HB 22-1346

Abstract

Sections 2 and 6 1 and 5 of the bill authorize the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies to appoint or employ individuals who are licensed or, if not licensed, who demonstrate substantial work experience in the electrical, plumbing, or construction industry to: Conduct compliance checks to ensure compliance with licensing and supervisor-to-apprentice ratio requirements applicable to electricians and plumbers on projects throughout the state; and Prioritize for compliance checks projects that provide or will provide critical needs to state residents. The bill also: Specifies that only a homeowner performing work on the homeowner's home or a licensed master electrician or plumber who is either a registered electrical or plumbing contractor or directly employed by a registered electrical or plumbing contractor may apply for an electrical or a plumbing permit ( sections 3 and 7 2 and 6 ); Prohibits a licensed master electrician or plumber who is not a registered electrical or plumbing contractor and who is working as an independent contractor from applying for an electrical or a plumbing permit ( sections 3 and 7 2 and 6 ) and makes a violation of this prohibition specific grounds for discipline by the electrical or plumbing board, as applicable ( sections 4 and 5 3 and 4 ); Requires the entity issuing the permit to verify that the applicant meets the qualifications to apply for the permit ( sections 3 and 7 2 and 6 ); and Requires inspecting entity procedures to include a provision allowing the inspecting entity to request worker documentation indicating compliance with worker license requirements and the supervisor-to-apprentice ratio ( sections 3 and 7 2 and 6 ). Additionally, current law specifies that a single licensed electrician or plumber may supervise no more than 3 apprentices on any one job site. For nonresidential electrical and plumbing work, sections 1 and 8 reduce the supervisor-to-apprentice ratio to 1-to-2 starting July 1, 2025, and to 1-to-1 on and after July 1, 2028.Section 7 of the bill appropriates $237,372 for the 2022-23 state fiscal year from the division of professions and occupations cash fund to the department of regulatory agencies to implement the bill, allocated as follows: $127,110 for use by the division of professions and occupations (division) for personal services, including 2.0 additional FTE; $72,194 for the division's operating expenses; and $38,068 for the purchase of vehicle lease services, which amount is reappropriated to the department of personnel to provide vehicle replacement lease/purchase services. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)