2016 -- S 2163

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LC004171

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - UNDERGROUND UTILITY

CONTRACTORS

     Introduced By: Senator Walter S. Felag

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     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.

-- (a) After enactment of this chapter, and at At any time prior to the expiration of six (6) months

following enactment of this section July 1, 2017, 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. Each city and town shall notify said licensees of the requirements of this

section no later than September 1, 2016.

      (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.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall apply retroactively to

January 1, 2015.

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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 extends the grandfather clause pertaining to licensing of underground utility

contractors granted without examination to July 1, 2017.

     This act would take effect upon passage and shall apply retroactively to January 1, 2015.

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