SKILLED TRADES PHOTO IDENTIFICATION AND ELECTRICIAN SCOPE OF PRACTICE

Senate Bill 297

Sponsor:  Sen. Kenneth Horn

House Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Senate Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Complete to 10-31-17

SUMMARY:

Briefly, the bill would amend the Skilled Trades Regulation Act to do the following:

·         Require an individual licensed under the act to provide proof of licensing and a government-issued photo ID upon request by a building official, inspector, or employee of an enforcing agency.

·         Clarify that only a licensed electrician could install electrical wiring, whether or not the wiring was energized at the time.

·         Require, for a master electrician’s license, that the individual meet the supervised work experience requirement and have a journeyman’s license for at least two years.

The Skilled Trades Regulation Act provides the licensing framework for several of the building professions that previously were governed under separate acts, such as electricians, mechanical contractors, boiler operators and stationary engineers, and plumbers and plumbing contractors. 

Senate Bill 297 would amend Section 201 of Article 2, entitled “Issuance of Licenses,” to require an individual who is licensed under the act to present proof of licensure and a government-issued photo identification at the request of a building official, inspector, or employee of an enforcing agency who is acting in his or her official capacity.  “Building official” would mean that term as defined in Section 1001 of the act, and “inspector” would mean that term as defined in Section 1003.

The bill would also amend provisions within Article 7, entitled “Electricians and Electrical Contractors.”  The definition of “electrical wiring” would be revised to mean all wiring, generating equipment, fixtures, appliances, devices, and appurtenances in connection with the generation, distribution, and utilization of electrical energy, in or on a building, residence, structure, or properties, regardless of whether or not the electrical wiring was energized at the time of installation (italicized text denotes new language).  The bill would also specify that only an individual licensed under Article 7 could install electrical wiring, except for specific kinds of work enumerated in Section 737 that can be performed without a license.  Further, the bill would delete duplicative language.

In addition, the bill would revise the requirements for a master electrician’s license.  Currently, an individual must be at least 22 years of age, meet requirements described in Article 2, and either have 12,000 hours of experience over 6 or more years that is supervised by a master electrician or have held an electrical journeyman’s license for at least 2 years.  The bill would require an individual to meet both of those latter requirements instead of just one.

The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.

MCL 339.5201 et al.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Senate Bill 297 would not have fiscal impacts on any units of state or local government. 

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Marcus Coffin

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.