ELECTRICIANS & PLUMBERS; APPRENTICE RATIOS S.B. 740:

SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

IN COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Bill 740 (as introduced 3-6-24)

Sponsor: Senator Darrin Camilleri

Committee: Labor

 

Date Completed: 5-15-24

 


CONTENT

 

The bill would amend the Skilled Trades Regulation Act to do the following:

 

--   Modify the jobsite ratio for electrical journeymen to registered apprentice from one to three to one to two.

--   Require a jobsite ratio of one master plumber to not more than two apprentices.

--   Prescribe administrative fines for violating a required ratio.

 

The Act requires the ratio of electrical journeymen or master electricians to registered apprentice electricians on a jobsite to be one electrical journeyman or master electrician to not more than three registered apprentice electricians. The bill would require the ratio to be one journeyman or master electrician to not more than two registered apprentice electricians.

 

An apprentice plumber must, as their principal occupation, be engaged in learning and assisting in the installation of plumbing under direct jobsite supervision of a journey or master plumber. Currently, the Act does not require a specific ratio of journey or master plumbers to apprentices on a jobsite. The bill would require the ratio of journey or master plumbers who provide direct on-site supervision to an apprentice to be one journey or master plumber to not more than two apprentices on a jobsite. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) or a plumbing inspector would have to enforce the ratio on a jobsite basis.

 

Under the bill, an individual who held an electrical contractor's license or a master electrician's license or a plumbing contractor who violated the applicable ratio would be subject to the following punishments:

 

--    For a first violation, a $5,000 administrative fine.

--    For a second violation, a $10,000 administrative fine.

--    For a third violation, a suspension of licensure for at least 90 days; after 90 days, the master electrician or plumbing contractor could have the license reinstated if the master electrician or plumbing contractor passed the appropriate licensing examination.

 

The bill would require LARA to pay any money collected for an administrative fine to the enforcing agency that discovered the violation that resulted in the administrative fine.

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bill would have a positive fiscal impact on State government. The administrative fines collected would be paid to the enforcing agency that discovered the violation but the increase in revenue from fines would depend on the number of violations.

 

MCL 339.5717 et al. Analyst: Nathan Leaman

 

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.