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SF 908

1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 05/22/2025 11:17am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
 relating to construction codes; modifying provisions governing the certification
of underground telecommunications installers; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024,
section 326B.198, subdivisions 2, 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 326B.198, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Installation requirements.

(a) The installation of underground
telecommunications infrastructure that is located within ten feet of existing underground
utilities or that crosses the existing underground utilities must be performed by
safety-qualified underground telecommunications installers as follows:

(1) the location of existing utilities by hand- or hydro-excavation or other accepted
methods must be performed by a safety-qualified underground telecommunications installer;new text begin
and
new text end

(2) where telecommunications infrastructure is installed by means of directional drilling,
the monitoring of the location and depth of the drill head must be performed by a
safety-qualified underground telecommunications installerdeleted text begin ; anddeleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (3) no fewer than two safety-qualified underground telecommunications installers must
be present at all times at any location where telecommunications infrastructure is being
installed by means of directional drilling.
 deleted text end

deleted text begin (b)deleted text end deleted text begin Beginning July 1, 2025, all installations of underground telecommunications
infrastructure subject to this subdivision within the seven-county metropolitan area must
be performed by safety-qualified underground telecommunications installers that meet the
requirements of this subdivisiondeleted text end deleted text begin .
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (b)new text end Beginning January 1, 2026, all installations of underground telecommunications
infrastructure subject to this subdivision within this state must be performed by
safety-qualified underground telecommunications installers that meet the requirements of
this subdivision.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
 new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 326B.198, subdivision 3, is amended to read:


Subd. 3.

Certification Standards.

(a) The commissioner of labor and industry, in
consultation with the Office of Broadband, shall approve standards for a safety-qualified
underground telecommunications installer certification program that requires a person to:

(1) complete a 40-hour initial course that includes classroom and hands-on instruction
covering proper work procedures for safe installation of underground utilities, including:

(i) regulations applicable to excavation near existing utilities;

(ii) identification, location, and verification of utility lines using hand- or
hydro-excavation or other accepted methods;

(iii) response to line strike incidents;

(iv) traffic control procedures;

(v) use of a tracking device to safely guide directional drill equipment along a drill path;
and

(vi) avoidance and mitigation of safety hazards posed by underground utility installation
projects;

(2) demonstrate knowledge of the course material by successfully completing an
examination approved by the commissioner; and

(3) complete a four-hour refresher course within three years of completing the original
course and every three years thereafter in order to maintain certification.

(b) The commissioner must develop an approval process for training providers under
this subdivision and may suspend or revoke the approval of any training provider that fails
to demonstrate consistent delivery of approved curriculum or success in preparing participants
to complete the examination.

new text begin (c) An approved training provider may apply for approval of classroom instruction course
material delivered up to two years prior to becoming an approved training provider and
before January 1, 2026, as being equivalent or substantially equivalent to classroom
instruction course material that is contained in the approved program. An application must
provide a copy of all written materials used for the training for which equivalent credit is
sought, the specific subjects covered in the training, the name and qualifications of the
training provider, a description of the delivery method for the training, and the date of the
training. Once approved, a training provider may grant full or partial retroactive credit for
completion of classroom instruction training delivered prior to the commissioner's decision
to approve a program. A person granted retroactive credit must successfully complete the
examination that the training provider is approved to administer in order to be certified as
a safety-qualified underground telecommunications installer.
 new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
 new text end

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