Bill Text - SB135 (2017)

Relative to the regulation of electricians.


Revision: Jan. 25, 2017, 9:40 a.m.

SB 135-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2017 SESSION

17-0777

10/05

 

SENATE BILL 135-FN

 

AN ACT relative to the regulation of electricians.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Rep. Backus, Hills. 19

 

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill allows for the regulation of electrical installations done without compensation, authorizes voluntary inspection fees and identification of inspectors, and updates the National Electrical Code in the state building code.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0777

10/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT relative to the regulation of electricians.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Electricians; Regulation.  Amend RSA 319-C:1 to read as follows:

319-C:1  Electricians.  No electrical installation shall be made [for compensation], unless made by an electrician or other person licensed by the electricians' board, except as provided in this chapter.

2  New Paragraph; Electricians; Inspectors; Identification.  Amend RSA 319-C:5 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

V.  A city or town building official or code enforcement officer designated by the administrative authority of the city or town, shall have the authority to check the license or identification issued under this chapter to an inspector.

3  Electricians; Fees for Voluntary Inspections.  Amend RSA 319-C:6-b to read as follows:

319-C:6-b Fees.  The board shall establish application fees for examination of applicants, fees for licensure, for renewal, and for late renewal of licenses to practice under this chapter, [and] for transcribing and transferring records, for voluntary inspections done by an inspector under RSA 319-C:5, and other services.  The fee for examination shall not include fees charged by and paid to an examination entity approved by the board.  The fees established by the board shall be sufficient to produce estimated revenues equal to 125 percent of the direct operating expenses of the board budgeted for the biennium in which they will apply.  Fees collected shall be deposited in the general fund as unrestricted revenue.

4  State Building Code; National Electrical Code.  Amend RSA 155-A:1, IV to read as follows:

IV.  "New Hampshire building code'' or "state building code'' means the adoption by reference of the International Building Code 2009, the International Existing Building Code 2009, the International Plumbing Code 2009, the International Mechanical Code 2009, the International Energy Conservation Code 2009, and the International Residential Code 2009, as published by the International Code Council, and the National Electrical Code [2014] 2017, as amended by the state building code review board and ratified by the legislature in accordance with RSA 155-A:10.  The provisions of any other national code or model code referred to within a code listed in this definition shall not be included in the state building code unless specifically included in the codes listed in this definition.

5  Effective Date.  

I.  Section 4 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2018.

II.  The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBAO

17-0777

1/20/17

 

SB 135-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to the regulation of electricians.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

   Expenditures

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [    ] Other

 

 

 

 

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill would require electrical installations, whether for compensation or not, to be made by electricians or other persons licensed by the Electrician’s Board.  It allows for the establishment of fees for voluntary inspections done by a Board appointed inspector and updates a reference to the National Electrical Code within the State Building Code.  City or town building officials or code enforcement officers shall have the authority to check the license or identification of inspectors.  The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) estimates the number of voluntary inspections requested would be minimal, but there would be costs associated with fueling State-owned vehicles traveling to the locations.  The fee to be determined by the Board of Electricians is unknown but would increase OPLC unrestricted revenue.  The New Hampshire Municipal Association indicates it is unlikely to affect municipal revenues or expenditures.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Office of Professional Licensure and Certification and New Hampshire Municipal Association