Chapter 06-208

Chapter 208

2006 -- H 7924 SUBSTITUTE B AS AMENDED

Enacted 0703/06

A N A C T

RELATING TO ELECTRICIANS

Introduced By: Representatives Faria, Melo, Laroche, and Almeida

Date Introduced: March 22, 2006

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

"SECTION 1. Sections 5-6-1, 5-6-2, 5-6-7, 5-6-8, 5-6-11, 5-6-13, 5-6-16, 5-6-19, 5-6-24

and 5-6-29 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-6 entitled "Electricians" are hereby amended to read

as follows:

5-6-1. Definitions. -- For purposes of this chapter:

(a) "Electrical contractor" means a corporation, firm or person, who, by the employment

of journeypersons, performs the work of installing wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures, and other

appliances for carrying or using electricity for light, heat or power purposes exclusive of low

voltage wiring for heating or refrigeration equipment for service, maintenance, and installation.

(b) "Electrical sign contractor" means a corporation, firm, or person who, by the

employment of electrical sign installers, performs the work of installing, altering, and servicing

electrical signs.

servicing electrical signs.

(d) "Fire alarm contractor" means a corporation, firm, or person who, by the employment

of fire alarm installers, performs the work of installing, altering and servicing and testing of fire

alarm systems in accordance with the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code, chapters 28.1 -- 28.39 of

title 23.

(e) "Fire alarm installation" means the installation or alteration of a fire alarm system

according to the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code.

(f) "Fire alarm installer" means a person engaged in installing, altering, or servicing and

testing of a fire alarm system used for the purpose of causing an alarm to be sounded in case of

fire.

(g) "Journeyperson electrician" means a person doing any work of installing wires,

conduits, apparatus, fixtures, and other appliances.

(h) "Oil burner contractor" means a corporation, firm, or person, who by the employment

of oil burnerpersons performs the work of installing and servicing oil and domestic automatic

coal burning heating equipment, including central heating plants, and domestic type range

burners, and including all accessory equipment and control systems, excluding thermostatic,

mechanical, and low voltage wiring on heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment.

(i) "Oil burnerperson" means a person doing any work or installing or servicing oil

burners and other equipment installed and serviced by an oil burner contractor.

(j) "Lightning protection contractor" means a corporation, firm or person, who by

employment of lightning protection installers, performs the work of installing, altering,

maintaining, lightning protection systems. The “systems” are defined and should be installed in

accordance with NFPA 780 current edition, and all referenced NFPA documents.

(k) "Lightning protection installer" means a person engaged in the installation, service or

maintenance of a lightning protection system according to NFPA 780 current edition.

5-6-2. Work for which license required. -- (a) (1) No person, firm, or corporation shall

enter into, engage in, solicit, advertise, bid for, or work at the business of installing wires,

conduits, apparatus, fixtures, electrical signs, lightning protection equipment as defined in section

5-6-1, and other appliances for carrying or using or generating electricity for light, heat, fire

alarms, as defined in chapter 28.25 of title 23, entitled "fire alarm systems", or power purposes,

exclusive of low voltage wiring for heating/refrigeration equipment, or work at the business of

removing and reattaching existing electrical meters, unless that person, firm, or corporation shall

have received a license and a certificate for the business, issued by the state board of examiners of

electricians of the division of professional regulation of the department of labor and training in

accordance with the provisions set forth in this chapter.

(2) That person shall carry this license on his or her person at all times while so engaged,

and shall affix his or her contractor's license number to any advertisement and/or contract he or

she executes and/or to any bid he or she files with any consumer for his or her professional

services and to any applicable permit required for the performance of those services.

(b) Any person, firm or corporation which is required to apply for a permit from a local

building official for any work required to be performed by a person licensed under the provisions

of this chapter shall cause the work to be performed by a person licensed under the provisions of

this chapter; provided, that the provisions of this section, except the provision regarding removing

and reattaching existing electrical meters, shall not apply to owner-occupied single family homes.

5-6-7. Forms of licenses. -- ~~Eleven (11)~~ Thirteen (13) forms of licenses shall be issued:

(1) The first, subsequently referred to as Certificate A, is known as an "electrical

contractor's license";

(2) The second, subsequently referred to as Certificate B, is known as a "journeyperson

electrician's license";

(3) The third, subsequently referred to as Certificate C, is known as a "limited premises

license";

(4) The fourth, subsequently referred to as Certificate E, is known as an "oil burner

contractor's license";

(5) The fifth, subsequently referred to as Certificate F, is known as an "oil burnerperson's

license";

(6) The sixth, subsequently referred to as Certificate AF, is known as a "fire alarm

contractor's license";

(7) The seventh, subsequently referred to as Certificate BF, is known as a "fire alarm

installer's license";

(8) The eighth, subsequently referred to as Certificate SCF, is known as "an electrical

sign contractor's license";

(9) The ninth, subsequently referred to as Certificate CF, is known as "an electrical sign

installer's license";

(10) The tenth, subsequently referred to as Certificate D, is known as a "limited

maintenance license"; ~~and~~

(11) The eleventh, subsequently referred to as Certificate M shall be known as a "limited

maintenance journeyperson license."; and

(12) The twelfth, subsequently referred to as Certificate LPC shall be known as a

"lightning protection contractor's license"; and

(13) The thirteenth, subsequently referred to as Certificate LPI shall be known as a

"lightning protection installer's license."

5-6-8. Contractor's certificates/licenses. -- (a) Electrical contractor's license. -

Certificate A shall be issued to any person, firm or corporation, qualified under this chapter,

engaging in, or about to engage in, the business of installing electrical wires, conduits, apparatus,

fixtures, fire alarm and safety communication systems and other electrical appliances, excluding

low voltage wiring for heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment. The certificate shall

specify the name of the person, firm, or corporation applying and the name of the person, who in

the case of a firm is one of its members, and in the case of a corporation, one of its officers,

passing the examination, by which he or she or it is authorized to enter upon or engage in

business as prescribed in the certificate. The holding of a Certificate A does not entitle the holder

individually to engage in or perform the actual work of installing electric wires, conduits, and

appliances as previously described in this chapter, but entitles him or her to conduct business as

an electrical contractor.

(b) Oil burner contractor's license. - A Certificate E shall be issued to any person, firm,

or corporation qualified under this chapter, and engaged in, or about to engage in, the business of

an oil burner contractor, as defined in section 5-6-1. The certificate shall specify the name of the

person, firm, or corporation applying and the name of the person who, in the case of a firm is one

of its members, and in the case of a corporation one of its officers, passing the examination, by

which he or she or it is authorized to enter upon or engage in business as prescribed in the

certificate. The holding of a Certificate E does not entitle the holder individually to engage in or

perform any work on, or in connection with electric wires, conduits, and appliances as previously

described in this chapter, but entitles the holder to contract to do that work to the extent permitted

in this chapter, through the employment of oil burnerpersons holding a Certificate F. An oil

burner contractor who is the holder of a Certificate A is not required to obtain a Certificate E.

or corporation qualified under this chapter, and engaged in or about to engage in the business of a

fire alarm contractor, as defined in section 5-6-1. The certificate shall specify the name of the

person, firm, or corporation applying and the person who, in the case of a firm is one of its

members, and in the case of a corporation one of its officers, passing the examination, by which

he or she or it is authorized to enter upon or engage in business as prescribed in the certificate.

The holding of a Certificate AF does not entitle the holder individually to engage in or perform

and work on, or in connection with, electric wires, fire alarm wires, conduits, and appliances as

previously described in this chapter, but entitles the holder to contract to do that work to the

extent permitted in this chapter through the employment of fire alarm installers holding a

Certificate BF. A contractor who is the holder of a Certificate A is not required to obtain a

Certificate BF.

(d) Electrical sign contractor's license. - A Certificate SCF shall be issued to any person,

firm, or corporation qualified under this chapter, and engaged in or about to engage in the

business of electrical sign installations, as defined in section 5-6-1.

(e) Lightning protection contractor. A Certificate LPC shall be issued to any person, firm

or corporation qualified under this chapter and engaged in or about to engage in the business of

lightning protection contractor, as defined in section 5-6-1. The Certificate LPC shall specify the

name of the person, firm or corporation applying and the person who in the case of a firm, is one

of its members, and in the case of a corporation, one of its officers, passing the examination by,

which he or she or it is authorized to enter upon or engage in business as prescribed in the

certificate. The holding of a Certificate LPC does not entitle the holder individually to engage in

or perform and work on, or in connection with the installation of lightning protection equipment

as defined in section 5-6-1, unless that individual also holds a Certificate LPI, but entitles the

holder to contract to do that work to the extent permitted in this chapter through the employment

of lightning protection installers holding a Certificate LPI.

5-6-11. ~~Certificate/license of oil burnerperson, fire alarm installer, and electrical~~

~~sign installers. --~~ Certificate/license of oil burnerperson, fire alarm installer, electrical sign

installers, and lightning protection installer. -- (a) Oil burnerperson's license. - A Certificate F

shall be granted to any person who has passed an examination before the division of professional

regulation. The certificate shall specify the name of the person authorized to work on, and repair

electric wiring and equipment located in or on oil burners burning fuel oil no heavier than No. 2,

and other equipment serviced by oil burner contractors, to the extent only as is necessary to

service, maintain and repair those oil burners and equipment. The license shall limit the holder of

a Certificate F to do work on electric wiring or equipment located between the meter and those oil

burners and equipment, but in no event to do any electrical work on oil burners burning No. 3, 4,

5, or 6 fuel oil.

(b) Fire alarm installer's license. - A Certificate BF shall be granted to any person who

has passed an examination before the division of professional regulation. The certificate shall

specify the name of the person authorized to work on, install, maintain, and test fire alarm

systems.

who has passed an examination before the division of professional regulations. The certificate

shall specify the name of the person authorized to install, maintain, work on, and repair electrical

signs.

(d) Lightning protection installer's license. A Certificate LPI shall be granted to any

person who has passed an examination before the division of professional regulations. The

certificate shall specify the name of the person authorized to install, maintain, work on, and repair

lightning protection systems as defined in section 5-6-1.

5-6-13. Journeyperson and burnerperson restricted to work as employee of licensee.

-- (a) Except as provided in section 5-6-14, a holder of a Certificate B is not entitled to do any

work of installing wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures, or other appliances for carrying or using

electricity for light, heat, or power purposes except as an employee of a holder of a Certificate A,

of a Certificate C, or a Certificate D, or unless the holder of a Certificate B is also registered as an

electrical contractor and holds a certificate.

(b) A holder of a Certificate F is not entitled to do any work on electric wiring, conduits,

apparatus, fixtures, or other appliances for carrying or using electricity for light, heat, or power

purposes, except as an employee of a holder of a Certificate E or A unless the holder of a

Certificate F is also registered as an oil burner contractor and holds a Certificate E.

purposes only, and life safety equipment only unless the holder of a Certificate AF also holds a

Certificate BF.

(d) A holder of a Certificate SCF is limited to electrical sign contracting only. A

Certificate CF is required for the actual installation of the electrical sign.

(e) A holder of a Certificate LPC is limited to lightning protection contracting only. A

Certificate LPI is required for the actual installation of the lightning protection system.

5-6-16. License fees. -- A fee of one hundred twenty dollars ($120) shall be paid by each

applicant for an electrical contractor's license Class A; thirty-six dollars ($36.00) for a

journeyperson electrician's license Class B; one hundred twenty dollars ($120) for a limited

premises license Class C; one hundred twenty dollars ($120) for an oil burner contractor's license

Class E; thirty-six dollars ($36.00) for an oil burnerperson's license Class F; one hundred twenty

dollars ($120) for a fire alarm contractor's license Class AF; thirty-six dollars ($36.00) for a fire

alarm installer's license Class BF; one hundred twenty dollars ($120) for an electrical sign

contractor's license SCF; thirty-six dollars ($36.00) for a sign installer's license Class CF; and one

hundred twenty dollars ($120) for a limited maintenance license Class D.

A fee of one hundred twenty dollars ($120) shall be paid by each applicant for a lightning

protection contractor's license Class LPC.

A fee of thirty-six dollars ($36.00) shall be paid by each applicant for a lightning

protection installer's license LPI.

5-6-19. Display of licenses. -- (a) Holders of Licenses B, F, BF, CF, A, E, AF, ~~and~~ SCF,

LPC, and LPI shall be furnished by the division of professional regulation with evidence of

having been licensed in card form or otherwise, which shall be carried on the person of the

licensee and exhibited on request.

(b) Any sign, listing, or advertisement of any type of a holder of those licenses shall

contain the holder's name, address, and license number; provided, only those persons, firms, or

corporations who are holders of a Class A license shall be permitted to advertise for the

employment of journeyperson or electrical apprentices.

5-6-24. Apprentices -- Registration fee. -- (a) This chapter does not forbid the

employment of one properly limited registered apprentice electrician working with and under the

direct personal supervision of a licensed journeyperson electrician. Additionally, this chapter does

not forbid the employment of: (1) one properly registered apprentice oil burnerperson working

with and under the direct personal supervision of a licensed oil burnerperson; (2) one properly

registered apprentice fire alarm installer working with and under the direct personal supervision

of a licensed fire alarm installer; or (3) two (2) properly registered apprentice electrical sign

installer working with and under the direct personal supervision of a licensed electrical sign

installer; or (4) one properly registered apprentice maintenance electrician working with and

under the direct personal supervision of a valid Class C or Class D license holder; or (5) one

properly registered apprentice lightning protection installer working with and under the direct

personal supervision of a licensed lightning protection installer (LPI). Apprentices are required to

dollars ($20.00) per year. Apprentices are required to register with the division of professional

regulation immediately upon employment with a properly licensed electrical contractor or

lightning protection contractor.

(b) Indentured apprentice electricians are required to work a minimum of eight thousand

(8,000) hours over a period of time of not less than four (4) years and successfully complete one

hundred forty-four (144) hours of related instruction per year in an indentured apprenticeship

program approved by the Rhode Island department of labor and training, to qualify for the

journeyperson "B" electrician examination. Provided, that the test applicant has possessed for at

least four (4) years prior to the filing of the application a certificate of registration in full force

and effect from the department of labor and training of Rhode Island specifying the person as an

indentured apprentice, and the application of an applicant is accompanied by an affidavit or

affidavits of his or her employer or former employers or other reasonably satisfactory evidence

showing that the applicant has been actually engaged in electrical work as an apprentice in Rhode

Island during those four (4) years, or the application is accompanied by an affidavit or other

reasonably satisfactory evidence showing that the applicant has successfully completed a course

of study in a recognized college or university and has pursued a course of electrical technology

for at least two (2) academic years or is the recipient of an associate degree in electrical

technology, and has thereafter been indentured by the department of labor and training as an

apprentice for at least two (2) years and employed as an indentured apprentice by a duly licensed

electrician master in this state for a period of two (2) years, or a showing that the applicant

possesses a certificate of license issued under the laws of another state. Limited registered

apprentice electricians shall be required to work a minimum of four thousand (4,000) hours over a

period of time of not less than two (2) years.

six thousand (6,000) hours over a period of time of not less than three (3) years and successfully

complete a one hundred forty-four (144) hours of related instruction per year in an indentured

apprenticeship program approved by the Rhode Island department of labor and training, to qualify

for the journeyperson "M" electrician examination. Provided, however, that the test applicant has

possessed for at least three (3) years prior to the filing of the application a certificate of

registration in full force and effect from the department of labor and training of Rhode Island

specifying the person as an indentured apprentice, and the application of an applicant is

accompanied by an affidavit or affidavits of his or her employer or former employers or other

reasonably satisfactory evidence showing that the applicant has been actually engaged in

electrical work as an apprentice in Rhode Island during those three (3) years. Class M

journeyperson electricians may qualify to take the journeyperson "B" electrician examination

upon registering as a fourth year apprentice and becoming employed by a properly licensed Class

A electrical contractor for that period of time.

(d) Apprentice lightning protection installers are required to work a minimum of four

thousand (4,000) hours over a period of time of not less than two (2) years to qualify for the

lightning protection installer (LPI) examination. Provided, that the test applicant has possessed

for at least two (2) years prior to the filing of the application a certificate of registration in full

force and effect from the department of labor and training of Rhode Island specifying the person

as an apprentice lightning protection installer, and the application of an applicant is accompanied

by an affidavit or affidavits of his or her employer or former employers or other reasonably

satisfactory evidence showing that the applicant has been actually engaged in lightning protection

work as an apprentice during those two (2) years.

5-6-29. Persons and work exempt. -- (a) The provisions of this chapter do not apply to:

(1) The electrical work and equipment for the generation and primary distribution of

electric current, or the secondary distribution system up to and including the meters, where that

work and equipment is an integral part of the system owned and operated by an electric light and

power company in rendering its authorized service; or to the electrical work and electrical

equipment employed in connection with the manufacture and distribution of gas, where that work

and equipment is an integral part of the system owned and operated by a gas company in

rendering its authorized service.

(2) The electrical work and equipment employed in connection with the operation of

signals, or the transmission of intelligence, where that work and equipment is an integral part of

the communication system owned and operated by a municipality or by a telegraph or telephone

company, or any community antenna television system (CATV) subject to regulation under title

39 by the division of public utilities or any subcontractor of a CATV system, including the work

of a telephone company of installing, repairing or replacing all wiring on the load side of the last

fused distribution point, and all of the emergency wiring installed, replaced, or repaired by a

telephone company; or any community antenna television system (CATV) subject to regulation

under title 39 by the division of public utilities or any subcontractor of such CATV system.

(3) The electrical work and equipment in mines, ships, railway rolling stock, or

automotive equipment, or devices subject to the provisions of chapter 33 of title 23.

(4) Any work involved in the manufacture, test, or repair of electrical equipment in the

manufacturer's plant, but not including any electrical wiring other than that required for testing

purposes.

(b) This chapter does not apply to installations in suitable laboratories of exposed

electrical wiring for experimental purposes only.

two-family dwelling on the immediate premises of the dwelling by the owner of the dwelling if

living on, or about to live on, the premises.

(d) This chapter does not apply to any person who now holds or subsequently may hold a

hoisting engineer's license issued by the state and who excavates for and installs underground

conduits; provided, that hoisting engineers shall be prohibited from installing electrical wiring

and/or making the service connection of any such electrical wires and/or cables. A city, town or

such other authorized official shall issue a building permit to a licensed hoisting engineer for

excavation and installation of such underground conduits upon submission of a completed

application to the appropriate building official; provided, that a building permit will not be

required if the work is performed for an electric distribution company. ~~nor does it apply to any~~

~~person who now holds or may subsequently hold a license to operate a moving picture machine~~

~~regardless of whether or not that license was granted by any town or city council in the state or by~~

~~any person, board, or agency endowed with authority to issue that license.~~

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2007.

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LC02749/SUB B

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