2015 -- H 6227 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC002713/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- UNDERGROUND UTILITY

CONTRACTORS

     Introduced By: Representatives Keable, Chippendale, Edwards, Winfield, and

     Date Introduced: May 21, 2015

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 5-65.3-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-65.3 entitled

"Underground Utility Contractors" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-65.3-7. Licensing of underground utility contractors granted without examination.

[Effective January 1, 2015.] -- (a) After enactment of this chapter, and at any time prior to the

expiration of six (6) months following enactment of this section January 1, 2016, the board shall,

without examination, upon payment of the fees required in this chapter and approval of the

issuance of the license by the board, issue a license to any applicant who shall present satisfactory

evidence as described in subsection (b) of this section that the applicant has the qualification for

issuance of an underground utility contractor license. Thereafter, in order to qualify for an

underground utility contractor license after the initial "grandfather" window, said licensee may

renew the license pursuant to § 5-65.3-5.

      (b) The owner(s) of a business entity as defined in § 5-65.3-2(3) shall meet the

requirements of this section for issuance of a license without examination, provided, that any city

or town that has previously granted a contractor or licensee a license within the last five (5) years

shall continue to grant such license for work specifically related to the license and where work is

to be performed only in that city or town, provided the contractor continues to meet all other local

requirements for licensure, and shall not require the contractor or licensee to take and pass the

statewide licensing examination the contractor demonstrates to the board that he or she obtained

an underground utility license from a city or town within the last five (5) years or possesses a

valid onsite wastewater treatment system installer's license obtained within the last five (5) years.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- UNDERGROUND UTILITY

CONTRACTORS

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     This act would extend the current "grandfathering" exemption for licensing of

underground utility contractors without examination to include contractors who obtained a valid

underground utility license or onsite wastewater treatment system installer's license within the

last five (5) years.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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