WEST virginia Legislature

2017 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 2822

By Delegates Howell, Shott, Lewis, Ward, Hamrick, Arvon, O’Neal, Storch, Martin, Hill and Paynter

[Introduced March 8, 2017; Referred
to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security then Government Organization.]

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 military ratings to qualify for examination for license as a plumber, allowing military veterans with certain military ratings to qualify for examination for license as an electrician; allowing military veterans with certain military ratings to qualify for examination for license as a sprinkler fitter in training or a journeyman sprinkler fitter.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §21-14-3a; that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-3B-4a; and that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-3D-4a, all to read as follows:

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 on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and who has successfully completed the course of instruction required to qualify him or her for rating as a plumber, utilities man 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, 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 thirty years has passed from his or her successful completion of the course of instruction and date of application. If the veteran passes such 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 such examination or examinations, any provisions of this article relating to reexaminations shall apply to such 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 on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States 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 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 an electrician and the prescribed license fee.

If the certificate and discharge, as evidenced by the photostatic copies thereof, 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 thirty years has passed from his or her successful completion of the course of instruction and date of application. If the veteran passes such 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 such examination or examinations, any provisions of this article relating to reexaminations shall apply to such 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 on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States 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 West Virginia Commissioner of Labor, 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 documentation of the veteran’s training, hours of experience and discharge, as evidenced by the photostatic copies thereof, 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 thirty years has passed from his or her successful completion of the course of instruction and date of application. If the veteran passes such 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 such examination or examinations, any provisions of this article relating to reexaminations shall apply to such 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 allow honorably discharged veterans who possess certain military ratings to qualify to take an examination for licensing as a plumber, electrician, and sprinkler fitter.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.