Chapter 548
AN ACT
HB 2473
Relating to electrical trade licensees; creating new provisions; and
amending ORS 479.620, 479.630, 479.840 and 479.915.
Be It Enacted by the People of
the State of
SECTION 1. ORS 479.620 is amended to read:
479.620. Subject to ORS
479.540, a person may not:
(1) Without an
electrical contractor’s license, engage in the business of making electrical
installations, advertise as or otherwise purport to be licensed to make
electrical installations or purport to be acting as a business that makes
electrical installations.
(2) Except as provided
in ORS 479.630 (10)(c) and (11)(f), direct, supervise
or control the making of an electrical installation without a supervising
electrician’s license.
(3) Except as provided
in subsection (5) of this section, make any electrical installation without a
supervising or journeyman electrician’s license.
(4) Perform work on an
electrical installation as an apprentice electrician without an electrical
apprentice’s license.
(5) Make any electrical
installation on a single or multifamily dwelling unit not exceeding three
floors above grade, as provided in ORS 479.630 (14), without a limited
residential electrician’s license.
(6) Permit or suffer any
electrical installation on property which the person owns,
controls, manages or supervises to be made by a person not licensed to make
such an installation.
[(7) Install, maintain, replace or repair electrical wiring or
electrical products on an oil module without a Class I oil module electrician’s
license.]
[(8) Perform electrical work on an oil module
in the capacity of helper or trainee without a Class II oil module electrician’s
license.]
SECTION 2. ORS 479.630 is amended to read:
479.630. If the person
pays the applicable examination and license fees required under ORS 479.840 and
complies with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules adopted under ORS 455.117
and 479.510 to 479.945, 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.
(2) A general
supervising electrician’s license to a person who:
(a) Passes a written
examination prepared by the Electrical and Elevator Board and administered by
the department; and
(b) Submits proof
satisfactory to the 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) Passes a written
examination prepared by the board and administered by the department; and
(b) 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) Passes a written
examination prepared by the board and administered by the department; and
(b) 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) Passes a written
examination prepared by the board and administered by the department; and
(b)(A) Except as
provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, 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[.]; or
(B) If applying for
licensing as a limited journeyman sign electrician or limited journeyman stage
electrician, submits proof satisfactory to the board that the person has had at
least two years of specialized experience as an apprentice or its equivalent,
as determined by the board by rule, in the sign or stage 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 board by rule and the person submits an application for licensure to the
board in writing. A person issued a license under this subsection is exempt
from continuing education requirements established under ORS 455.117 and
479.680.
(7) An electrical
apprentice’s license to a person who has complied with ORS 660.002 to 660.210
as an electrical apprentice.
(8) An electrical
apprentice’s license to a trainee toward a limited residential electrician’s
license who has complied with ORS 660.002 to 660.210 as an electrical
apprentice.
(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 a recognized branch of the electrical trade
approved by the board as being a training program that will adequately prepare
the trainee for the limited journeyman’s license.
(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, and maintain, repair and
replace electrical installations on systems that are less than 600 volts phase
to phase, including electrical components, required on the premises of
commercial office buildings, buildings occupied by the state or a local
government entity or facilities designated by the board. The following apply to
this subsection:
(a) A person qualifies
under this subsection if the person:
(A) Passes a written
examination prepared by the 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
(B)(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) 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, in
consultation with the 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) Passes a written
examination prepared by the 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
(B) 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 that work. This subsection does not authorize 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:
(a) Submits 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 is the floor that is designed
for human habitation and 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 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;
(b) 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
(c) Passes a written
examination prepared by the board and administered by the department.
[(15) A Class I or Class II oil module electrician’s license to a person
who passes a written examination prepared by the board and administered by the
department.]
[(16)] (15) 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)] (16) 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 a two-year apprenticeship program 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 electrical
installations not exceeding 25 kilowatts AC:
(A) On devices using
renewable energy involving wind, solar energy systems, micro-hydroelectricity,
photovoltaic systems or fuel cells.
(B) Up to the load side
of an inverter.
(C) To connect
generators that are sized to facilitate the inverter
in an off-grid system.
SECTION 3. ORS 479.840 is amended to read:
479.840. (1) Upon
receipt of the following fee, the Department of Consumer and Business Services
shall issue or renew a license or permit applied for under ORS 479.510 to
479.945:
(a)
$125 for an electrical contractor license for each place of business operated
by the applicant.
(b)
$125 for a limited energy contractor or limited sign contractor license.
(c) $25 for a pump specialty contractor or limited maintenance
specialty contractor license.
(d)
$150 for an elevator contractor license.
(e) $100 for a license
for a:
(A) General journeyman
electrician;
(B) General supervising
electrician;
(C) Limited supervising
industrial electrician;
(D) Limited supervising
manufacturing plant electrician;
[(E) Limited journeyman industrial electrician;]
[(F)] (E) Limited maintenance industrial electrician;
[(G)] (F) Limited maintenance manufactured dwelling or
recreational vehicle electrician; or
[(H)] (G) Limited journeyman manufacturing plant electrician.[; or]
[(I) Limited journeyman railroad electrician.]
(f) $50 for a license
for a:
(A) Limited elevator
journeyman;
(B) Class A or Class B
limited energy technician;
(C) Limited journeyman
sign electrician;
[(D) Limited journeyman sign service electrician;]
[(E)] (D) Limited journeyman stage electrician; or
[(F)] (E) Limited building
maintenance electrician.
(g)
$10 for the right to take the written qualifying examination.
(2) The Electrical and
Elevator Board shall set uniform permit fees, by rule, not to exceed the cost
of administration.
(3) The fees provided
for in this section do not apply to persons paying inspection fees under the
terms of ORS 479.560 (3) or 479.630 (10).
(4) Each electrical
contractor may furnish to the department a corporate surety bond to be approved
by the department, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an insured
institution as defined in ORS 706.008 or a cash bond under procedures approved
by the department, in the sum of $2,000 guaranteeing the payment of all fees
provided for under ORS 479.510 to 479.945. Before commencing any electrical job
an electrical contractor who has a current bond or letter of credit under this
subsection may apply to the department for a working permit which shall cost an
amount established by the department by rule. The working permit shall
authorize the electrical contractor to commence work. The total of all fees due
for permits for each job, and the time such fees are payable, shall be
determined by the department by administrative rule under ORS 479.730. The
contractor shall keep the bond or letter of credit in force at all times. Any
cancellation or revocation of the bond or letter of credit shall revoke and
suspend the license issued to the principal until such time as a new bond or
letter of credit shall be filed and approved. The department may bring an
action against the surety named in the bond or the letter of credit issuer with
or without joining in such action the principal named in the bond or letter of
credit.
SECTION 4. ORS 479.915 is amended to read:
479.915. (1) An applicant for a Class B limited energy technician license
must:
(a) Submit proof
satisfactory to the Electrical and Elevator Board that the person has:
(A) At least two years
of experience as an apprentice in limited energy electrical activity; or
(B) At least two years
of experience equivalent to an apprenticeship in limited energy electrical
activity and completed a board-approved 32-hour training program; and
(b) Pass a written
examination approved by the board and administered by the Department of
Consumer and Business Services.
(2) An applicant for a
Class A limited energy technician license must:
(a) Submit proof
satisfactory to the board that the person has completed at least [four] three years of experience
as an apprentice, or the equivalent as determined by the board by rule, in a
recognized branch of the electrical trade; and
(b) Pass a written
examination prepared by the board and administered by the department.
(3) The board shall
determine the adequacy of any training program for qualification under the
requirements of this section and ORS 479.910 and section 1, chapter 728, Oregon
Laws 2001.
(4) The department shall
issue a Class A limited energy technician license to a person who qualifies
under subsection (2) of this section and pays the required fees.
SECTION 5. A Class I or Class II oil module electrician’s
license, limited journeyman railroad electrician license or limited journeyman
industrial electrician license that is in effect on the effective date of this
2007 Act shall expire at the end of the license term and may not be renewed.
Approved by the Governor June 22, 2007
Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 27, 2007
Effective date January 1, 2008
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