The bill creates the Electrical Division within the Public Protection Cabinet, Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction and amends sections of Chapter 227A relating to electrical inspections, electricians, and electrical permits. Several provisions relate to local governments. Section 1 requires a person to apply for an electrical permit prior to the construction, alteration, or repair of electrical wiring in certain buildings. Section 2 requires the Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction to "appoint and assign" a sufficient number of electrical inspectors to each county certified under the National Electrical Code. Section 3 grants the department authority to approve local government requests to issue permits, make inspections within their boundaries, and administer, carry out, and enforce administrative regulations related to electrical inspections. A local government cannot impose electrical inspection or permit requirements that exceed the state's requirements, unless those requirements were in place prior to January 1, 2012. Section 7 requires the department to establish a schedule of reasonable fees to be imposed uniformly across the state for electrical work that requires a permit. Section 11 retains existing provisions that allow electrical inspectors to immediately issue a stop-work order or recommend fines or other penalties if, in the judgment of the inspector, imminent danger to life or property exists. Local governments must petition the Commissioner of Housing, Buildings, and Construction if they want to perform local electrical permit functions and demonstrate they meet the requirements of KRS Chapter 227A. If a local government does not meet or continue to meet requirements, it will lose ability to perform electrical permit functions. Those functions, including the collection of associated permit fees, may then be assumed by the state. Persons who violate any provision of KRS Chapter 227A, administrative regulations related to KRS Chapter 227A, or the state's adopted electrical code, are subject to a fine of $1,000 to $2,000, imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.
HB215
12RS
The hyperlink to a bill draft that precedes a summary contains the most recent version (Introduced/GA/Enacted) of the bill. If the session has ended, the hyperlink contains the latest version of the bill at the time of sine die adjournment. Note that the summary pertains to the bill as introduced, which is often different from the most recent version.
AN ACT relating to electrical inspections and licensure. Repeal and reenact all necessary sections of KRS 227.450 to 227.530, relating to electricians and electrical inspecting, as new sections of KRS Chapter 227A, relating to electrician licensure; establish permit requirements; set conditions for appointment as an electrical inspector, including removal of conflicts of interest; describe conditions where localities, including combinations of localities, may oversee electrical inspection and permitting; establish electrical inspector reporting and surety bond requirements; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations for fee schedules, inspection protocols, and reporting forms; set procedures for inspections and for dealing with work conducted without a permit; amend KRS 227A.010 to define "alteration," "commissioner," "division," "electrical inspector," and "repair"; amend KRS 227A.050 to send fees and other moneys to the department’s trust and agency account for the purposes of administering and enforcing all of KRS Chapter 227A; deposit all interest accrued by the account back into the account; amend KRS 227A.130 to add electrical inspection and permitting penalties to KRS Chapter 227A; amend KRS 198B.060 to allow local government petitions for electrical permits; clarify that the state will provide a certified electrical inspector for new building approvals; amend KRS 227.205 to create the electrical division within the department; amend KRS 132.815, 211.350, and 227A.030 to conform; repeal KRS 227.450 and 227.500.
HB 215 - AMENDMENTS
Jan 5-introduced in House Jan 9-to Labor & Industry (H) Jan 20-posted in committee Feb 16-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute Feb 21-2nd reading, to Rules Feb 27-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Mar 2-floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute Mar 5-floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute, floor amendment (3) filed Mar 14-floor amendment (4) filed to Committee Substitute Mar 21-floor amendment (5) filed Mar 22-3rd reading, passed 96-0 with floor amendment (5) Mar 23-received in Senate Mar 26-to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (S) Mar 27-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar Mar 28-2nd reading, to Rules Mar 29-posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 29, 2012; 3rd reading, passed 36-1; received in House; enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House Mar 30-enrolled, signed by President of the Senate; delivered to Governor Apr 11-signed by Governor (Acts ch. 65)
