NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 4/15/2016.
      
      
      HOUSE BILL 16-1073
      
      
      BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Duran and DelGrosso, Brown, Court, Esgar,
      Fields, Garnett, Ginal, Hamner, Kraft-Tharp, Lebsock, Lontine, Melton,
      Mitsch Bush, Pabon, Pettersen, Primavera, Roupe, Tyler, Williams, Winter,
      Young, Hullinghorst;
      also SENATOR(S) Guzman and Scheffel, Garcia, Grantham, Heath, Jahn,
      Todd, Woods.
      
      
      Concerning the qualifications of licensed electricians.
      
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-23-106, amend (4)
      (d) as follows:
      
           12-23-106.  License requirements - rules - repeal. (4) (d) (I) (A)
      On or after January 1, 2011, Before June 1, 2017, the department shall not
      renew a license unless the applicant has demonstrated competency through
      an assessment of competency, which may be performed by private entities
      in accordance with rules promulgated by the board.
      
           (B)  This subparagraph (I) is repealed, effective January 1,
      2018.
      
           (II)  On or after January 1, 2018, the department shall not
      renew or reinstate a license unless the applicant has completed
      twenty-four hours of continuing education since the date of
      issuance of the applicant's initial license or, if the applicant's
      license was renewed or reinstated, the most recent renewal or
      reinstatement.
      
           (II) (III)  On or before April 1, 2017, the board, in collaboration
      with established industry training programs and industry representatives,
      shall adopt rules establishing continuing competency standards. The rules
      shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following elements:
      
           (A)  Assessment of the knowledge and skills required to renew a
      license;
      
           (B)  The methods to obtain the required knowledge and skills; and
      
           (C)  The education requirements and standards, which
      requirements and standards must include course work related to
      the National Electrical Code, including core competencies as
      determined by the board. A renewal or reinstatement license
      applicant shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the board, in
      a form and manner required by the board, documentation necessary
      to demonstrate compliance with this subparagraph (II) (III) and rules
      promulgated pursuant to this subparagraph (III). To ensure
      consumer protection, the board's rules may include audit
      standards for licensee compliance with continuing education
      requirements and requirements pertaining to the testing of
      licensees by the continuing education vendor.
      
           (III)  The assessment required by sub-subparagraph (A) of
      subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (d) shall provide sufficient information
      to each licensee to allow the licensee to address any areas of deficiency. If
      the licensee fails to demonstrate competency, the license may be renewed
      if the licensee provides evidence that the licensee has complied with the
      requirements of the continuing competency program.
      
           SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-23-116, amend
      (10) as follows:
      
           12-23-116.  Inspection - application - standard - rules - repeal.
      (10)  An inspector performing an inspection for the state, an incorporated
      town or city, a county, a city and county, or a qualified state institution of
      higher education may verify compliance with any provision of this article;
      and however, for each project, inspections performed by the state,
      an incorporated town or city, a county, a city and county, or a
      qualified state institution of higher education must include a
      contemporaneous review to ensure that the specific requirements
      of sections 12-23-105 and 12-23-110.5 have been met. A
      contemporaneous review may include a full or partial review of
      the electricians and apprentices working on a job site being
      inspected. To ensure that enforcement is consistent, timely, and
      efficient, each entity, including the state, as described in this
      subsection (10), shall develop standard procedures to advise its
      inspectors how to conduct a contemporaneous review. Each
      entity's standard procedures need not require a
      contemporaneous review for each and every inspection of a
      project, but the procedures must preserve an inspector's ability
      to verify compliance with sections 12-23-105 and 12-23-110.5 at
      any time. Each entity, including the state, shall post its current
      procedures regarding contemporaneous reviews in a prominent
      location on its public website. An inspector may file a complaint with
      the board for a any violation of this article.
      
           SECTION 3.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,
      determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
      preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.
      
      
      
      
      ________________________________________________________
      Dickey Lee Hullinghorst                Bill L. Cadman
      SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE                     PRESIDENT OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Marilyn Eddins                            Effie Ameen
      CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE                 SECRETARY OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO