2021 -- S 0686

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- ELECTRICIANS

     Introduced By: Senator Walter S. Felag

     Date Introduced: March 18, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 5-6-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-6 entitled "Electricians" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-6-24. Apprentices -- Registration.

     (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 burnerperson working with and under the direct personal supervision

of a licensed burnerperson; (2) One properly registered apprentice fire alarm installer working with

and under the direct personal supervision of a licensed fire alarm installer; (3) Two (2) properly

registered apprentice electrical sign installers working with and under the direct personal

supervision of a licensed electrical sign installer; (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 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, however, apprentices may receive credit for

one hundred forty-four (144) hours of classroom training gained in a vocational school authorized

by the board of education, or two hundred eighty-eight (288) hours of classroom training gained

upon the successful completion of a course of study in a recognized trade school and approved by

the Rhode Island department of labor and training apprenticeship council. 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) four (4) years and employed as an indentured apprentice by a

duly licensed electrician master in this state for a period of two (2) four (4) years; or a showing that

the applicant possesses a certificate of license issued under the laws of another state, based on

training equal to that required by the state of Rhode Island. 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.

     (c) Indentured apprentice maintenance electricians are required to work a minimum of six

thousand (6,000) hours over a period of time of not less than three (3) 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 "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 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

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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 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.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- ELECTRICIANS

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     This act would allow the test applicant to earn the required credits towards the qualification

for the journeyperson "B" electrical examination by completing two hundred eighty-eight (288)

hours of classroom training in a recognized trade school. This act would also increase the required

period of indentured apprenticeship with the department of labor and training and a licensed

electrician master, from two (2) to four (4) years.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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