71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
{ + braces and plus signs + } .
LC 3591
Senate Bill 932
Sponsored by Senator FERRIOLI; Senators GEORGE, HARTUNG,
MESSERLE, NELSON, STARR (at the request of Jim Slater, David
Parker, Bob Maynard)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
Provides for licensing of limited renewable energy contractors
and limited renewable energy technicians.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to licensing of electrical trades; creating new
provisions; and amending ORS 479.630.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 479.630 is amended to read:
479.630. Upon payment of applicable examination and license
fees required under ORS 479.840, the Department of Consumer and
Business Services shall issue:
(1) An electrical contractor's license to a person engaging in
or carrying on a business of making electrical installations who
has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules issued
thereunder.
(2) A general supervising electrician's license to a person
who:
(a) Has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules
issued thereunder;
(b) Passes a written examination prepared by the Electrical and
Elevator Board and administered by the department; and
(c) Submits proof satisfactory to the Electrical and Elevator
Board that the person has had at least four years of experience
as a general journeyman electrician or its equivalent, as
determined by the board by rule, in installing, maintaining and
repairing electrical wires and equipment.
(3) A limited supervising electrician's license to a person who
qualifies under this subsection. A person licensed under this
subsection is authorized to supervise the class of electrical
work included in the branch of the electrical trade and for which
the person has passed the examination administered by the
department. A person qualifies under this subsection if the
person:
(a) Has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules
issued thereunder;
(b) Passes a written examination prepared by the Electrical and
Elevator Board and administered by the department; and
(c) Submits proof satisfactory to the board that the person has
had at least four years of specialized experience in a recognized
branch of the electrical trade on the journeyman level.
(4) A general journeyman electrician's license to a person who:
(a) Has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules
issued thereunder;
(b) Passes a written examination prepared by the Electrical and
Elevator Board and administered by the department; and
(c) Submits proof satisfactory to the board that:
(A) The person has had at least four years of general
experience as an apprentice or its equivalent, as determined by
the board by rule, in installing, maintaining and repairing
electrical wires and equipment, including not fewer than 1,000
hours in wiring on single or multifamily dwelling units; or
(B) If the person is licensed as a limited residential
electrician under subsection (14) of this section, subsequent to
receiving that license, the person has worked for at least two
years as a limited residential electrician and subsequent to
those two years has completed an additional two years' experience
as an apprentice or its equivalent, as determined by the board by
rule, for that period of apprenticeship time worked exclusively
in installing, maintaining and repairing electrical wires and
equipment in the commercial and industrial branches of the
electrical trade under the supervision of a licensed electrical
contractor.
(5) A limited journeyman electrician's license to a person who
qualifies under this subsection. A person licensed under this
subsection is authorized to perform the class of electrical work
included in the branch of the electrical trade for which the
person has passed the examination administered by the department.
A person qualifies under this subsection if the person:
(a) Has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules
issued thereunder;
(b) Passes a written examination prepared by the Electrical and
Elevator Board and administered by the department; and
(c) Submits proof satisfactory to the board that the person has
had at least four years of specialized experience as an
apprentice or its equivalent, as determined by the board by rule,
in a recognized branch of the electrical trade.
(6) A limited elevator journeyman license to a person who
qualifies under this subsection. A person licensed under this
subsection is authorized to install, maintain and repair
elevators, including all electrical and mechanical systems. A
person qualifies under this subsection if the person has
completed an elevator apprenticeship program, including both
electrical and mechanical training components, approved by the
Electrical and Elevator Board by rule and the person submits an
application for licensure to the board in writing. A license
issued under this subsection is exempt from continuing education
requirements established under ORS 479.650 and 479.680.
(7) An electrical apprentice's license to a person who:
(a) Has complied with ORS chapter 660 as an electrical
apprentice; and
(b) Has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules
issued thereunder.
(8) An electrical apprentice's license to a trainee toward a
limited residential electrician's license who:
(a) Has complied with ORS chapter 660 as an electrical
apprentice; and
(b) Has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules
issued thereunder.
(9) An electrical apprentice's license to a trainee toward a
limited journeyman's license in a recognized branch of the
electrical trade who is employed by an employer who also:
(a) Employs a holder of either a general journeyman
electrician's license or a limited journeyman electrician's
license; and
(b) Conducts an electrical training program in { - such - }
a recognized branch of the electrical trade approved by the
Electrical and Elevator Board as being a training program
{ - which - } { + that + } will adequately prepare the trainee
for { - such - } { + the + } limited journeyman's license
providing that { - such - } { + the + } trainee has complied
with ORS 479.510 to 479.860 and the rules issued thereunder.
(10) A limited maintenance electrician's license to a person
who qualifies under this subsection. A person licensed under this
subsection is authorized to maintain, repair and replace
electrical installations, including electrical components,
required on the premises of industrial plants, commercial office
buildings, buildings occupied by the state or a local government
entity or facilities designated by the Electrical and Elevator
Board. The following apply to this subsection:
(a) A person qualifies under this subsection if the person:
(A) Has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules
issued thereunder;
(B) Passes a written examination prepared by the Electrical and
Elevator Board and administered by the department on repair,
replacement and maintenance of equipment of the type and nature
normally used in an industrial plant, commercial office building
or government building and on the use of testing equipment; and
(C)(i) Completes a two-year training program approved by the
board that provides for training and supervision of the trainee
or apprentice; or
(ii) Submits proof satisfactory to the board that the person
has had sufficient experience and related educational training in
the repair, replacement and maintenance of electrical wiring and
equipment of the type and nature used in an industrial plant,
commercial office building or government building, as determined
by the board or by an appropriate local apprenticeship committee
recognized by the State Apprenticeship and Training Council.
(b) { - No - } { + A + } worker or applicant for license
under this subsection { - shall be deemed - } { + is not + }
in violation of this chapter by reason of electrical maintenance,
replacement and repair work performed during the period of
required experience whenever required prior to August 9, 1961. An
annual inspection of the premises upon which electrical work is
performed by persons licensed under this subsection shall be made
by the electrical inspector for an annual fee determined by the
board by rule, based upon the time required for the inspection,
payable to the department.
(c) A person licensed under this subsection may be employed
directly by the owner, or owner's agent, of any government
building or commercial office building. A building owner or
owner's agent need not be licensed under this section to
supervise a limited maintenance electrician.
(d) The Department of Consumer and Business Services, in
consultation with the appropriate board, shall adopt rules
defining government buildings and commercial office buildings
subject to this subsection.
(11) A limited building maintenance electrician's license to a
person who qualifies under this subsection. The following apply
to this subsection:
(a) A person licensed under this subsection is authorized to
maintain, repair and replace the following electrical
installations required on the premises of commercial office
buildings, buildings occupied by the state or a local government
entity or facilities designated by the board in electrical
systems not exceeding 300 volts to ground:
(A) Electrical appliances;
(B) Light switches;
(C) Light fixtures;
(D) Fans;
(E) Receptacles; and
(F) Fluorescent ballasts.
(b) A person qualifies under this subsection if the person:
(A) Has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules
issued thereunder;
(B) Passes a written examination prepared by the Electrical and
Elevator Board and administered by the department on maintenance,
repair and replacement of equipment of the type and nature
normally used in a commercial office building or government
building and on the use of testing equipment; and
(C) Submits proof satisfactory to the board that the person
has:
(i) Had sufficient experience in the maintenance, repair and
replacement of electrical wiring and equipment of the type and
nature normally used in a commercial office building or
government building; or
(ii) Completed a one-year training course, with classroom and
on-the-job training components approved by the board, on the
maintenance, repair and replacement of electrical wiring and
equipment of the type and nature normally used in a commercial
office building or government building.
(c) An annual inspection of the premises upon which electrical
work is performed by persons licensed under this subsection shall
be made by the electrical inspector for an annual fee determined
by the board by rule, based upon the time required for the
inspection, payable to the department, or the inspection shall be
performed under an electrical master permit program.
(d) Building owners may perform work regulated by this
subsection and for which a license is required under this
subsection without obtaining a license.
(e) A person who owns more than 50 percent of a corporation
that controls a building is a building owner.
(f) A person licensed under this subsection may be employed by
the owner of a commercial office building or the owner's agent.
A building owner or owner's agent need not be licensed under this
section to supervise a limited building maintenance electrician.
(12) A limited maintenance specialty contractor license to a
person who qualifies under this subsection. A person licensed
under this subsection is authorized to engage in the electrical
work related to the repair, service, maintenance, installation or
replacement of existing, built-in or permanently connected
appliances, fluorescent ballasts or similar equipment and to
employ individuals to engage in { - such - } { + that + }
work. Nothing in this subsection allows the installation of
appliances, ballasts or other equipment if there is no existing
installation of similar equipment. A person qualifies under this
subsection if the person submits:
(a) Proof satisfactory to the board that the person has had
sufficient experience in the type of work permitted under the
license issued under this subsection; and
(b) Maintains with the board a current list of all individuals
employed by the person to engage in work permitted under this
subsection.
(13) A limited pump installation specialty contractor license
to a person who qualifies under this subsection. A person
licensed under this subsection is authorized to engage in
electrical work related to the testing, repair, service,
maintenance, installation or replacement of new or existing pump
equipment for potable or irrigation water systems, sump pumps,
effluent pumps and ground water pumps on residential and
agricultural property, to employ individuals to engage in such
work. A person qualifies under this subsection if the person
submits:
(a) Proof satisfactory to the board that the person has had
sufficient experience in the type of work permitted under the
license issued under this subsection; and
(b) Maintains with the board a current list of all individuals
employed by the person to engage in work permitted under this
subsection.
(14) A limited residential electrician's license to a person
who qualifies under this subsection. A person licensed under this
subsection is authorized to perform the class of electrical work
included in the branch of the electrical trade for which the
person has passed the examination administered by the department
and approved by the board. However, a person licensed under this
subsection shall perform the electrical work allowed by the
license only on single and multifamily dwelling units not
exceeding three floors above grade. For purposes of this
subsection, the first floor of a building { - shall be that - }
{ + is the + } floor { - which - } { + that + } is designed
for human habitation and { - which - } { + that + } has 50
percent or more of its perimeter level with or above finished
grade of the exterior wall line. A person qualifies under this
subsection if the person:
(a) Has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and rules issued
under those sections;
(b) Has received the same number of hours of electrical safety
training as required by rule for an electrical apprentice or its
equivalent and who has received training in electrical theory;
(c) Submits documented proof to the board of at least two years
of apprenticeship or trainee experience in residential wiring of
single and multifamily dwelling units or its equivalent, as
determined by the board by rule; and
(d) Passes a written examination prepared by the Electrical and
Elevator Board and administered by the department.
(15) A Class I or Class II oil module electrician's license to
a person who:
(a) Has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules
adopted pursuant thereto; and
(b) Passes a written examination prepared by the Electrical and
Elevator Board and administered by the department.
{ + (16) A limited renewable energy contractor license to a
person who:
(a) Employs at least one full-time renewable energy technician;
and
(b) Does not engage in electrical work other than work that may
be performed by a limited renewable energy technician. A limited
renewable energy contractor may not make, direct, supervise or
control the making of an electrical installation unless the
contractor is licensed for that activity.
(17) A limited renewable energy technician license to a person
who qualifies under this subsection. A person qualifies for
licensing as a limited renewable energy technician if the person
completes an approved two-year apprenticeship and passes an
examination approved by the board. A person licensed under this
subsection may, while in the employ of a licensed electrical
contractor or a limited renewable energy contractor:
(a) Install, maintain, replace or repair electrical wiring and
electrical products that convey or operate on renewable
electrical energy not exceeding 25 kilowatts AC; and
(b) Make installations:
(A) On devices using renewable energy involving wind,
micro-hydroelectricity, photovoltaic systems or fuel cells.
(B) Up to an approved disconnect switch on the load side of an
inverter.
(C) To connect generators that are sized to facilitate the
inverter in an off-grid system. + }
{ - (16) - } { + (18) + } Notwithstanding any other
provision of this chapter, the board { - shall - } { +
may + } not administer an examination nor shall the department
issue any license to a person whose practical experience
qualification for the license is based upon training or
experience in another state if the board determines that
{ - such - } { + the + } training or experience is not
equivalent to the standards for electrical training programs
prescribed in this state.
SECTION 2. { + Notwithstanding ORS 479.630 (17), the
Electrical and Elevator Board may grant a limited renewable
energy technician license to a person who:
(1) Has at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training or
experience and has completed at least 40 hours of electrical
specialty code training; and
(2) Passes an examination approved by the board. + }
SECTION 3. { + (1) Section 2 of this 2001 Act is repealed
January 1, 2003.
(2) The repeal of section 2 of this 2001 Act does not
invalidate a license issued pursuant to section 2 of this 2001
Act. + }
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