Bill Text: NJ A1583 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides that applicant for business permit as electrical contractor must meet certain requirements.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee [A1583 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A1583-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman FREDERICK SCALERA
District 36 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman JOSEPH V. EGAN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Prieto
SYNOPSIS
Provides that applicant for business permit as electrical contractor must meet certain requirements.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning electrical contractors and amending P.L.1962, c.162 and P.L.1995, c.213.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 9 of P.L.1962, c.162 (C.45:5A-9) is amended to read as follows:
9. (a) On or after July 1, 1963, no person shall advertise, enter into, engage in or work in business as an electrical contractor, unless such person has secured a business permit and such person [or] is an [officer,] owner or partner [or employee] who is or will be actively engaged in the business for which a business permit is sought and has obtained a license from the board in accordance with the provisions of this act, and such [licensee] business permit holder shall assume full responsibility for inspection and supervision of all electrical work to be performed by the permittee in compliance with recognized safety standards. A licensee shall not be entitled to qualify more than one person for a business permit.
Any single act or transaction shall constitute engaging in the business of electrical contracting within the meaning of this chapter.
(b) [Except as otherwise provided in section 10, no] No person shall be granted an electrical contractor's license unless he shall first establish his qualifications therefor and shall take and pass the examination for electrical contractors. An applicant for such examination shall have been employed or engaged in the business of electrical construction and installation [or have equivalent practical experience] for a period of not less than five years preceding the time of such application, [or shall otherwise establish to the satisfaction of the board that the applicant has the necessary educational background and experience to qualify to take the examination for a license] during which five-year period the applicant shall have graduated from a four-year apprenticeship program approved by both a federal agency and a federally certified State agency.
The examination shall be so designed as to establish the competence and qualification of the applicant to perform and supervise the various phases of electrical contracting work. Any applicant who shall fail to pass any part of such examination shall not be eligible to retake an examination until six months from the date of such failure. An applicant who fails to pass any portion of the examination shall retake the entire examination.
(c) An applicant for an examination for a license shall apply to the board for permission to take such examination upon forms provided by the board and shall provide the board with such information as shall be necessary to establish his qualifications to take the examination. The applicant for an initial examination shall pay a fee to the board of $25.00. An applicant for re-examination shall pay a fee to the board of $15.00. Such fees shall not be refundable.
(d) An applicant for a business permit shall satisfactorily demonstrate to the board that he:
(1) is currently licensed as an electrical contractor;
(2) has been employed as a qualified journeyman electrician registered by the board or a licensed electrical contractor for a total of not less than four years;
(3) has completed a management class of not less than 60 hours at a county college or county vocational school accredited pursuant to Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, or other accredited institution of higher education approved by the board, or holds a bachelor's degree, with a business major, from a regionally accredited college or university; and
(4) is the holder of not less than 25 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of stock in a corporation, or not less than 25 percent of the capital of a partnership, or not less than 25 percent of the ownership of any other firm or legal entity, established to engage in the business of electrical contracting in this State.
(cf: P.L.1990, c.108, s.1)
2. Section 1 of P.L.1995, c.213 (C.45:5A-9.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. Every person who holds a business permit for electrical work pursuant to P.L.1962, c.162 (C.45:5A-1 et seq.) shall:
a. Secure, maintain and file with the board proof of a bank letter of credit covering the electrical work done pursuant to that business permit or a certificate of general liability insurance from an insurance company authorized and licensed to do business in this State covering the electrical work done pursuant to that business permit. The minimum amount of the bank letter of credit shall be [$300,000] $1,000,000 for property damage and bodily injury to or death of one or more persons and the minimum amount of general liability insurance shall be [$300,000] $1,000,000 for the combined property damage and bodily injury to or death of one or more persons in any one accident or occurrence; and
b. File with the board its Federal Tax Identification number.
Every proof of a bank letter of credit or certificate of insurance required to be filed with the board pursuant to this section shall provide that cancellation of the bank letter of credit or insurance shall not be effective unless and until at least 10 days' notice of intention to cancel has been received in writing by the board.
(cf: P.L.1995, c.213, s.1)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that an applicant to the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors for a business permit must meet certain minimum standards before being issued a permit. The bill provides that an applicant for a business permit must satisfactorily demonstrate to the board that he: (1) is currently licensed as an electrical contractor; (2) has been employed as a qualified journeyman electrician registered by the board or a licensed electrical contractor for a total of at least four years; (3) has completed a management class of at least 60 hours at a county college or county vocational school accredited pursuant to Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, or other accredited institution of higher education approved by the board or holds a bachelor's degree, with a business major, from a regionally accredited college or university; and (4) is the holder of not less than 25 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of stock in a corporation, or not less than 25 percent of the capital of a partnership, or not less than 25 percent of the ownership of any other firm or legal entity established to engage in the business of electrical contracting in this State.
The bill further provides that a person who holds a business permit for electrical work shall maintain a bank letter of credit in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 for property damage and bodily injury to or death of one or more persons or general liability insurance in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 for the combined property damage and bodily injury to or death of one or more persons in any one accident or occurrence. This is an increase from the current requirement of $300,000 in each case.
