LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 655
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Chapter 655
(House Bill 1285)
AN ACT concerning
Maryland Electricians Act – Revisions
FOR the purpose of requiring that the State Board of Electricians credit an applicant’s work
as part of certain apprenticeships for the experience required for certain electrician
licenses; requiring the State Board to waive the examination requirements for
certain applicants for a journeyperson electrician license; adjusting the number of
years an applicant for journeyperson electrician must work under a certain
circumstance; requiring that applicants for certain local permits have a State license
to provide electrical services; providing for the delayed issuance of an electrical
permit; providing that certain proof is sufficient to establish that certain applicants
have insurance coverage; requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to examine
certain memoranda of understanding; requiring the Department to attempt to
renegotiate certain memoranda of understanding in certain circumstances; requiring
the Department to report to the Governor and the General Assembly on certain
memoranda of understanding; and generally relating to the licensure of electricians
in the State.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Business Occupations and Professions
Section 6–304, 6–307.1, and 6–603, and 6–604
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Business Occupations and Professions
6–304.
(a) To qualify for a State license, an applicant shall meet the requirements of this
section.
(b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an applicant for a master
electrician license shall have been engaged or employed regularly and principally in
providing electrical services for all types of electrical equipment and apparatuses for at
least 7 years while under the direction and supervision of:
(i) a master electrician; or
(ii) a similarly qualified employee of a governmental unit. Ch. 655 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(2) (I) The State Board may allow an applicant up to 3 years of credit
toward the experience required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, if the State Board
determines that the applicant has completed a formal course of study or professional
training in electrical installation comparable to the required experience.
(II) THE STATE BOARD SHALL CREDIT TO WARD THE
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION A N
APPLICANT’S WORK AS PART OF A SUCCESSFULLY COMPLET ED ELECTRICIAN
APPRENTICESHIP PROGR AM APPROVED BY THE MARYLAND APPRENTICESHIP AND
TRAINING COUNCIL OR THE FEDERA L OFFICE OF APPRENTICESHIP .
(c) (1) [An] SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , AN
applicant for a journeyperson electrician license shall have been engaged or employed
regularly and principally in providing electrical services for all types of electrical equipment
and apparatuses for at least 4 years while under the direction and supervision of:
[(1)] (I) a master electrician; or
[(2)] (II) an employee of a governmental unit who is similarly qualified as
a master electrician licensed under this title.
(2) THE STATE BOARD SHALL CREDIT TO WARD THE EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED UNDER PARAG RAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION A N APPLICANT’S WORK AS
PART OF A SUCCESS FULLY COMPLETED ELEC TRICIAN APPRENTICESH IP PROGRAM
APPROVED BY THE MARYLAND APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING COUNCIL OR THE
FEDERAL OFFICE OF APPRENTICESHIP .
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the applicant shall pass an
examination given by the State Board under this subtitle.
(e) The State Board may investigate the qualifications of each applicant to
determine whether the applicant meets the requirements of this section.
6–307.1.
The State Board shall waive the experience AND EXAMINATION requirements for
an applicant for a journeyperson electrician license if the applicant:
(1) (i) provides written proof of [3] 4 years of work experience providing
electrical services under the control and direction of a master electrician; and
(ii) submits an application for a license to the State Board on or
before December 31, 2022; or
LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 655
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(2) provides written proof that the applicant has successfully completed an
electrician apprenticeship program approved by the Maryland Apprenticeship and
Training Council or the federal Office of Apprenticeship that consists of:
(i) at least 576 classroom hours; and
(ii) 8,000 hours of work experience.
6–603.
(a) An electrician may obtain an electrical permit or any other similar permit
from a local jurisdiction, if the electrician:
(1) (I) HOLDS A STATE LICENSE; AND
(II) is actively registered locally, if required, or holds a State license;
(2) shows proof of the State license; and
(3) pays any permit fee that the local jurisdiction requires; AND
(4) PROVIDES PROOF OF IN SURANCE IN COMPLIANC E WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS OF § 6–604 OF THIS SUBTITLE .
(b) Before a local jurisdiction issues an electrical permit or similar permit to an
electrician under this section, the local jurisdiction shall give the electrician notice of any
local electrical requirements with which the electrician shall comply while providing
electrical services in that local jurisdiction.
(c) (1) [On] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS
SUBSECTION, ON payment of the permit fee that the local jurisdiction requires, the local
jurisdiction shall issue the appropriate permit to each applicant who meets the
requirements of this section.
(2) IF A A LOCAL JURISDICTION REQUIRES MAY DELAY THE ISSUANCE
OF AN ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL PERMIT, INCLUDING A BUILDING PERMIT, IN
CONJUNCTION WITH AN ELECTRICAL PERMIT FO R A PARTICULAR JOB , THE LOCAL
JURISDICTION MAY DELAY THE ISSUANCE O F THE ELECTRICAL PER MIT UNTIL THE
ADDITIONAL PERMIT HAS BEEN ISSUED UNDER THIS SUBSECTI ON IF, FOR A
PARTICULAR JOB , THE LOCAL JURISDICTI ON REQUIRES THE ISSU ANCE OF OTHER
PERMITS, INCLUDING A BUILDING PERMIT, BEFORE ISSUANCE OF T HE ELECTRICAL
PERMIT.
6–604.
Ch. 655 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(a) This section does not apply to a State licensee on inactive status.
(b) A master electrician who is licensed by the State Board and provides electrical
services or a person to whom a master electrician licensed by the State Board assigns a
local registration under this title shall:
(1) maintain general liability insurance in the amount of at least $300,000;
(2) maintain property damage insurance in the amount of at least
$100,000; and
(3) submit proof of the required insurance to the State Board.
(c) (1) (I) An applicant for a State license shall submit proof of the
insurance required under this section to the State Board with the license application.
(II) AN APPLICANT FOR A JO URNEYPERSON ELECTRIC IAN
LICENSE MAY SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT UNDE R SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS
PARAGRAPH BY SUBMITT ING PROOF THAT THE A PPLICANT IS WORKING OR PLANS
TO WORK FOR A MASTER ELECTRICIAN WHO HAS FILED PROOF OF INSUR ANCE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SUBS ECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION.
(2) The State Board may not issue a State license to an applicant to whom
the insurance requirements of this section would apply unless the applicant submits proof
of the insurance.
(d) Unless an applicant meets the insurance requirements of this section, the
State Board may not renew a State license of the applicant to whom the insurance
requirements of this section would apply.
(e) If the insurance required under this section is canceled, the insurer shall
notify the State Board within 10 days after the date of cancellation.
(f) If a local jurisdiction requires an applicant for a local license to execute a bond
to the local jurisdiction, the applicant may satisfy the bond requirement by submitting proof
of the insurance required under this section.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:
(a) The Maryland Department of Labor shall review each memorandum of
understanding that the State has entered into with another state or territory guaranteeing
a reciprocal recognition of electrician licenses to determine whether all licenses issued to
master electricians under Title 6 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article is
covered by the terms of the memorandum of understanding.
LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 655
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(b) If the Maryland Department of Labor determines that the terms of a
memorandum of understanding do not cover a master electrician who is licensed in
accordance with Title 6 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article, the
Department shall seek to renegotiate the terms of the memorandum of understanding to
include licenses for those master electricians who are not covered.
(c) On or before January 1, 2023, the Maryland Department of Labor shall report
to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the
General Assembly on:
(1) any outstanding memoranda of understanding with other states or
territories guaranteeing a reciprocal recognition of electrician licenses that:
(i) do not recognize master electricians authorized for licensure
under Title 6 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article; and
(ii) that the Department was unable to renegotiate; and
(2) actions needed in order to guarantee that a license issued to a master
electrician in accordance with Title 6 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article
can be brought under the terms of a memorandum of understanding identified in item (1)
of this subsection, including:
(i) any necessary legislation; and
(ii) any necessary appropriation of funds.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June
July 1, 2022.
Enacted under Article II, § 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution, May 29, 2022.