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An Act To Promote Safety and Career Paths in the Electrical Trade
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1202, sub-§2-A  is enacted to read:
 
2-A.  Helper license; educational requirements.     The requirements for a helper license on or after January 1, 2008 are as follows.
 
A.  An applicant who meets the requirements for a helper license and obtains a helper license has 2 years to renew from the initial licensure as a helper. Upon renewal, a helper must demonstrate either:
 
(1) Completion of an electrical program at a regional high school;
 
(2) Current enrollment in an electrical program at a community college; or
 
(3) Current enrollment in a registered apprentice program.
 
B.  At the time of each license renewal after the first renewal cycle, the renewal applicant must demonstrate progress toward completing the total number of hours of education to be eligible to take the journeyman electrician examination as set forth in subsection 1, paragraph A.
 
C.  An individual who obtains a helper license on or after January 1, 2008 has 12 years to become eligible to take the journeyman electrician examination.
 
An individual who holds a valid electrician's helper's license under subsection 2 before January 1, 2008 is not affected by this subsection.
 
SUMMARY
The bill encourages individuals seeking to enter the electrical installation field to enroll in a state-registered apprenticeship program or a community college program of electrical study. On or after January 1, 2008, applicants for a helper license are required to demonstrate progress toward completion of a formal course of study in order to renew the license after the first renewal cycle. The bill does not affect current licensees of the board who are validly licensed as helpers before January 1, 2008.