You asked if electricians or electrical contractors supported or opposed passage of the law requiring electricians to attend continuing education classes every year and if the Department of Labor supported the measure at the public hearing.

Two electrical contractors spoke in favor of the bill at the hearing, none in opposition. No one from the Department of Labor testified.

The General Law Committee heard testimony from four individuals about the bill (SB 501, PA 02-142) on March 9, 2002. The first speaker, John Yusza, was president of Monitor Controls, a burglar alarm company and a low voltage electrical contractor. He briefly stated his support.

The second speaker, Laurence Vallieres, was also an electrical contractor who supported the bill. Vallieres spoke in his dual capacities as President of the Independent Electrical Contractors of New England and Chairman of the Electrical Work Examining Board. He stated that the bill (1) would ensure the highest possible standards for electricians; (2) would address consumer safety, code changes, and quality assurance; (3) was like the laws in the other five New England states and in 67% of the states that require electricians to be licensed; and (4) was supported unanimously by the Electrical Work Examining Board. He asserted that the Department of Consumer Protection supported the proposal, but a representative of the department did not testify.

The other two speakers asked the committee to amend the bill to also require plumbers to attend continuing education classes.

No one from the Department of Labor testified.

DD: ro