Electrical inspector exp.

AN ACT Relating to expanding minimum requirements for electrical 1
inspectors to include certain out-of-state experience; and amending 2
RCW 19.28.321. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 19.28.321 and 2024 c 196 s 1 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
The director of labor and industries of the state of Washington 7
and the officials of all incorporated cities and towns where 8
electrical inspections are required by local ordinances shall have 9
power and it shall be their duty to enforce the provisions of this 10
chapter in their respective jurisdictions. The director of labor and 11
industries shall appoint a chief electrical inspector and may appoint 12
other electrical inspectors as the director deems necessary to assist 13
the director in the performance of the director's duties. The chief 14
electrical inspector, subject to the review of the director, shall be 15
responsible for providing the final interpretation of adopted state 16
electrical standards, rules, and policies for the department and its 17
inspectors, assistant inspectors, electrical plan examiners, and 18
other individuals supervising electrical program personnel. If a 19
dispute arises within the department regarding the interpretation of 20
adopted state electrical standards, rules, or policies, the chief 21
S-0554.1
SENATE BILL 5265
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators King, Boehnke, Chapman, Dozier, and Harris
Read first time 01/14/25. Referred to Committee on Labor & Commerce.
p. 1 SB 5265
electrical inspector, subject to the review of the director, shall 1
provide the final interpretation of the disputed standard, rule, or 2
policy. All electrical inspectors appointed by the director of labor 3
and industries shall have not less than: Four years experience as 4
journey level electricians in the electrical construction trade 5
installing and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment; a journey 6
level electrician certificate issued by the department and eight 7
years of experience in the electrical construction trade installing 8
and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment, four years of which 9
occurred after obtaining a journey level electrician license or 10
certificate by examination from another state electrical licensing or 11
certification authority; or four years experience as a journey level 12
electrician performing the duties of an electrical inspector employed 13
by the department or a city or town with an approved inspection 14
program under RCW 19.28.141, except that for work performed in 15
accordance with the national electrical safety code and covered by 16
this chapter, such inspections may be performed by a person certified 17
as an outside journeyperson lineworker, under RCW 19.28.261(5)(b), 18
with four years experience or a person with four years experience as 19
a certified outside journeyperson lineworker performing the duties of 20
an electrical inspector employed by an electrical utility. Such state 21
inspectors shall be paid such salary as the director of labor and 22
industries shall determine, together with their travel expenses in 23
accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or 24
hereafter amended. As a condition of employment, inspectors hired 25
exclusively to perform inspections in accordance with the national 26
electrical safety code must possess and maintain certification as an 27
outside journeyperson lineworker. The expenses of the director of 28
labor and industries and the salaries and expenses of state 29
inspectors incurred in carrying out the provisions of this chapter 30
shall be paid entirely out of the electrical license fund, upon 31
vouchers approved by the director of labor and industries.32
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p. 2 SB 5265