2026 -- H 7963

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LC005372

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- ELECTRICIANS

     Introduced By: Representatives Furtado, Messier, Cruz, Stewart, and Potter

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Labor

     (Dept. of Labor and Training)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 5-6-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-6 entitled "Electricians" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-6-4. Board of examiners — Composition — Appointment of members — Policy-

making role.

     (a)(1) There is created in the division of professional regulation, in the department of labor

and training, a state board of examiners of electricians that at all times consists of seven (7) eight

(8) qualified electors of the state as follows:

     (i) A member of an electrical inspection department of any city or town with, at least, five

(5) years’ experience as an electrical inspector to represent the general public;

     (ii) A qualified electrical contractor to represent employers;

     (iii) A journeyperson electrician to represent labor;

     (iv) The state fire marshal, who is ex officio, or his or her designee;

     (v) A qualified employee of any electric utility company to represent the utility companies;

     (vi) A journeyperson electrician to represent organized labor selected from a list of three

(3) persons submitted to the governor by the American Federation of Labor — Congress of

Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO); and

     (vii) A member of the Rhode Island Sign Contractors Association.; and

     (viii) A Rhode Island licensed telecommunications contractor.

     (2) On or before January 31, the governor shall annually appoint a member or members of

the board to succeed the member or members whose term is at that time expiring who shall serve

for four (4) years or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. Any vacancy that occurs in

the board from any cause shall be filled by the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

     (b) The board has a policy-making role in the preparation and composition of the

examinations to be administered by the division. Subsequent to the administration of the

examinations, the board of examiners shall review the examinations to evaluate their effectiveness.

The board shall supervise the operation of the division in an advisory capacity in promulgating any

policy that is necessary to improve the operation of the division in their area of expertise. The

promulgation of that policy is subject to the approval of the director of the department. Members

of the board are subject to the provisions of chapter 14 of title 36.

     (c) The director of labor and training has the power to revoke or suspend the certificate or

license or impose a fine upon the certificate or license holder, for all certificates and licenses issued

by the division of professional regulation, after a hearing before and upon the recommendation of

the board of examiners of electricians.

     SECTION 2. Section 5-70-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-70 entitled

"Telecommunications" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-70-4. Licensing authority.

     (a) There is established a board of examination and licensing of telecommunications

systems contractors, technicians, and installers that shall be composed of seven (7) members. Five

(5) members of the board shall be telecommunications systems professionals who shall be qualified

for licensing under the provisions of this chapter. One of these members shall also hold, at the time

of appointment, an electrical contractor license, certificate A, issued by this state. Each of the four

(4) categories shall be represented by a minimum of one licensed professional within that category.

Each telecommunications professional member of the board shall be actively engaged in either/or

the design, installation, alteration, service, and testing of telecommunications systems, as defined

by this chapter, for ten (10) consecutive years immediately prior to appointment. One member of

the board shall be, at the time of appointment, an electrical inspector serving a city or town in this

state. One member of the board shall be, at the time of appointment, a designated representative of

the state building code commission who is knowledgeable in codes and regulations involving

telecommunications. Each member of the board shall be a qualified elector of the state for three (3)

consecutive years prior to appointment.

     (b) Each member of the board shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and

consent of the senate to serve for a term of five (5) years and until his or her successor is appointed

and qualified. Not more than one member of the board shall be directly employed with or by any

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single business, firm, or corporation.

     (c) Initial appointments to the board shall be made for one, two (2), three (3), four (4), five

(5), six (6), and seven (7) years in order to provide for the expiration of one position each year.

     (d) Vacancies occurring in the membership of the board shall be filled by the governor with

the advice and consent of the senate for the unexpired portion of the term.

     (e) Each member of the board shall take and subscribe to the oath of office required of state

officials generally.

     The licensing authority charged with the examination and licensing of telecommunications

contractors, technicians, and installers shall be the state board of examiners of electricians as

established and described in § 5-6-4.

     (b) All references to the licensing authority or “board” charged with the examination and

licensing of telecommunications contractors, technicians, and installers shall be deemed to be in

reference to the state board of examiners of electricians as established and described in § 5-6-4.

     (c) All powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities previously assigned to the board of

examination and licensing of telecommunications systems contractors, technicians, and installers

are hereby transferred to the state board of examiners of electricians, and all regulatory authority

under this chapter shall be exercised by the director of the department of labor and training upon

the recommendation of the board.

     SECTION 3. 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

***

     This act would transfer authority over the examination and licensing of

telecommunications professionals to the state board of examiners of electricians and would

amend the composition of that body to require the inclusion of a telecommunications

professional.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005372

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