SENATOR KELLY called the Senate Labor and Commerce meeting to order at 2:55 p.m. and announced CSSSHB 249(STA) (ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, TRADESPERSONS) to be up for consideration. REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS, prime sponsor of HB 249, said this bill addresses a problem that he sees as an emergency. On August 31, 1993 all electrical administrators licensed in the state, about 600, will expire. He said an electrical administrator is a master tradesperson who is above the journeyman level in electrical installations. He insures that electrical systems are installed according to code. CHARLES MAHLEN, Commissioner, Department of Labor, explained that the Electrical Examiners Board sunseted June 30, 1992. Since then there has been no method to regulate or supervise the people in the field. Number 142 SENATOR SALO wanted to know the reason for the two year period for having a lapsed license. COMMISSIONER MAHLEN said it is hard to get the examination and there are a lot of people whose licenses have expired since last year. SENATOR SALO commented that even if the Board is reestablished, there is still a long period of allowable lapse time in statute. SENATOR LINCOLN asked him to comment on the difference in the two fiscal notes. COMMISSIONER MAHLEN explained the latest fiscal note was lower because they added a clerk rather than an inspector. JOSH FINK, Legislative Aide for Senator Kelly, explained the Senate Labor & Commerce SCS. He said there were basically four changes. It transfers the Board of Mechanical Examiners and the Board of Electrical Examiners from the Department of Commerce and Economic Development to the Department of Labor. Secondly, it would reduce the extension of the Boards from June 30, 1996 to June 30, 1994. A representative from the Department of Commerce said the Governor's office made a decision on this legislation so they had no position. Speaking to the third change, MR. FINK explained that there was a repealer in the previous version that eliminated the requirement that electrical administrators be limited to one licensed contractor. It also repealed the requirement that mechanical administrators be limited to one licensed contractor. It repealed the class B misdemeanor for failure to appear in court to answer a citation. The fourth change was the addition of an immediate effective date. Number 279 SENATOR LINCOLN commented that by taking out the language, "shall reside in different judicial districts" leaves the appointees to be from one community. She wanted an amendment saying that each member shall reside in a different judicial district of the state. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS said that although the district are structured very strange, they didn't have a problem with it per se. SENATOR KELLY suggested inserting that one of the three has to be from a community with a population of less than 5,000 people. SENATOR KELLY made a conceptual amendment that the appointees had to come from different geographical areas. There were no objections and the amendment was adopted. MR. WHITE supported HB 249. SENATOR SALO asked why the sunset period was shortened. MR. FINK explained it was the intent that next year the powers of the Board would be transferred to the Department of Labor as part of the effort to reduce the number of Boards. SENATOR KELLY asked if there should be concern over the four-year licensing term. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS explained there have been attempts to renew licenses from various individuals. Four years would cover those that he is personally aware of that have made these attempts. The licenses would be renewed upon proof of continued competency. Number 392 SENATOR SHARP moved to adopt SCS CSSS HB 249(L&C) as amended. SENATOR SALO objected because she liked the other version of the bill better than the SCS. SENATOR SHARP, SENATOR RIEGER, and SENATOR KELLY voted to adopt the SCS and SENATOR SALO and SENATOR LINCOLN voted against its adoption. The Chairman stated the Labor & Commerce SCS was adopted. SENATOR SHARP moved to pass SCS CSSS HB 249(L&C) from committee. There were no objections and it was so ordered.