It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 5-6 of the General Laws entitled "Electricians" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

{ADD 5-6-20.1. Mandatory continuing education. -- ADD} {ADD (a) On or before January 1, 1996, the board of examiners of electricians shall, by regulation, establish a mandatory continuing education program for all persons licensed under this chapter. Such program shall be designed to ensure current competency in each licensee's area of certification and/or licensing.

(b) On and after January 1, 1997, no license under this chapter shall be renewed unless the licensee demonstrates, in a manner prescribed by the board of examiners of electricians, that he or she has successfully completed at least fifteen (15) clock hours of continuing education pursuant to and in compliance with the mandatory continuing education program established under this section. , 1995 857

(c) The course of study to be conducted over the fifteen (15) hour clock period shall be approved by the Rhode Island building commissioner's office. Course providers may include but not be limited to vocational schools, association seminars, labor training programs, employee training programs and private instructors or inspectors and shall also be approved by the building commissioner's office. Instructors or inspectors shall be Rhode Island licensed electrical contractors employed by or about to be employed by the providers and be board approved. Instructors or inspectors shall attend a preparation seminar held by the Rhode Island building commissioner's office to be approved. Said course shall be paid for by individuals attending the course.

(d) The mandatory continuing education requirement shall be limited to class A and class B electricians.

(e) Out of state residents that hold a Rhode Island electrical license shall be allowed to submit a fifteen (15) hour continuing education credit from their state if it meets the Rhode Island requirements and their state recognizes the Rhode Island continuing education certificates;

(f) Upon completion of the fifteen (15) clock hour course, an approved uniform certificate of completion will be issued. Licensees shall be required to submit this verification of completion for license renewal. The continuing education credits shall be included in the currently adopted edition of the national electrical code and the BOCA codes;

(g) Only those approved instructors actually teaching a fifteen (15) clock hour course shall be exempt from attending the fifteen (15) hour course. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.