FIRE ALARM SPECIALTY APPRENTICE TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS

House Bill 4045 (Proposed Substitute H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. Hugh Crawford

Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Complete to 2-4-13

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4045 (PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE H-1)

The bill would amend the Electrical Administrative Act to remove a provision requiring apprenticeship training programs for fire alarm specialty apprentice technicians to be equivalent to the standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Under current law, individuals employed as fire alarm specialty apprentice technicians must register with the Electrical Administrative Board within 30 days after employment.  Upon receiving an application, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is required to issue a certificate of registration once it has received satisfactory proof that the applicant has participated in a bona fide and board-approved apprenticeship training program that is equivalent to the requirements of the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.  House Bill 4045 would eliminate the requirement that the training program be equivalent to the requirements of the U.S. Department of Labor. 

MCL 338.883h

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4045 would have a minor negative fiscal impact on the Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to the extent that the Electrical Administrative Board, financially supported by the BCC, would be obligated to develop requirements and standards for approval of fire alarm specialty technician apprenticeship programs. Currently, the board does not utilize its own standards but approves apprenticeship programs which are officially "registered" with the federal Department of Labor.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The bill is a reintroduction of House Bill 5887 of 2012. According to testimony last session, Michigan is the only state that has adopted the U.S. Department of Labor's standards for apprenticeship training for fire alarm specialty apprentice technicians.  Additionally, it was indicated that most states do not regulate this profession and the safety of fire alarm systems is ensured through the applicable building code. 

Under current law, apprenticeship training programs for electricians and for fire alarm technicians are both required to meet the Department of Labor's standards.  Last session, proponents of the bill stated that there are significant differences between the two professions and that fire alarm technicians work mainly on low-voltage projects and thus do not need to meet the same training standard.  As a result, the bill seeks to separate the two professions by removing the requirement that apprenticeship training programs for fire alarm technicians be equivalent to the U.S. Department of Labor's standards, which is said to bring Michigan in line with other states.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Jeff Stoutenburg

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Paul Holland

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.