HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1880

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

H.D. 3

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The construction and maintenance of both overhead and underground high voltage power lines with distribution and transmission voltages require the specialized skills of individuals such as journeymen linemen, foremen, and general foreman who are all trained certified journeyman lineman.  To address a need for individuals qualified to work with high voltage power lines, the legislature enacted Act 65, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013.  Act 65 provided a limited exemption from electrician licensing requirements for individuals employed by electrical contractors who were retained by a public utility to perform high voltage work and who were deemed qualified by the public utility.  Act 65 is scheduled to be repealed on June 30, 2018.  As Hawaii continues to experience a shortage of electricians, splicers, and linemen in the State who are experienced and qualified to work with high voltage, it is necessary to extend the repeal date of Act 65.

     The purpose of this Act is to continue to provide a limited exemption from electrician licensing requirements for individuals employed by electrical contractors who were retained by a public utility to perform high voltage work and who were deemed qualified by the public utility by extending the repeal date of Act 65, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, for an additional five years.

     SECTION 2.  Act 65, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, is amended by amending section 4 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that on June 30, [2018,] 2023, this Act shall be repealed and section 448E-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day before the effective date of this Act."

     SECTION 3.  The department of labor and industrial relations, in conjunction with the department of business, economic development, and tourism, shall submit reports to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 regular sessions.  The reports shall include but not be limited to the following:

     (1)  Programs in the State that offer vocational training for high voltage electrical work;

     (2)  The number of individuals receiving vocational training for high voltage electrical work;

     (3)  The number of licensed electricians in the State qualified to perform high voltage electrical work; and

     (4)  Existing partnerships promoting the growth of the number of persons in the State qualified to perform high voltage electrical work.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 3000.


 


 

Report Title:

Electrical Contractors; Exemption; Licensing

 

Description:

Extends the sunset date of the limited exemption from licensing requirements for electrical contractors who are retained by a public utility within the State to perform high voltage (600 volts or higher) electrical work and are deemed qualified by the public utility.  Requires reports to the Legislature on workforce development activities for qualified high voltage electrical contractors.  Takes effect 1/1/3000.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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