Issuance of elevator mechanic's licenses

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) regulates elevators, escalators, and similar conveyances that move people or things. Under current law, contractors and mechanics constructing, altering, replacing, repairing, or otherwise working with these conveyances, and inspectors of these conveyances, must be licensed by Commerce. With certain exceptions, to be licensed as an elevator mechanic, an individual must apply to Commerce and either must complete an apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or by the Department of Workforce Development or must have sufficient work history during the three years preceding the application in working with these conveyances and have passed an elevator mechanic's examination that is administered by Commerce or that is administered by a nationally recognized training program that is approved by Commerce.

This bill creates alternative requirements that may be met in order to be issued an elevator mechanic's license. Under the bill, an individual is eligible for a license if he or she verifies to Commerce that he or she has successfully completed a four-year training program established by the National Elevator Industry Education Program or an equivalent four-year training program that is approved by Commerce and that he or she has had a certain level of experience working with elevators and other conveyances. This experience requirement may be met by being employed during each of the five years immediately preceding the date of the license application for at least 1,000 hours as an elevator mechanic, or in another capacity that has allowed him or her to remain familiar with elevator equipment, technology, and industry practices. The experience requirement may alternatively be met by meeting the 1,000-hour requirement in any five years preceding the date of the license application if the applicant verifies that this alternative is due to the applicant's work being disrupted by high unemployment in the elevator industry, military service, illness, disability, or another factor beyond the applicant's control.

Who's behind it

Dave Hansen, a Democrat, is its author⁠.

1 more lawmaker signed on in support⁠.