Bill Text: NJ A2182 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Establishes an apprenticeship requirement to qualify for an electrical contractor's license.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2)
Status: (Passed) 2018-12-17 - Approved P.L.2018, c.155. [A2182 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A2182-Chaptered.html
An Act concerning electrical contractors and amending P.L.1962, c.162 and P.L.2001, c.21.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 9 of P.L.1962, c.162 (C.45:5A-9) is amended to read as follows:
9. (a) On or after July 1, 1963, no person shall advertise, enter into, engage in or work in business as an electrical contractor, unless such person has secured a business permit and such person or an officer, partner or employee who is or will be actively engaged in the business for which a business permit is sought has obtained a license from the board in accordance with the provisions of this act, and such licensee shall assume full responsibility for inspection and supervision of all electrical work to be performed by the permittee in compliance with recognized safety standards. A licensee shall not be entitled to qualify more than one person for a business permit.
Any single act or transaction shall constitute engaging in the business of electrical contracting within the meaning of this chapter.
(b) [Except as otherwise provided in section 10, no] No person shall be granted an electrical contractor's license unless he shall first establish his qualifications therefor and shall take and pass the examination for electrical contractors. An applicant for such examination shall have been employed or engaged in the business of electrical construction and installation [or have equivalent practical experience] for a period of not less than five years preceding the time of such application [, or shall otherwise establish to the satisfaction of the board that the applicant has the necessary educational background and experience to qualify to take the examination for a license]. During the five-year period the applicant shall spend one year as a journeyman electrician and four years in an electrical apprenticeship program accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor, with proof of passage and successful completion of this program while actively engaged or employed as an electrical apprentice. For a period of four years following the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), each year of employment in the electrical trade or enrollment in a formal electrical apprenticeship program completed prior to the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall be accepted by the board in lieu of one year's enrollment in an electrical apprenticeship program accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor, up to a maximum total credit of four years.
The examination shall be so designed as to establish the competence and qualification of the applicant to perform and supervise the various phases of electrical contracting work. Any applicant who shall fail to pass such examination shall not be eligible to retake an examination until six months from the date of such failure.
(c) An applicant for an examination for a license shall apply to the board for permission to take such examination upon forms provided by the board and shall provide the board with such information as shall be necessary to establish his qualifications to take the examination. The applicant for an initial examination shall pay a fee to the board of $25.00. An applicant for re-examination shall pay a fee to the board of $15.00. Such fees shall not be refundable.
(cf: P.L.1990, c.108, s.1)
2. Section 4 of P.L.2001, c.21 (C.45:5A-11.2) is amended to read as follows:
4. a. On and after the effective date of P.L.2001, c.21 (C.45:5A-11.1 et al.), any person desiring to register as a qualified journeyman electrician shall make application to the board to be so registered and shall pay all the fees required in connection therewith, which fees shall be established, prescribed or changed by the board to the extent necessary to defray all proper expenses incurred by the board to administer the provisions of [this act] P.L.2001, c.21 (C.45:5A-11.1 et al.). Fees shall not be fixed at a level, however, that will raise amounts in excess of the amount estimated to be so required.
b. On and after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), any person desiring to register as an apprentice electrician enrolled in an electrical contractor's apprenticeship program accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor shall make an application to the board to be so registered and shall pay all the fees required in connection therewith, which fees shall be established, prescribed or changed by the board to the extent necessary to defray all proper expenses incurred by the board to administer the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). Fees shall not be fixed at a level, however, that will raise amounts in excess of the amount estimated to be so required.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.21, s.4)
3. Section 5 of P.L.2001, c.21 (C.45:5A-11.3) is amended to read as follows:
5. The board shall keep a register of all applications by individuals registering as qualified journeymen electricians and apprentice electricians enrolled in an electrical contractor's apprenticeship program accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor, which register shall include the following information: name, address, telephone number, the age of the applicant; the date of the application; the place of business of the applicant; whether the applicant was accepted or rejected, and in the case of a rejection, the reasons for that action; the registration number, if issued; the date of action of the board; and any other information the board deems necessary.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.21, s.5)
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill revises the qualifications for an electrical contractor's license. In order to qualify, an individual must have been employed or engaged in the business of electrical construction and installation for a period of five years. Four of those five years must be spent in an electrical apprenticeship program accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor while actually employed or engaged as an electrical apprentice, and one of the five years must be spent as a journeyman electrician. Currently, the law requires an individual to have been employed or engaged in the business of electrical construction and installation for a period of five years, or have other experience deemed satisfactory to the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, and does not require a person to spend four years in an electrical apprenticeship program accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor.
The bill also provides that for four years following the effective date of this bill, under certain circumstances, an individual may qualify to apply for a license as an electrical contractor without having to participate in an electrical apprenticeship program accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor. These circumstances apply if an individual presents evidence satisfactory to the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors that the individual has been employed in the electrical trade or enrolled in a formal electrical apprenticeship program on or before the effective date of this bill. Under the bill, such employment or enrollment is credited up to a maximum total credit of four years.
In addition, the bill stipulates that the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors must keep a register of all apprentice electrician applications by individuals registering as apprentice electricians enrolled in an electrical apprenticeship program accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor.
The bill also makes a technical correction to the current law, which makes reference to a repealed section of law.
Establishes an apprenticeship requirement to qualify for an electrical contractor's license.
