HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1597
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to electrical contractors.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the security and resilience of Hawaii's critical electrical infrastructure are fundamental to the health and welfare of the State and its residents. Recent weather events highlight the importance of a resilient electrical grid and the importance of restoring electricity in a safe and efficient manner.

The legislature further finds that the construction and maintenance of overhead and underground high voltage power lines with distribution and transmission voltages require the specialized skills of electrical workers, such as journeymen linemen, foremen, and general foreman, who are all trained certified journeyman lineman. To address a need for individuals qualified to work with high voltage power lines, the legislature enacted Act 65, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013 (Act 65). Act 65 provided a limited exemption from electrician licensing requirements for individuals employed by electrical contractors who are retained by a public utility within the State to perform high voltage work for the public utility and who are deemed qualified by the public utility. Act 60, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018 (Act 60) extended the exemption for five more years and required the board of electricians and plumbers to submit reports to the legislature related to high voltage work. The legislature notes that Act 65 is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2023. As the State continues to experience a shortage of electricians, splicers, and lineman who are experienced and qualified to work with high voltage, it is necessary to further extend the sunset date of Act 65 and the associated reporting requirements of Act 60.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to extend the sunset date of Act 65 and reporting requirements of Act 60 for an additional ten years.

SECTION 2. Act 65, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, as amended by section 2 of Act 60, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, is amended by amending section 4 to read as follows:

"SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that on June 30, [2023,] 2033, this Act shall be repealed and section 448E-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day before the effective date of this Act."

SECTION 3. Act 60, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, is amended by amending section 3 to read as follows:

"SECTION 3. The board of electricians and plumbers shall submit reports to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular [sessions] session of [2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.] 2019 and each regular session thereafter through 2033. The reports shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1) Any programs in the State that offer vocational training for licensed electricians to perform high voltage electrical work;

(2) Availability of continuing education, training, or both, necessary for licensed electricians to acquire or keep current those skills related to performing high voltage work;

(3) The number of licensed electricians in the State qualified to perform high voltage electrical work; and

(4) Opportunities for growth in the high voltage work subspecialty."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Electrical Contractors; Licensing; Exemptions; High Voltage

Description:

Extends until 2033 the sunset date of Act 65, SLH 2013, which provides a limited exemption to the licensing requirements for certain individuals in situations when an electric utility must retain qualified individuals to work with high voltage (600 volts or higher) who are not licensed in the State but are otherwise deemed qualified by the electric utility. Extends until 2033 the reporting requirements under Act 60, SLH 2018, regarding high voltage electrical contractors.

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