Chapter 186
2021 -- H 5437 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
Enacted 07/06/2021

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

Introduced By: Representative John G. Edwards

Date Introduced: February 10, 2021

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 5-6-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-6 entitled "Electricians" is
hereby amended to read as follows:
     5-6-24. Apprentices -- Registration.
     (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) One
properly registered apprentice burnerperson working with and under the direct personal supervision
of a licensed burnerperson; (2) One properly registered apprentice fire alarm installer working with
and under the direct personal supervision of a licensed fire alarm installer; (3) Two (2) properly
registered apprentice electrical sign installers working with and under the direct personal
supervision of a licensed electrical sign installer; (4) One 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 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 education, or a maximum of two hundred eighty-eight (288) hours of classroom
training gained over two (2) academic years (one hundred forty-four (144) per academic year),
upon the successful completion of a course of study in a fully accredited trade school that has been
approved by the Rhode Island office of postsecondary commissioner 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) four (4) years and employed as an indentured apprentice by a duly
licensed electrician master in this state for a period of two (2) four (4) 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 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 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 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.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage on June 30, 2022.
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LC000718/SUB A
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