Manweller bills to help telecommunications workers keep their jobs pass House unanimously

Manweller bills to help telecommunications workers keep their jobs pass House unanimously

The House of Representatives has unanimously passed two bills introduced by Rep. Matt Manweller to clarify the scope of work for those in the telecommunications industry. Both bills will allow people who install telephones and Internet cables to keep their jobs after an adverse ruling by the Department of Labor and Industries.

House Bill 2253 would preserve and expand the scope of telecommunications work to include work on equipment that is commonly used to power telecommunications devices and systems.

House Bill 2254 would allow telecommunications workers who obtain a training certificate from the Department of Labor and Industries before July 1, 2015 to apply actual work experience toward taking a professional competency certification exam to become a limited energy system 06 specialty electrician.

“This issue is simply a case of technology moving faster than the rules and regulations being put in place for this industry,” said Manweller, R-Ellensburg. “The department made some changes to rules that prevented telecom workers from doing work they have been doing for twenty years. House Bill 2253 clarifies the scope of work and removes some of the unnecessary regulations put in place by the department.”

The second piece of legislation creates a mechanism that allows telephone installers to count their work toward becoming an 06 licensed electrician.

“Under the current setup it is difficult for installers to get hours under an 06 licensed designation be able to take the certification exam. Allowing the 09 installers to count their hours will allow them to take the test and prevent us from doing another scope of practice bill in a couple years,” said Manweller.

House Bill 2253 was passed by a vote of 96-0 on Monday, Feb. 17. House Bill 2254 was passed unanimously last week by the full House. Both bills will now be considered by the Senate.

The 2014 legislative session is scheduled to adjourn March 13.

For more information about Rep. Manweller, visit: www.representativemattmanweller.com.

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