EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0414*
HOUSE BILL 414
L2 3lr1480
CF SB 326
By: Washington County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2023
Assigned to: Economic Matters
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Washington County – Electricians – Registration and Licensing 2
FOR the purpose of altering requirements for members of the Washington County Board 3
of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors; altering requirements for the examination 4
and licensing of Restricted Electricians in the county; requiring Master Electricians 5
to be registered by the county instead of licensed by the county; altering the 6
Washington County Department of Permits and Inspections to be the Washington 7
County Division of Permits and Inspections; and generally relating to electrician 8
licensure and registration in Washington County. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
The Public Local Laws of Washington County 11
Section 2–701(b)(5)(i), 8–101, 8–105, 8–106, 8–107, 8–109, 8–111 through 8–114, and 12
8–116 13
Article 22 – Public Local Laws of Maryland 14
(2019 Edition, as amended) 15
BY repealing 16
The Public Local Laws of Washington County 17
Section 8–104(b)(1)(i) 18
Article 22 – Public Local Laws of Maryland 19
(2019 Edition, as amended) 20
BY adding to 21
The Public Local Laws of Washington County 22
Section 8–104(b)(1)(i) 23
Article 22 – Public Local Laws of Maryland 24
(2019 Edition, as amended) 25
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 26
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 27 2 HOUSE BILL 414
Article 22 – Washington County 1
2–701. 2
(b) (5) (i) For any fiscal year, this paragraph applies to the development of 3
a single subdivision where the Washington County [Department] DIVISION of Permits and 4
Inspections has issued more than 25 building permits for new residential units in that fiscal 5
year. 6
8–101. 7
(a) In this subtitle, “Board” means the Board of Electrical Examiners and 8
Supervisors. 9
(b) The County Commissioners shall appoint a Board of Electrical Examiners and 10
Supervisors, consisting of 5 individuals, for the purpose of examining into the qualifications 11
and capabilities of all individuals who are engaged or desire to engage in the business of 12
Master Electrician as defined in this subtitle. 13
(c) The Board shall consist of 4 competent individuals who are familiar with the 14
electrical business. Those individuals shall [have been] BE residents of the county [for at 15
least 5 years]. One individual shall be selected from an electric public utility company doing 16
business in Washington County, 2 individuals shall be from among the [duly licensed] 17
REGISTERED Master Electricians in the county, and 1 member shall be appointed 18
at–large. Their term of office shall be for 2 years. 19
(d) The fifth member shall be designated by the Washington County Fire and 20
Rescue Association and shall be an active member of a Volunteer Fire Company in the 21
county. The term of office of this member is 2 years. 22
(e) Should a vacancy occur during the term of any member, the County 23
Commissioners shall appoint an individual to fill the vacant position. The County 24
Commissioners may remove any member of the Board for incompetency or improper 25
conduct upon satisfactory evidence being presented to it of the condition. 26
8–104. 27
(b) (1) The Board shall adopt rules and regulations for: 28
[(i) The examinations and licensing of Master Electricians and 29
Restricted Electricians;] 30
(I) THE REGISTERING OF MASTER ELECTRICIANS AND THE 31
EXAMINATIONS AND LIC ENSING OF RESTRICTED ELECTRICIANS; 32
HOUSE BILL 414 3
8–105. 1
(a) (1) In this subtitle, Master Electrician means and includes any and all 2
individuals engaged in the business of, or holding themselves out to the public as engaged 3
in the business of installing, erecting, or repairing, or contracting to install, erect, or repair 4
electric wires or conductors that are used for the transmission of electric current for electric 5
light, heat, or power purposes, or moldings, ducts, raceways, or conduits for the reception 6
or protection of such wires or conductors, or to any electrical machinery, apparatus, devices, 7
or fixtures to be used for electric light, heat, or power purposes. 8
(2) In this subtitle, “Restricted Electrician” means any individual who has 9
been found competent by the Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors to engage in 10
limited fields of electrical work. 11
(b) (1) A “Master Electrician” [license] REGISTRATION issued in accordance 12
with the provisions of this subtitle and the rules and regulations of the Board entitles any 13
[licensed] REGISTERED individual to engage in the business of and to hold himself out to 14
the public as engaged in the business of installing, erecting, and repairing and of 15
contracting to install, erect, and repair any electric wires or conductors, etc. 16
(2) A “Restricted Electrician” license issued in accordance with this subtitle 17
and the rules and regulations of the Board permits any licensed individual to engage in the 18
business of and to hold himself or herself out to the public as engaged in the business of 19
installation and repair of the particular category of electrical equipment and apparatus 20
described in the rules and regulations of the Board and on the license. 21
(c) This subtitle does not apply to any firm or corporation if the individual 22
managing and in charge of the electrical work for the firm or corporation is a Master 23
Electrician [licensed] REGISTERED under this subtitle. 24
8–106. 25
(a) Before any individual engages in the business of a [Master Electrician or] 26
Restricted Electrician in Washington County, that individual shall apply to the Board for 27
a license examination OR RECIPROCATE FROM THE ORIGINAL JURISDI CTION WHERE 28
THE EXAMINATION W AS ADMINISTERED . 29
(b) The Board shall hold license examinations 4 times annually at a time and 30
place determined by the Board. 31
(c) Examinations shall be administered and results determined according to the 32
rules and regulations of the Board. 33
8–107. 34
4 HOUSE BILL 414
(a) (1) Before the issuance or the renewal of a Master Electrician’s [license] 1
REGISTRATION or a Restricted Electrician’s license, an individual shall deliver to the 2
Board a certificate of comprehensive general liability insurance, including completed 3
operations coverage, with limits of $300,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for property 4
damage. 5
(2) The certificate of insurance shall be issued to the “Board of Electrical 6
Examiners and Supervisors of Washington County” with the applicant’s name, and 7
company name if applicable, appearing on the certificate. 8
(3) A holder of a Master Electrician’s [license] REGISTRATION shall 9
forward any notice of cancellation of insurance to the Board within 10 days of the 10
cancellation date. 11
(4) Insurance obtained in compliance with this section shall relieve the 12
applicant for a Master Electrician’s [license] REGISTRATION from any requirement to 13
furnish a separate surety bond. 14
(5) An applicant for a Restricted Electrician’s license shall also comply with 15
the insurance requirements of this section. 16
(6) Holders of an inactive Master Electrician’s [license] REGISTRATION 17
are exempt from the insurance requirements of this subsection. 18
(b) The fees shall be determined by a fee schedule adopted by the County 19
Commissioners. 20
8–109. 21
The Board may revoke or suspend for proper cause any REGISTRATION OR license 22
or REGISTRATION OR license renewal after a full hearing of all parties in interest. 23
8–111. 24
This subtitle may not be construed to prevent any individual from doing or 25
performing any of the kinds of work enumerated in this subtitle if that work is performed 26
under the direction and supervision of a [duly licensed] REGISTERED Master Electrician. 27
The [licensed] REGISTERED Master Electrician shall be responsible for any and all work 28
done under the authority granted by the Master Electrician’s [license] REGISTRATION . 29
Any person working under the authority of a Master Electrician’s [license] REGISTRATION 30
shall work under the direct supervision of the [licensed] REGISTERED Master Electrician. 31
8–112. 32
(a) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor who: 33
HOUSE BILL 414 5
(1) Practices, engages, or continues in the work of a Master Electrician or 1
a Restricted Electrician without compliance with all the provisions of this subtitle; 2
(2) Performs the work of a Master Electrician or a Restricted Electrician 3
while not REGISTERED OR licensed as, or under the supervision of, a Master Electrician 4
or a Restricted Electrician, respectively; 5
(3) Has been [licensed] REGISTERED as a Master Electrician or 6
LICENSED AS a Restricted Electrician and who fails to renew his REGISTRATION OR 7
license and performs the work of a Master Electrician or a Restricted Electrician; and 8
(4) Violates any of the provisions of this subtitle. 9
(b) (1) Upon conviction, the person shall be fined not less than $250 nor more 10
than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both. 11
(2) Any conviction automatically shall revoke and annul any license that 12
may have been issued to that person. 13
8–113. 14
(a) A REGISTRATION OR license or REGISTRATION OR license renewal granted 15
or issued under the provisions of this subtitle shall specify: 16
(1) The name of the individual to whom it is issued; or 17
(2) If the Board has authorized the assignment of the license OR 18
REGISTRATION or license OR REGISTRATION renewal, the name of the individual to 19
whom it is assigned. 20
(b) An unlicensed individual, firm, or corporation may not obtain a permit to 21
perform electrical work under the authority of a licensee. 22
8–114. 23
All fees collected under the provisions of this subtitle shall be collected by the 24
Washington County [Department] DIVISION of Permits and Inspections. 25
8–116. 26
(a) An electric light or power company may not attach its power lines or electric 27
meters to any consumer’s property within the borders of Washington County unless and 28
until a temporary or permanent meter cut–in certificate has been issued by the Washington 29
County [Department] DIVISION of Permits and Inspections. 30
6 HOUSE BILL 414
(b) The Washington County [Department] DIVISION of Permits and Inspections 1
shall issue a meter cut–in card to the power or electric company furnishing the electricity 2
to the consumer’s property. 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 4
October 1, 2023. 5