2016 -- H 7253

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LC003672

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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: Representatives Marshall, Malik, Shekarchi, Gallison, and Costantino

     Date Introduced: January 20, 2016

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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

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

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following enactment of this section July 1, 2017, the board shall, without examination, upon

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payment of the fees required in this chapter and approval of the issuance of the license by the

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board, issue a license to any applicant who shall present satisfactory evidence as described in

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subsection (b) of this section that the applicant has the qualification for issuance of an

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

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

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pursuant to § 5-65.3-5. Each city and town shall notify said licensees of the requirements of this

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section no later than September 1, 2016.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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statewide licensing examination.

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

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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

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contractors granted without examination to July 1, 2017.

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

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LC003672

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