Senate narrows who may demand to see electrician licenses on jobsites; bill concurred 32-18

Senator Tzczak carried House Bill 206, a bill that changes who may enter a job site or private home and request to see an electrician’s license. The bill passed on second reading with a 32-18 vote.

Tzczak said the current law allows many people to request licenses at job sites, which can lead to unauthorized people entering private property, harassment of workers and safety issues. "What the statute is currently written is leading to job site harassment, private property liability issues and loss of production," the carrier said.

Under the change, those authorized to request an electrician’s license on a job site would include local inspectors and state electrical inspectors from the Department of Labor and Industry, and, on larger commercial sites, contractors working on the same project may verify colleagues’ credentials. Supporters said the public can already see license and permit information on the department’s website and that on-site checks by random visitors are unnecessary and sometimes unsafe.

Opponents argued the bill could reduce compliance by making it harder to spot unlicensed work. Senator Morjot said it might decrease enforcement options and urged caution; Senator Benton, a cosponsor of concerns, said his construction co-owner electrician confirmed unauthorized visitors had come to job sites to check licenses and that the bill protects job-site safety.

The clerk recorded 32 yeas and 18 nays; the bill was concurred in on second reading and will proceed to the House for further action.