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House panel approves bill to automatically issue journeyman license to master electricians
Summary
The House Business Committee voted to send House Bill 153 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after the bill’s sponsor said it would reduce reciprocity barriers for master electricians by issuing a journeyman license when a master license already exists.
Representative Josh Wheeler (District 35) told the House Business Committee on Feb. 19 that House Bill 153 would allow the state to issue a journeyman electrician license automatically to individuals who already hold a master electrician license.
Wheeler said the change responds to complaints from master electricians who have had trouble obtaining licensure reciprocity with other states because they had not maintained a separate journeyman license. “A master's electrician's license is a higher caliber license, meaning they have had more experience, more testing, more education, and so in theory they should just be considered a journeyman electrician,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler said the Department of Professional-licensing partner (transcript: “doppel”) told him the dual-license could be produced within current staffing and fee structures. He said the fee schedule in the bill essentially keeps the master license fee the same while providing the journeyman credential.
Committee members raised cost and administrative questions. Representative Harris asked who would cover the cost of producing an additional ID; Wheeler responded that the administering agency indicated the change could be accommodated under existing FTEs and administrative funds and that fee language in the bill matches current master license charges.
Representative Cornelis moved to send House Bill 153 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee approved the motion by voice vote.
No public testimony was offered during the committee hearing on HB153.
The committee record shows the bill was sent to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The motion was carried by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
