HB384 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jeff SorrellsRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Chip BrownGil IsbellRhett MarquesVan SmithShane Stringer

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Electrical Contractors, Alabama Board of, board membership revised, board authorized to subpoena witnesses and investigate complaints, expiration of licenses, local business licenses texting deleted, Secs. 34-36-3, 34-36-4, 34-36-6, 34-36-7, 34-36-8, 34-36-9, 34-36-13, 34-36-16 am'd.

Summary

HB384 overhauls Alabama's electrical contractor licensing by redefining terms, adding provisional licensing, expanding board powers, and reducing local licensing barriers.

What This Bill Does

The bill defines new terms such as 'electrical worker' and 'provisional license' and removes references to 'master electrician.' It expands the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors' duties, including subpoena power, complaint investigations, and reciprocity with other states. It allows a provisional license holder three years to pass a licensure exam and waives the exam fee once; it shortens the restoration window for expired licenses from five years to two years; it broadens exemptions from board regulation and removes counties' and municipalities' authority to require extra local licensing exams. It also introduces continuing education requirements (14 hours every two years) and lays out license renewal, penalties, and enforcement rules, while supporting interstate licensing reciprocity and outlining how local and statewide licenses interact. The act notes a constitutional local-funding provision but states the bill is exempt from certain local-funding vote requirements due to defined crime provisions, and it becomes effective after a specified delay following passage.

Who It Affects

• Electrical contractors, journeyman electricians, and electrical workers in Alabama: they would see new definitions, the option to obtain a provisional license, a shortened window to restore expired licenses, required continuing education, and potential reciprocity with other states; they would also be subject to board regulation and enforcement provisions.
• County and municipal governments and the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors: counties/municipalities would lose authority to require an extra local electrical contracting proficiency exam for local licenses, while the board would gain powers to subpoena, investigate complaints, and manage registration, licensure, and reciprocity rules.

Key Provisions

• Create definitions for 'electrical worker' and 'provisional license' and delete references to 'master electrician.'
• Enhance board duties: annual/election of officers, subpoena power, complaint investigations, and reciprocity with states having similar or higher standards.
• Provisional license: allow three years to take and pass a licensure exam; board must waive the exam fee for one sitting within that period.
• License restoration: reduce the restoration window from five years to two years after expiration.
• Exemptions and local licensing: expand exemptions and remove counties/municipalities' authority to require additional local proficiency exams for local licenses.
• Continuing education: require 14 hours of continuing education for licensees every two years.
• Examinations and reciprocity: permit use of national exams and recognition/reciprocity of licenses from other states with comparable standards.
• Enforcement and penalties: set grounds for suspension, revocation, or fines up to $5,000 for violations; establish cease-and-desist processes.
• Section 2/Constitution: notes the local-funding expenditure issue under Amendment 621 but asserts the bill is exempt due to crime-definition provisions.
• Effective date: becomes law the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Electrical Contractors, Board of