HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1597

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022

H.D. 1

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 the limited exemption provided by Act 65 and as extended by Act 60 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, as extended by Act 60, and the associated reporting requirements of Act 60.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Specify that the exemption only applies to workers performing electric transmission and distribution line construction and maintenance and substation work; and

     (2)  Extend the sunset date of Act 65, as extended by Act 60, and reporting requirements of Act 60 for an additional five years.

     SECTION 2.  Section 448E-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  The following persons shall be exempt from this chapter:

     (1)  All employees of a public utility within the State under a franchise or charter granted by the State [which] that is regulated by the public utilities commission and community antennae television company, while so employed; and

     (2)  Employees of an electrical contractor duly licensed under chapter 444; provided that:

          (A)  Such contractor is retained by a public utility within the State under a franchise or charter granted by the State [which] that is regulated by the public utilities commission to perform high voltage (six hundred volts or higher) electrical work for the public utility; [and]

          (B)  Such employees are deemed qualified by the public utility to perform such high voltage electrical work; and

          (C)  Such employees only perform electric transmission and distribution line construction and maintenance and substation work;

          provided further that in no circumstance shall such persons be less qualified than the public utility's own employees that perform such high voltage electrical work."

     SECTION 3.  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,] 2028, 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 4.  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.] and each regular session thereafter through 2028.  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 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2050.

 

 

 

Report Title:

Electrical Contractors; Public Utility; Licensing; Exemptions; High Voltage

 

Description:

Specifies that the limited exemption under Act 65, SLH 2013, to the electrician licensing requirements for individuals working with high voltage (600 volts or higher) is further limited to only electric transmission and distribution line construction and maintenance and substation work.  Extends until 2028 the sunset date of Act 65, SLH 2013, and associated reporting requirements of the exemption under Act 60, SLH 2018.  Effective 1/1/2050.  (HD1)

 

 

 

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