithstanding section 103.8, a person who holds a 3 8 special electrician license is not required to obtain an 3 9 electrical contractor license to engage in the business of 3 10 providing new electrical installations or any other electrical 3 11 services if such installations or services fall within the 3 12 limited class of special electrical work for which the person 3 13 holds the special electrician license. 3 14 3. The board may reject an application for licensure under 3 15 this section from an applicant who would be subject to 3 16 suspension, revocation, or reprimand pursuant to section 3 17 103.35. 3 18 Sec. 5. Section 103.19, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 3 19 2009, is amended to read as follows: 3 20 a. For each year of the three=year license period for 3 21 issuance and renewal: 3 22 (1) Electrical contractor, one hundred twenty=five 3 23 dollars. 3 24 (2) Class A master electrician, class B master 3 25 electrician, residential master electrician, one hundred 3 26 twenty=five dollars. 3 27 (3) Class A journeyman electrician, class B journeyman 3 28 electrician, residential electrician, or special electrician, 3 29 twenty=five dollars. 3 30 Sec. 6. Section 103.19, Code 2009, is amended by adding 3 31 the following new subsection: 3 32 NEW SUBSECTION. 3. If the board determines that all 3 33 licenses shall expire on the same date every three years for 3 34 licenses specified in subsection 1, paragraph "a", the license 3 35 fees shall be prorated by month. The board shall determine an 4 1 individual's license fee based on the number of months that 4 2 the individual's license will be in effect after being issued 4 3 and prior to expiration. 4 4 Sec. 7. Section 103.25, Code 2009, is amended to read as 4 5 follows: 4 6 103.25 REQUEST FOR INSPECTION == FEES. 4 7 1. At or before commencement of any installation required 4 8 to be inspected by the board, the licensee or property owner 4 9 making such installation shall submit to the state fire 4 10 marshal's office a request for inspection. The board shall 4 11 prescribe the methods by which the request may be submitted, 4 12 which may include electronic submission or through a form 4 13 prescribed by the board that can be submitted either through 4 14 the mail or by a fax transmission. The board shall also 4 15 prescribe methods by which inspection fees can by paid, which 4 16 may include electronic methods of payment. If the board or 4 17 the state fire marshal's office becomes aware that a person 4 18 has failed to file a necessary request for inspection, the 4 19 board shall send a written notification by certified mail that 4 20 the request must be filed within fourteen days. Any person 4 21 filing a late request for inspection shall pay a delinquency 4 22 fee in an amount to be determined by the board. A person who 4 23 fails to file a late request within fourteen days shall be 4 24 subject to a civil penalty to be determined by the board by 4 25 rule. 4 26 2. Notwithstanding subsection 1, the board may by rule 4 27 provide for the issuance of a single permit to a licensee to 4 28 request multiple inspections. The permit authorizes the 4 29 licensee to perform new electrical installations specified in 4 30 the permit. The board shall prescribe the methods by which 4 31 the request for multiple inspections may be submitted, which 4 32 may include electronic submission or through a form prescribed 4 33 by the board that can be submitted either through the mail or 4 34 by a fax transmission. The board shall also prescribe methods 4 35 by which inspection fees can be paid, which may include 5 1 electronic methods of payment. The board may perform 5 2 inspections of each new electrical installation or any portion 5 3 of the total number of new electrical installations made under 5 4 each permit. The board shall establish fees for such permits, 5 5 which shall not exceed the total inspection fees that would be 5 6 required if each new electrical installation performed under 5 7 the request for multiple inspections had been performed under 5 8 individual requests for inspections as provided in subsection 5 9 1. 5 10 Sec. 8. Section 103.29, subsection 4, Code 2009, is 5 11 amended to read as follows: 5 12 4. A political subdivision is authorized to determine what 5 13 work may be performed by a class B licensee within the 5 14 jurisdictional limits of the political subdivision, provided, 5 15 however, that a political subdivision shall not prohibit a 5 16 class B licensee from performing any type of work that the 5 17 licensee was authorized to perform within the political 5 18 subdivision under the authority of a license validly issued or 5 19 recognized by the political subdivision on December 31, 2007. 5 20 Sec. 9. Section 103.30, Code 2009, is amended to read as 5 21 follows: 5 22 103.30 INSPECTIONS NOT REQUIRED. 5 23 1. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require 5 24 the work of employees of municipal utilities, railroads, 5 25 electric membership or cooperative associations, 5 26 investor=owned utilities, rural water associations or 5 27 districts, or telecommunications systems to be inspected while 5 28 acting within the scope of their employment. 5 29 2. The board may by rule exempt specified types of new 5 30 electrical installations from the state electrical inspection 5 31 requirements under section 103.23, provided that a political 5 32 subdivision conducting inspections pursuant to section 103.24 5 33 shall not be prohibited from requiring inspection of any new 5 34 electrical installation exempt by rule from state inspection 5 35 pursuant to this subsection. 6 1 Sec. 10. Section 103.33, subsection 3, Code 2009, is 6 2 amended to read as follows: 6 3 3. Upon receipt of notice of appeal from a condemnation or 6 4 disconnection order because the electrical installation is not 6 5 in compliance with accepted standards of construction for 6 6 safety to health and property, except as provided in 6 7 subsection 2, the order appealed from shall be stayed until 6 8 final decision of the board and the board shall notify the 6 9 property owner and the electrical contractor, class A master 6 10 electrician, class B master electrician, fire alarm installer, 6 11orspecial electrician, or if established by the board the 6 12 residential master electrician, making the installation. The 6 13 power supplier shall also be notified in those instances in 6 14 which the order has been served on such supplier. 6 15 EXPLANATION 6 16 This bill modifies specified existing provisions relating 6 17 to electrician licensure and authorizes two new licensure 6 18 classifications. 6 19 The bill provides that the electrical examining board may 6 20 establish by rule a residential electrician classification and 6 21 a residential master electrician licensure classification to 6 22 perform residential installations. A "residential 6 23 installation" is defined in the bill as wiring for or 6 24 installing electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment in a 6 25 residence consisting of no more than four living units within 6 26 the same building. A "residential electrician" refers to a 6 27 person having the necessary qualifications, training, 6 28 experience, and technical knowledge to perform a residential 6 29 installation, and a "residential master electrician" refers to 6 30 a person having the necessary qualifications, training, 6 31 experience, and technical knowledge to properly plan, lay out, 6 32 and supervise the performance of a residential installation. 6 33 The bill authorizes the board to determine licensure 6 34 qualifications, limitations, and restrictions for the two new 6 35 classifications if the classifications are established, 7 1 provides for conversion of an existing special electrician 7 2 license authorizing residential installations to one of the 7 3 new classifications if established, and exempts specified 7 4 existing licensure classifications from requirements 7 5 applicable to the new classifications. The bill contains 7 6 corresponding changes regarding licensing fees and 7 7 notification procedures relating to an appeal from an order of 7 8 condemnation or disconnection by the board. License fee 7 9 amounts are $125 for a residential master electrician, and $25 7 10 for a residential electrician. 7 11 The bill additionally authorizes the board to create an 7 12 inactive master electrician license by rule, which could be 7 13 converted to class A master electrician or class B master 7 14 electrician license by complying with continuing education and 7 15 license fee requirements, and other requirements to be 7 16 established by the board. 7 17 The bill provides that in the event that the board 7 18 determines that all three=year licenses shall expire on the 7 19 same date every three years, license fees shall be prorated by 7 20 month for mid=cycle applicants, and authorizes the board to 7 21 establish by rule a process for the issuance of a single 7 22 permit to a licensee to request multiple inspections. 7 23 The bill additionally provides that a political subdivision 7 24 shall not prohibit a class B licensee from performing any type 7 25 of work that the licensee was authorized to perform within the 7 26 political subdivision under the authority of a license validly 7 27 issued or recognized by the political subdivision on December 7 28 31, 2007. The bill also authorizes the board to exempt 7 29 specified types of electrical installations from inspections 7 30 requirements of Code chapter 103, and provides that a 7 31 political subdivision is not obliged to extend the exemption 7 32 to a local inspection the political subdivision is conducting. 7 33 LSB 1310HV 83 7 34 rn/rj/5