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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

HB329

Electric Utility Worker Safety Certificates

Last scannedSep 21, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This law removes the need for a certificate of fitness for electric utility employees and qualified municipal or tribal workers in small, isolated service areas.

What it does

  • Removes the requirement for a certificate of fitness for employees working at an electric utility under specific conditions.
  • Allows qualified local municipal or tribal government workers performing work on behalf of utilities to be exempt from this certificate if they meet location rules.
  • Applies these exceptions only in service areas that do not contain any portion of a city with more than 2,500 people.
  • Also applies the exception to portions of a service area that are not electrically interconnected with other parts and are not part of a city with more than 2,500 people.
  • Requires electric utilities to ensure outside workers from local governments are qualified employees and follow established electrical safety standards.

Who it affects

  • Employees of electric utility companies in Alaska
  • Qualified employees of local municipal governments performing work on behalf of utilities
  • Qualified employees of tribal governments performing work on behalf of utilities

Limits and unknowns

  • The law only applies if the service area does not contain any portion of a city with more than 2,500 people.
  • It also requires that isolated portions of a service area are not electrically interconnected with other parts.

Plain language

Terms to know

Certificate of fitness
A document required for a person to be employed to perform specific electrical work, unless an exception applies.
Qualified employee
A person who has shown the ability to safely perform assigned work through degrees, certificates, professional standing, knowledge, training, or experience.

Official record

Sources

Validated

Official summary

ELECTRIC UTILITY: CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS An Act relating to certificates of fitness for employees of an electric utility.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) REFERRED TO RULES2017
  2. (H) FN1: ZERO(LWF)2017
  3. (H) NR: COULOMBE, SADDLER2017
  4. (H) DP: FRIER, CARRICK, HALL, FIELDS2017
  5. (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 4DP 2NR2017
  6. (H) Moved CSHB 329(L&C) Out of CommitteeText
  7. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  8. (H) Heard & HeldText
  9. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  10. (H) Moved HB 329 Out of CommitteeText
  11. (H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124Text
  12. (H) FN1: ZERO(LWF)1787
  13. (H) NR: HALL1787
  14. (H) DP: HOLLAND, PRAX, G.NELSON, ST. CLAIR, MEARS, HIMSCHOOT1787
  15. (H) CRA RPT 6DP 1NR1787
  16. (H) Heard & HeldText
  17. (H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124Text
  18. (H) CRA, L&C1684
  19. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS1684