SB 6089 flew through the House, unamended, passing that chamber by a unanimous vote. It heads now to the Governor’s desk for signature.

The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) will collaborate with AWC in the coming months to support cities that issue their own electrical permits and perform their own electrical inspections in finding new pathways for electricians to qualify as electrical inspectors. L&I will report the results of that work to the Legislature by December 15, 2024.

AWC and L&I to support city electricians in finding pathways to qualify as inspectors, per an amendment to SB 6089

February 9, 2024

An amendment proposed by AWC to SB 6089 was adopted on the floor last week before the bill passed by a unanimous vote.

Now, the bill directs the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) and AWC to work with cities that issue their own electrical permits and perform their own electrical inspections to identify appropriate pathways to qualify as an electrical inspector. It also requires L&I to submit a report on the issue to the Legislature by the end of this year.

SB 6089 has made it to the opposite chamber where it currently awaits a hearing in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee.

Electricians would see stricter standards to qualify as electrical inspectors under new bill

February 2. 2024

A new bill would create more rigorous standards for electricians to qualify as journey level electrical inspectors.

SB 6089, requested by the Dept. of Labor & Industries (L&I) and sponsored by Sens. Curtis King (R–Yakima) and Karen Keiser (D–Kent), removes allowable minimum requirements to work as a journey level electrical inspector.

Current law allows electrical inspector candidates to meet their training and experience requirements through various pathways, including a mix of college level training and practical electrical experience. The bill reduces the pathways by removing the provisions allowing an electrical inspector to have two years of training in a college of electrical engineering and four years of practical experience in installation work, or four years of college training and two years of practical experience.

The change would mean that all electrical inspectors appointed by L&I must have at least 4 years of practical work experience as a journey level electrician.

By eliminating these pathways, cities may have a harder time finding, hiring, and performing electrical inspections. This change could be especially problematic at a time when workforce challenges persist. To avoid further constraining the workforce, AWC recommends developing and implementing a program for reciprocity or providing a more transparent approach for determining competency.

SB 6089 passed out of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee by a unanimous vote and now awaits floor action.