The IBEW and the National Electrical
Contractors Association lobbied in favor of the bill requiring
electrician certification, which will go into effect January 1,
2005. California joins 30 other states with minimum qualifications
for electricians.
Today in California, professions such as manicurists, acupuncturists,
locksmiths and even boxers need to be certified, but electricians
who enter schools and other public places do not need to meet minimum
qualifications. Unsafe electrical construction by an uncertified
electrician resulted in the gruesome electrocution of a member of
the public in San Diego three years ago. Low quality work by anyone
in the industry taints everyone, bill supporters said.
"Now, a nonunion contractor can pull anyone off the street
and call them an electrician," said Ninth
District International Representative Gregory Teeple. "This
bill will raise industry standards and make a safer product for
the consumer."
Apprentices would be required to enter state Department of Industrial
Relations-approved programs offered by community colleges and technical
schools. Electrical apprentices would also need to complete 8,000
hours of on-the-job training, roughly the amount National Joint
Apprenticeship Training Committee requires in its five-year apprentice
program.
The law does not include a so-called "grandfather clause"
that would exempt current electricians from its provisions, Teeple
said, a fact that will probably attract some grumbling. But a similar
law passed in Oregon shows that this requirement has a positive
impact.
"Over time, it put everybody back into school two or three
times a year to keep their licenses current," Teeple said.
"Anybody that wants to do work in the electrical construction
industry will have to take the test."
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apprentices hit the books and computers as part of their rigorous
training.