Chapter 137
2017 -- H 5290
Enacted 07/05/2017

A N   A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - ELECTRICIANS

Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Maldonado, Coughlin, Casey, and Amore
Date Introduced: January 27, 2017

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Sections 5-6-1, 5-6-2, 5-6-3, 5-6-7, 5-6-8, 5-6-10, 5-6-10.1, 5-6-11, 5-6-13,
5-6-16, 5-6-19, 5-6-20.1, 5-6-24, 5-6-26, 5-6-29 and 5-6-32 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-6
entitled "Electricians" are hereby amended to read as follows:
     5-6-1. Definitions.
     For purposes of this chapter:
     (1)(3) "Electrical contractor" means a corporation, firm, or person, who or that, by the
employment of journeypersons, performs the work of installing, maintaining, servicing, and
testing wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures, and other appliances for carrying or using electricity
for light, heat, or power purposes exclusive of low-voltage wiring for heating or refrigeration
equipment for service, maintenance, and installation.
     (2)(4) "Electrical sign contractor" means a corporation, firm, or person who or that, by
the employment of electrical sign installers, performs the work of installing, altering, and
servicing electrical signs. This may include the removal or installation of no more than three (3)
wires not to exceed fifteen feet (15') in length and terminating in an existing electrical enclosure
directly adjacent to, or at the base of, said sign.
     (3)(5) "Electrical sign installer" means a person engaged in installing, altering, and
servicing electrical signs. This may include the removal or installation of no more than three (3)
wires not to exceed fifteen feet (15') in length and terminating in an existing electrical enclosure
directly adjacent to, or at the base of, said sign.
     (4)(6) "Fire alarm contractor" means a corporation, firm, or person who, by the
employment of fire alarm installers, performs the work of installing, maintaining, altering and,
servicing, and testing of fire alarm systems in accordance with the Rhode Island fire safety code,
chapters 28.1 -- 28.39 of title 23.
     (5)(7) "Fire alarm installation" means the installation or alteration of a fire alarm system
according to the Rhode Island fire safety code.
     (6)(8) "Fire alarm installer" means a person engaged in installing, maintaining, altering,
or servicing and testing a fire alarm system used for the purpose of causing an alarm to be
sounded in case of fire.
     (7)(9) "Journeyperson electrician" means a person doing any work of installing wires,
conduits, apparatus, fixtures, and other appliances.
     (8)(10) "Lightning-protection contractor" means a corporation, firm, or person, who or
that, by employment of lightning-protection installers, performs the work of installing, altering,
and maintaining, lightning-protection systems. The "systems" are defined and should be installed
in accordance with NFPA 780 current edition, and all referenced NFPA documents.
     (9)(11) "Lightning-protection installer" means a person engaged in the installation,
service, or maintenance of a lightning-protection system according to NFPA 780 current edition.
     (10)(1) "Oil burner contractor" "Burner contractor" means a corporation, firm, or person,
who or that, by the employment of oil burnerpersons, performs the work of installing and
servicing oil and domestic automatic, coal-burning heating equipment, including central heating
plants and domestic-type range burners, and including all accessory equipment and control
systems, excluding thermostatic, mechanical, and low-voltage wiring on heating, ventilating, and
air conditioning equipment.
     (11)(2) "Oil burnerperson" "Burnerperson" means a person doing any work, or installing
or servicing oil burners and other equipment, installed and serviced by an oil a burner contractor.
     (12) "Sign renovation electrical license" means a person engaged in the installation,
service, or maintenance of electrical signs, but only when the installation, service, or maintenance
requires the removal or installation of no more than three (3) wires.
     5-6-2. Work for which license required.
     (a) (1) No person, firm, or corporation shall enter into, engage in, solicit, advertise, bid
for, or work at the business of installing, maintaining, servicing, and testing wires, conduits,
apparatus, fixtures, electrical signs, lightning-protection equipment as defined in § 5-6-1, and
other appliances for carrying or using or generating electricity for light, heat, fire alarms, as
defined in chapter 28.25 of title 23, entitled "Fire Alarm Systems", or power purposes, exclusive
of low-voltage wiring for heating/refrigeration equipment, or work at the business of removing
and reattaching existing electrical meters, unless that person, firm, or corporation shall have
received a license and a certificate for the business, issued by the state board of examiners of
electricians of the division of professional regulation of the department of labor and training in
accordance with the provisions set forth in this chapter.
     (2) That person shall carry this license on his or her person at all times while so engaged,
and shall affix his or her contractor's license number to any advertisement and/or contract he or
she executes and/or to any bid he or she files with any consumer for his or her professional
services and to any applicable permit required for the performance of those services.
     (b) Any person, firm, or corporation which that is required to apply for a permit from a
local building official for any work required to be performed by a person licensed under the
provisions of this chapter shall cause the work to be performed by a person licensed under the
provisions of this chapter; provided, that the provisions of this section, except the provision
regarding removing and reattaching existing electrical meters, shall not apply to owner-occupied,
single-family homes.
     5-6-3. Devices and appliances inserted by unlicensed persons.
     Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to forbid the insertion in electrical circuits, by
unlicensed persons, of devices or appliances including, but not limited to, microwaves,
refrigerators, ranges, televisions, light bulbs, and the like that are properly designed for that
insertion and for which proper wire and insertion devices are installed.
     5-6-7. Forms of licenses.
     Fourteen (14) forms of licenses shall be issued:
     (1) The first, subsequently referred to as Certificate A, is known as an "electrical
contractor's license";
     (2) The second, subsequently referred to as Certificate B, is known as a "journeyperson
electrician's license";
     (3) The third, subsequently referred to as Certificate C, is known as a "limited-premises
license";
     (4) The fourth, subsequently referred to as Certificate E, is known as an a "oil burner
contractor's license";
     (5) The fifth, subsequently referred to as Certificate F, is known as an a "oil
burnerperson's license";
     (6) The sixth, subsequently referred to as Certificate AF, is known as a "fire alarm
contractor's license";
     (7) The seventh, subsequently referred to as Certificate BF, is known as a "fire alarm
installer's license";
     (8) The eighth, subsequently referred to as Certificate SCF, is known as "an electrical
sign contractor's license";
     (9) The ninth, subsequently referred to as Certificate CF, is known as "an electrical sign
installer's license";
     (10) The tenth, subsequently referred to as Certificate D, is known as a "limited-
maintenance license";
     (11) The eleventh, subsequently referred to as Certificate M, shall be known as a
"limited-maintenance journeyperson license";
     (12) The twelfth, subsequently referred to as Certificate LPC, shall be known as a
"lightning-protection contractor's license";
     (13) The thirteenth, subsequently referred to as Certificate LPI, shall be known as a
"lightning-protection installer's license"; and
     (14) The fourteenth, subsequently referred to as certificate SRL, shall be known as a
"sign renovation electrical license".
     5-6-8. Contractor's certificates/licenses.
     (a) Electrical contractor's license. A Certificate A shall be issued to any person, firm, or
corporation, qualified under this chapter, engaging in, or about to engage in, the business of
installing, maintaining, servicing, and testing electrical wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures, fire
alarm and safety communication systems, and other electrical appliances, excluding low-voltage
wiring for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment. The certificate shall specify the
name of the person, firm, or corporation applying for it and the name of the person, who in the
case of a firm is one of its members, and in the case of a corporation, is one of its officers, passing
the examination by which he or she or it is authorized to enter upon, or engage in, business as
prescribed in the certificate. The holding of a Certificate A does not entitle the holder individually
to engage in or perform the actual work of installing, maintaining, servicing, and testing electric
wires, conduits, and or appliances as previously described in this chapter, but entitles him or her
to conduct business as an electrical contractor.
     (b) Oil burner Burner contractor's license. A Certificate E shall be issued to any person,
firm, or corporation qualified under this chapter and engaged in, or about to engage in, the
business of an oil a burner contractor as defined in § 5-6-1. The certificate shall specify the name
of the person, firm, or corporation applying for it and the name of the person who, in the case of a
firm is one of its members, and in the case of a corporation is one of its officers, passing the
examination, by which he or she or it is authorized to enter upon, or engage in, business as
prescribed in the certificate. The holding of a Certificate E does not entitle the holder individually
to engage in or perform any work on, or in connection with, electric wires, conduits, and
appliances as previously described in this chapter, but entitles the holder to contract to do that
work, to the extent permitted in this chapter, through the employment of oil burnerpersons
holding a Certificate F. An oil A burner contractor who is the holder of a Certificate A is not
required to obtain a Certificate E.
     (c) Fire alarm contractor's license. A Certificate AF shall be issued to any person, firm, or
corporation qualified under this chapter and engaged in, or about to engage in, the business of a
fire alarm contractor as defined in § 5-6-1. The certificate shall specify the name of the person,
firm, or corporation applying for it and the person who, in the case of a firm is one of its
members, and in the case of a corporation is one of its officers, passing the examination by which
he or she or it is authorized to enter upon, or engage in, business as prescribed in the certificate.
The holding of a Certificate AF does not entitle the holder individually to engage in, or perform
and work on, or in connection with, electric wires, fire alarm wires, conduits, and appliances as
previously described in this chapter, but entitles the holder to contract to do that work to the
extent permitted in this chapter through the employment of fire alarm installers holding a
Certificate BF. A contractor who is the holder of a Certificate A is not required to obtain a
Certificate BF.
     (d) Electrical sign contractor's license. A Certificate SCF shall be issued to any person,
firm, or corporation qualified under this chapter and engaged in or about to engage in the business
of electrical sign installations, as defined in § 5-6-1.
     (e) Lightning-protection contractor. A Certificate LPC shall be issued to any person, firm,
or corporation qualified under this chapter and engaged in, or about to engage in, the business of
lightning-protection contractor as defined in § 5-6-1. The Certificate LPC shall specify the name
of the person, firm, or corporation applying for it and the person, who in the case of a firm, is one
of its members, and in the case of a corporation, is one of its officers, passing the examination by
which he or she or it is authorized to enter upon or engage in business as prescribed in the
certificate. The holding of a Certificate LPC does not entitle the holder individually to engage in,
or perform and work on, or in connection with, the installation of lightning-protection equipment
as defined in § 5-6-1, unless that individual also holds a Certificate LPI, but entitles the holder to
contract to do that work to the extent permitted in this chapter through the employment of
lightning-protection installers holding a Certificate LPI.
     (f) Sign renovation electrical license. A certificate SRL shall be issued to any person,
firm, or corporation qualified under this chapter and engaged in, or about to engage in, the
business of sign renovation or installation of signs when such renovation or installation requires
the removal or installation of no more than three (3) wires.
     (g) Renewable energy professional. A Certificate REP shall be issued to any person, firm
or corporation, qualified under this chapter, engaged in or about to engage in the business of
installing eligible renewable energy technologies as defined in § 39-26-5. All renewable energy
electrical work, including installing, connecting, maintaining, servicing, and testing all electrical
wires, conduits, and apparatus; mounting the modules to the mounting racks; mounting the
inverters; and tying the inverters into the main electrical panels, shall be done by a licensed
electrician. Ancillary non-electrical, renewable energy work, such as advertising services;
distribution of materials to final location of installation including photovoltaic modules to the
mounting racks; and installing the ground and rooftop support brackets and ballast for rack
systems, may be done by any person, firm, or corporation holding an REP Certificate. The REP
Certificate shall specify the name of the person, firm, or corporation applying for it and the name
of the person, who in the case of a firm is one of its members, and in the case of a corporation, is
one of its officers, meeting the requisite education and experience as established in § 5-6-11, by
which he or she or it is authorized to enter upon, or engage in, business as prescribed in the
certificate. The holding of a Certificate REP entitles the holder to contract to do that work to the
extent permitted in this chapter.
     The installation, mechanical fastening and conjoining of listed solar sheathing systems
that are ten kilowatts (10 kw) or less on residential structures as defined by the Rhode Island one-
and two-(2) family dwelling code may be performed by a registered contractor who or that has
been issued a renewable energy professional certificate (REPC) as defined in § 5-6-11(e) and
above referenced. However, said residential solar sheathing system shall be connected to the
electrical system from the roof edge and energized by a Rhode Island licensed electrician working
in compliance with chapter 6 of title 5 this chapter. Additionally, the residential solar sheathing
systems noted must be listed and labeled by UL or other recognized electrical device certification
organization, identified and acceptable by the authority having jurisdiction.
     5-6-10. Limited premises certificate/license.
     A Certificate C shall be issued to the department of transportation, state airport
corporation, and manufacturing and industrial firms that regularly employ one or more Class B or
Class M journeyperson electricians for installation and when the work performed by those
individuals is limited to maintenance and repair of electrical wiring, devices, appliances, and
equipment on the premises owned or occupied by the applicant. The application must be made by
a responsible officer of the firm and contains contain a description of the premises within which
work is to be done under the permit. All work must meet electrical and municipal codes and must
be permitted accordingly by the municipality.
     5-6-10.1. Limited maintenance license.
     A Certificate D shall be issued to municipalities, schools, hospitals, colleges, or other
non-manufacturing firms or establishments who that regularly employ one or more licensed
electricians (journeyperson/Class B or Class M) when the work performed by those individuals is
limited to the maintenance of electrical wiring, devices, appliances, and equipment on the
premises owned or occupied by the applicant. The applicant application must contain a
description of the premises within which work is to be done under the permit. All work must meet
electrical and municipal codes and must be permitted accordingly by the municipality.
     5-6-11. Certificate/license of oil burnerperson, fire alarm installer, electrical sign
installers, lightning protection installers and renewable energy professionals.
Certificate/license of burnerperson, fire alarm installer, electrical sign installers, lightning-
protection installers and renewable energy professionals.
     (a) Oil burnerperson's Burnerperson's license. A Certificate F shall be granted to any
person who has passed an examination before the division of professional regulation. The
certificate shall specify the name of the person authorized to install, work on, and repair electric
wiring and equipment located in or on oil burners burning fuel oil no heavier than No. 2, and
other equipment serviced by oil burner contractors, to the extent only as is necessary to install,
service, maintain, and repair those oil burners and equipment. The license shall limit the holder of
a Certificate F to do work on electric wiring or equipment located between the meter and on those
oil burners and equipment and related components, but in no event to do any electrical work on
oil burners burning No. 3, 4, 5, or 6 fuel oil.
     (b) Fire alarm installer's license. A Certificate BF shall be granted to any person who has
passed an examination before the division of professional regulation. The certificate shall specify
the name of the person authorized to work on, install, maintain, and test fire alarm systems.
     (c) Electrical sign installer's license. A Certificate CF shall be granted to any person who
has passed an examination before the division of professional regulations. The certificate shall
specify the name of the person authorized to install, maintain, work on, and repair electrical signs.
     (d) Lightning-protection installer's license. A Certificate LPI shall be granted to any
person who has passed an examination before the division of professional regulations. The
certificate shall specify the name of the person authorized to install, maintain, work on, and repair
lightning-protection systems as defined in § 5-6-1.
     (e) Renewable energy professional's certificate. The Rhode Island department of labor
and training shall issue a certificate of competency in the design and installation of renewable
energy systems to any person, firm, or corporation who or that has received a certification from a
nationally recognized, or equivalent, renewable energy certification training program and has
demonstrated proof of such certification to the Rhode Island office of energy resources.
     5-6-13. Journeyperson and burnerperson restricted to work as employee of licensee.
     (a) Except as provided in § 5-6-14, a holder of a Certificate B is not entitled to do any
work of installing, maintaining, servicing, and testing wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures, or other
appliances for carrying or using electricity for light, heat, or power purposes except as an
employee of a holder of a Certificate A, of a Certificate C, or a Certificate D, or unless the holder
of a Certificate B is also registered as an electrical contractor and holds a certificate.
     (b) A holder of a Certificate F is not entitled to do any work on electric wiring, conduits,
apparatus, fixtures, or other appliances for carrying or using electricity for light, heat, or power
purposes, except as an employee of a holder of a Certificate E or A unless the holder of a
Certificate F is also registered as an oil a burner contractor and holds a Certificate E.
     (c) A holder of a Certificate AF is limited to fire alarm, fixtures, equipment for fire alarm
purposes only, and life safety equipment only unless the holder of a Certificate AF also holds a
Certificate BF.
     (d) A holder of a Certificate SCF is limited to electrical sign contracting only. A
Certificate CF is required for the actual installation of the electrical sign.
     (e) A holder of a Certificate LPC is limited to lightning-protection contracting only. A
Certificate LPI is required for the actual installation of the lightning-protection system.
     5-6-16. License fees.
     (a) All licenses issued by the division of professional regulation for master electricians,
all limited-license electricians, and all journeyperson electricians born in odd years shall expire
on the birthday of the individual qualifying for the license in odd years and all licenses of master
electricians, all limited-license electricians, and all journeyperson electricians born in even years
shall expire on the birthday of the individual qualifying for the license in even years and all
licenses may be renewed on or before their expiration date upon payment of the appropriate,
biennial renewal fee.
     (b) A fee of two hundred forty dollars ($240) shall be paid by each applicant for an
electrical contractor's license Class A; seventy-two dollars ($72.00) for a journeyperson
electrician's license Class B; two hundred forty dollars ($240) for a limited premises license Class
C; two hundred forty dollars ($240) for an oil a burner contractor's license Class E; seventy-two
dollars ($72.00) for an oil a burnerperson's license Class F; two hundred forty dollars ($240) for a
fire alarm contractor's license Class AF; seventy-two dollars ($72.00) for a fire alarm installer's
license Class BF; two hundred forty dollars ($240) for an electrical sign contractor's license SCF;
seventy-two dollars ($72.00) for a sign installer's license Class CF; and two hundred forty dollars
($240) for a limited maintenance license Class D.
     (c) A fee of two hundred forty dollars ($240) shall be paid by each applicant for a
lightning-protection contractor's license Class LPC.
     (d) A fee of seventy-two dollars ($72.00) shall be paid by each applicant for a lightning-
protection installer's license LPI.
     (e) A fee of seventy-two dollars ($72.00) shall be paid by each applicant for a sign
renovation electrical license.
     5-6-19. Display of licenses.
     (a) Holders of Licenses B, F, BF, CF, M, A, E, AF, SCF, LPC, and LPI shall be furnished
by the division of professional regulation with evidence of having been licensed in card form or
otherwise, which shall be carried on the person of the licensee and exhibited on request.
     (b) Any sign, listing, or advertisement of any type of a holder of those licenses shall
contain the holder's name, address, and license number; provided, only those persons, firms, or
corporations who or that are holders of a Class A license shall be permitted to advertise for the
employment of journeyperson or electrical apprentices.
     5-6-20.1. Mandatory continuing education.
     (a) On or before January 1, 1996, the board of examiners of electricians shall, by
regulation, establish a mandatory continuing education program for all persons licensed under
this chapter. The program is designed to ensure current competency in each licensee's area of
certification and/or licensing.
     (b) On and after January 1, 1997, no license under this chapter shall be renewed unless
the licensee demonstrates, in a manner prescribed by the board of examiners of electricians, that
he or she has successfully completed at least (15) fifteen (15) clock hours of continuing education
pursuant to and in compliance with the mandatory continuing education program established
under this section.
     (c) The course of study to be conducted over the fifteen-(15) hour-clock clock-hour (15)
period shall be approved by the Rhode Island building commissioner's office board of examiners
of electricians. Course providers may include, but not be limited to, vocational schools,
association seminars, labor training programs, employee training programs and private instructors
or inspectors and must also be approved by the building commissioner's office. Instructors or
inspectors shall be Rhode Island licensed electrical contractors employed by or about to be
employed by the providers and be board approved. Instructors or inspectors must attend a
preparation seminar held by the Rhode Island building commissioner's office to be approved.
That course shall be paid for by individuals attending the course.
     (d) The mandatory continuing education requirement is limited to class A and class B
electricians.
     (e) Out-of-state residents that who hold a Rhode Island electrical license are allowed to
submit a fifteen-(15) hour (15) continuing education credit from their state if it meets the Rhode
Island requirements and their state recognizes the Rhode Island continuing education certificates;.
     (f) Upon completion of the fifteen-(15) clock-hour (15) course, an approved uniform
certificate of completion shall be issued. Licensees are required to submit this verification of
completion for license renewal. The continuing education credits shall be included in the
currently adopted edition of the National Electrical Code and the Building Officials and Code
Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA) International Code Council (ICC) national codes;.
     (g) Only those approved instructors actually teaching a fifteen-clock-hour (15) course
shall be exempt from attending the fifteen-(15) hour (15) course.
     5-6-24. Apprentices -- Registration fee.
     (a) This chapter does not forbid the employment of one properly limited-registered
apprentice electrician working with and under the direct personal supervision of a licensed
journeyperson electrician. Additionally, this chapter does not forbid the employment of: (1) oOne
properly registered apprentice oil burnerperson working with and under the direct personal
supervision of a licensed oil burnerperson; (2) oOne properly registered apprentice fire alarm
installer working with and under the direct personal supervision of a licensed fire alarm installer;
or (3) tTwo (2) properly registered apprentice electrical sign installer installers working with and
under the direct personal supervision of a licensed electrical sign installer; (4) oOne properly
registered apprentice maintenance electrician working with and under the direct personal
supervision of a valid Class C or Class D license holder; or (5) one properly registered apprentice
lightning-protection installer working with and under the direct personal supervision of a licensed
lightning-protection installer (LPI). Apprentices are required to register with the division of
professional regulation initially upon payment of a fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) per year.
Apprentices are required to register with the division of professional regulation immediately upon
employment with a properly licensed electrical contractor or lightning-protection contractor.
     (b) Indentured apprentice electricians are required to work a minimum of eight thousand
(8,000) hours over a period of time of not less than four (4) years and successfully complete one
hundred forty-four (144) hours of related instruction per year in an indentured apprenticeship
program approved by the Rhode Island department of labor and training, to qualify for the
journeyperson "B" electrician examination; provided, however, apprentices may receive credit for
one hundred forty-four (144) hours of classroom training gained in a vocational school authorized
by the board of regents for elementary and secondary board of education and approved by the
Rhode Island department of labor and training apprenticeship council. Provided, that the test
applicant has possessed, for at least four (4) years prior to the filing of the application, a
certificate of registration in full force and effect from the department of labor and training of
Rhode Island specifying the person as an indentured apprentice, and the application of an
applicant is accompanied by an affidavit or affidavits of his or her employer or former employers
or other reasonably satisfactory evidence showing that the applicant has been actually engaged in
electrical work as an apprentice in Rhode Island during those four (4) years,; or the application is
accompanied by an affidavit or other reasonably satisfactory evidence showing that the applicant
has successfully completed a course of study in a recognized college or university and has
pursued a course of electrical technology for at least two (2) academic years or is the recipient of
an associate degree in electrical technology, and has thereafter been indentured by the department
of labor and training as an apprentice for at least two (2) years and employed as an indentured
apprentice by a duly licensed electrician master in this state for a period of two (2) years,; or a
showing that the applicant possesses a certificate of license issued under the laws of another state,
based on training equal to that required by the state of Rhode Island. Limited registered
apprentice electricians shall be required to work a minimum of four thousand (4,000) hours over a
period of time of not less than two (2) years.
     (c) Indentured apprentice maintenance electricians are required to work a minimum of six
thousand (6,000) hours over a period of time of not less than three (3) years and successfully
complete a one hundred forty-four (144) hours of related instruction per year in an indentured
apprenticeship program approved by the Rhode Island department of labor and training, to qualify
for the journeyperson "M" electrician examination. Provided, however, that the test applicant has
possessed for at least three (3) years prior to the filing of the application a certificate of
registration in full force and effect from the department of labor and training of Rhode Island
specifying the person as an indentured apprentice, and the application of an applicant is
accompanied by an affidavit or affidavits of his or her employer or former employers or other
reasonably satisfactory evidence showing that the applicant has been actually engaged in
electrical work as an apprentice in Rhode Island during those three (3) years. Class M
journeyperson electricians may qualify to take the journeyperson "B" electrician examination
upon registering as a fourth year apprentice and becoming employed by a properly licensed Class
A electrical contractor for that period of time.
     (d) Apprentice lightning-protection installers are required to work a minimum of four
thousand (4,000) hours over a period of time of not less than two (2) years to qualify for the
lightning-protection installer (LPI) examination. Provided, that the test applicant has possessed
for at least two (2) years prior to the filing of the application a certificate of registration in full
force and effect from the department of labor and training of Rhode Island specifying the person
as an apprentice lightning-protection installer, and the application of an applicant is accompanied
by an affidavit or affidavits of his or her employer or former employers or other reasonably
satisfactory evidence showing that the applicant has been actually engaged in lightning-protection
work as an apprentice during those two (2) years.
     5-6-26. Compliance with requirements of division or of electric company.
     All electrical work which is done in cities and towns not having their own rules and
requirements shall be done in accordance with any rules and requirements that are specified by
the division of professional regulation, or subject to its approval, by the public utilities having
authority to supply electricity in the place where the work is done. Any rules made or approved,
shall be based upon some definite the current adopted edition of the "National Electrical Code"
with any changes or additions that are deemed required. Failure of any licensee to do the work in
that manner shall be considered grounds for suspension or revocation of the license, in the
discretion of the division, after notice and a hearing before the board of examiners of electricians,
and upon recommendation to the director of labor and training.
     5-6-29. Persons and work exempt.
     (a) The provisions of this chapter do not apply to:
     (1) The electrical work and equipment for the generation and primary distribution of
electric current, or the secondary distribution system up to and including the meters, where that
work and equipment is an integral part of the system owned and operated by an electric light and
power company in rendering its authorized service; or to the electrical work and electrical
equipment employed in connection with the manufacture and distribution of gas, where that work
and equipment is an integral part of the system owned and operated by a gas company in
rendering its authorized service.
     (2) The electrical work and equipment employed in connection with the operation of
signals, or the transmission of intelligence, where that work and equipment is an integral part of
the communication system owned and operated by a municipality or by a telegraph or telephone
company, or any community antenna television system (CATV) subject to regulation under title
39 by the division of public utilities or any subcontractor of a CATV system, including the work
of a telephone company of installing, repairing, or replacing all wiring on the load side of the last
fused distribution point, and all of the emergency wiring installed, replaced, or repaired by a
telephone company; or any community antenna television system (CATV) subject to regulation
under title 39 by the division of public utilities or any subcontractor of such CATV system.
     (3) The electrical work and equipment in mines, ships, railway rolling stock, or
automotive equipment, or devices subject to the provisions of chapter 33 of title 23.
     (4) Any work involved in the manufacture, test, or repair of electrical equipment in the
manufacturer's plant, but not including any electrical wiring other than that required for testing
purposes.
     (b) This chapter does not apply to installations in suitable laboratories of exposed
electrical wiring for experimental purposes only.
     (c) This chapter does not forbid the installation of electrical work in a single-family or
two-family dwelling on the immediate premises of the dwelling by the owner of the dwelling if
living on, or about to live on, the premises.
     (d) This chapter does not apply to any person who now holds or subsequently may hold
holds a hoisting engineer's license issued by the state and who excavates for and installs
underground conduits; provided, that hoisting engineers shall be prohibited from installing
electrical wiring and/or making the service connection of any such electrical wires and/or cables.
A city, town, or such other authorized official shall issue a building permit to a licensed hoisting
engineer for excavation and installation of such underground conduits upon submission of a
completed application to the appropriate building official; provided, that a building permit will
not be required if the work is performed for an electric-distribution company.
     (5)(e) This chapter shall not apply to any person, firm, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, or other business entity who or that holds or subsequently holds a certificate
of registration as required by the Rhode Island department of environmental management for
work in the operation, installation, maintenance, servicing, and testing of onsite wastewater
treatment systems and its equipment and related components; provided, however, this shall not
permit any electric wiring or equipment maintenance between the electric meter and the onsite
wastewater treatment system.
     5-6-32. Authority of director to assess penalty.
     (a) The director may assess an administrative penalty on any person, firm, or corporation
for any violation of the provisions of this chapter, after notice and a hearing, before and upon the
recommendation of the board of examiners of electricians in the amount of five hundred dollars
($500) one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for the first violation and nine hundred fifty
dollars ($950) two thousand dollars ($2,000) for a subsequent violation. All funds collected by
the labor and training department under this section shall be placed in the restricted receipts
account created pursuant to § 28-22-1.1. This section is in addition to any other action provided
by law for violations of this chapter.
     (b) The chief of the section shall act as an investigator with respect to the enforcement of
all the provisions of law relative to the licensing of electricians and, to this effect, whenever a
complaint is made by the chief of the section to the director of the department of labor and
training or his or her designee that the provisions of this chapter are being violated, the director of
the department of labor and training or his or her designee may issue an order to cease and desist
from that violation and may impose the above penalties against the violator and against the
contractor.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC000352
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