WEST virginia legislature
2020 regular session
Committee Substitute
for
Senate Bill 705
Senators Maynard, Blair, Clements, Cline, and Rucker, original sponsors [Originating in the Committee on the Workforce; reported on February 19, 2020]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §21-14-3a; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-3B-4a; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-3D-4a, all relating to allowing military veterans with certain experience to qualify for examination for licensure as a plumber, electrician, sprinkler fitter, and sprinkler fitter in training; providing the qualifications to sit for a plumber’s examination; providing qualifications to sit for an electrician’s examination; and providing qualifications to sit for an examination of a sprinkler fitter in training or a journeyman sprinkler fitter.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
chapter 21. labor.
ARTICLE 14. Supervision of plumbing work.
§21-14-3a. Veteran qualification for examination for license as a plumber.
Any person who has served as a member of the United States armed forces, National Guard, or reserve, and who has successfully completed the course of instruction required to qualify him or her for rating as a plumber, utilities worker, or other equivalent rating in his or her particular branch of the armed forces, and whose service in the armed forces was under honorable conditions, may submit to the West Virginia Commissioner of Labor a photostatic copy of the certificate issued to him or her certifying successful completion of such course of instruction, a photostatic copy of his or her discharge from the armed forces, an application for a certification as a plumber, and the prescribed license fee.
If the certificate and discharge, as evidenced by the photostatic copies thereof, and the application and prescribed license fee are in order, and if the veteran meets all of the requirements of this article, the veteran shall be permitted to take the same examination or examinations as are required under this article for applicants who do not apply for a license under the provisions of this article: Provided, That the veteran may be required to attend additional training courses prior to taking the examination if more than 30 years have passed from his or her successful completion of the course of instruction and date of application. If the veteran passes the examination or examinations, he or she shall be licensed as a plumber and shall thereafter be subject to all of the provisions of this article. If the veteran does not pass the examination or examinations, any provisions of this article relating to reexaminations shall apply to the veteran the same as they apply to a person who does not apply for a license under the provisions of this article.
CHAPTER 29. MISCELLANEOUS BOARDS AND OFFICERS.
ARTICLE 3b. Supervision of Electricians.
§29-3B-4a. Veteran qualification for examination for license as an electrician.
Any person who has served as a member of the United States armed forces, National Guard, or reserve, and who has successfully completed the course of instruction required to qualify him or her for rating as an electrician, electrician’s mate, or other equivalent rating in his or her particular branch of the armed forces, and whose service in the armed forces was under honorable conditions, may submit to the State Fire Marshal a photostatic copy of the certificate issued to him or her certifying successful completion of such course of instruction, a photostatic copy of his or her discharge from the armed forces, an application for a certification as an electrician, and the prescribed license fee.
If the certificate and discharge, as evidenced by the photostatic copies thereof, and the application and prescribed license fee are in order, and if the veteran meets all of the requirements of this article, the veteran shall be permitted to take the same examination or examinations as are required under this article for applicants who do not apply for a license under the provisions of this article: Provided, That the veteran may be required to attend additional training courses prior to taking the examination if more than 30 years have passed from his or her successful completion of the course of instruction and date of application. If the veteran passes the examination or examinations, he or she shall be licensed as an electrician and shall thereafter be subject to all of the provisions of this article. If the veteran does not pass the examination or examinations, any provisions of this article relating to reexaminations shall apply to the veteran the same as they apply to a person who does not apply for a license under the provisions of this article.
ARTICLE 3D. SUPERVISION OF FIRE PROTECTION WORK.
§29-3D-4a. Veteran qualification for license as a journeyman sprinkler fitter or a sprinkler fitter in training.
Any person who has served as a member of the United States armed forces, National Guard, or reserve, and who has successfully completed the course of instruction required to qualify him or her for rating as a fire protection officer or other equivalent rating in his or her particular branch of the armed forces, which provided the veteran direct experience installing, adjusting, repairing, and dismantling fire protection systems, and whose service in the armed forces was under honorable conditions, may submit to the State Fire Marshal a photostatic copy of a certificate issued to him or her certifying successful completion of such course of instruction and documentation evidencing the number of hours of experience the veteran possesses, a photostatic copy of his or her discharge from the armed forces, an application for a certification as a journeyman sprinkler fitter or sprinkler fitter in training, and the prescribed license fee.
If the certificate and discharge, as evidenced by the photostatic copies thereof, documentation of hours of training and experience, and prescribed license fee are in order, and if the veteran meets all of the requirements of this article, the veteran shall be permitted to take the same examination or examinations as are required under this article for applicants who do not apply for a license under the provisions of this article: Provided, That the veteran may be required to attend additional training courses prior to taking the examination if more than 30 years have passed from his or her successful completion of the course of instruction and date of application. If the veteran passes the examination or examinations, he or she shall be licensed as a sprinkler fitter in training or a journeyman sprinkler fitter and shall thereafter be subject to all of the provisions of this article. If the veteran does not pass the examination or examinations, any provisions of this article relating to reexaminations shall apply to the veteran the same as they apply to a person who does not apply for a license under the provisions of this article.
Note: The purpose of this bill is to all allow military veterans with certain training and experience to qualify for examination for licensure as electricians and plumbers or in other trades.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.