ELECTRICIAN LICENSURE EXEMPTION S.B. 1279 (S-1):
SUMMARY AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
Senate Bill 1279 (Substitute S-1 as passed by the Senate)
Sponsor: Senator Arlan Meekhof
Committee: Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Electrical Administrative Act to make an exception to the Act's licensure requirement for both of the following:
-- The installation, repair, or renovation of wiring at property or a facility of a person engaged in manufacturing or mining operations, by an employee or agent of the person.
-- Equipment installation, alteration, or maintenance and associated wiring for the generation and distribution of electricity at a facility owned and operated by an independent power producer, by an employee or agent of the power producer.
Manufacturing or Mining
Subject to a number of exceptions, the Act prohibits an individual from executing any electrical wiring unless he or she is licensed under the Act, and is employed by and working under the direction of a licensed electrical contractor.
The bill would add an exception for the installation, alteration, maintenance, repair, or renovation of electrical wiring at or in a property, business location, plant, factory, or facility of a person engaged in manufacturing or mining operations, by an employee or agent of that person, if the following requirements were met.
The person would have to employ or engage a licensed electrician whom the person designated as responsible for code compliance at the property, business location, plant, factory, or facility and who was authorized and responsible for obtaining any permits required for any installation, alteration, maintenance, repair, or renovation of electrical wiring at or in the property, business location, plant, factory, or facility.
The person would have to notify the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) of the identity of the licensed electrician designated as responsible for code compliance. This notice would have to include the name, phone number, business address, and signature of the electrician and of the person engaged in the manufacturing or mining operations or the individual authorized to sign on that person's behalf.
If the person engaged in manufacturing or mining operations designated a different licensed electrician as responsible for code compliance, the person would have to notify LARA, and include the same information and signatures as required above.
If the designated electrician ceased to be responsible for code compliance on behalf of the person engaged in manufacturing or mining operations, that person or the electrician would have to give LARA written notice within 60 days.
The Department would have to retain in its records a copy of each notice it received under these provisions.
The bill would define "licensed electrician" as a licensed electrical contractor, electrical journeyman, or master electrician.
Independent Power Producer
Under the bill, the Act's licensure requirement would not apply to the installation, alteration, maintenance, or repair of equipment and its associated wiring for the generation or distribution of electricity at a facility owned and operated by an independent power producer, by an employee or agent of that power producer.
"Independent power producer" would mean a person, other than an electric utility, that owns or operates a facility that generates electricity and sells electricity primarily at wholesale.
MCL 338.887 Legislative Analyst: Suzanne Lowe
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.