It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 5-70-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-70 entitled "Telecommunications" is hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 5-70-13. Grandfathering -- Licensing of telecommunications systems contractors (TSC), telecommunications systems technicians (TST), and telecommunications systems limited installers (TSLI) without examination. -- ADD} (a) After enactment of this chapter and at any time prior to the expiration of {DEL six (6) DEL} {ADD ten (10) ADD} months following enactment of this chapter, the authority shall, without examination, upon payment of the fees herein required issue through the department of labor, division of professional regulation a license "TSC", "TST", or "TSLI" to any applicant who shall present satisfactory evidence that he or she has the qualifications for the type and category/ies of license applied for, and who has a minimum of three (3) years of verified continual experience installing, altering, servicing, and testing telecommunications systems covered by such license, as applicable, in this state within the five (5) years immediately preceding enactment of this chapter. Applicant for license TSC under this provision must further provide sworn evidence of satisfactory completion of a minimum of three (3) projects/systems for each category for which application is made.

(b) Any person qualified to obtain a license TST or TSLI under this section who is prevented from making application herefore by reason of service in the armed forces of the United States during the {DEL six (6) DEL} {ADD ten (10) ADD} month period following enactment of this chapter shall have three (3) months after discharge or release from active duty to make such application.

(c) On and after such date as the public utility commission no longer regulates a telephone company, a corporate affiliate of such telephone company, or a service provided by such company or corporate affiliate, the licensing authority shall issue through the department of labor, division of professional regulation an appropriate license as provided in this chapter, to any person who is an employee of such telephone company or such corporate affiliate on such date who, as a result of such deregulation, becomes subject to the provisions of this chapter and who applies for any such license in accordance with the provisions of this chapter not later than {DEL six (6) DEL} {ADD ten (10) ADD} months after such date, provided any such employee shall not be required to pass any examination in order to qualify for any such license.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.