2006 Minnesota Statutes

326.242 LICENSES.
    Subdivision 1. Master electrician. Except as otherwise provided by law, no person shall
install, alter, repair, plan, lay out, or supervise the installing, altering, or repairing of electrical
wiring, apparatus, or equipment for light, heat, power, or other purposes unless the person is:
(a) licensed by the board as a master electrician and (b)(i) the electrical work is for a licensed
contractor and the person is an employee, partner, or officer of, or is the licensed contractor, or
(ii) the electrical work is performed for the person's employer on electric wiring, apparatus,
equipment, or facilities owned or leased by the employer which is located within the limits of
property which is owned or leased and operated and maintained by the employer.
(1) An applicant for a Class A master electrician's license shall (a) be a graduate of a
four-year electrical course in an accredited college or university; or (b) shall have had at least
one year's experience, acceptable to the board, as a licensed journeyman; or (c) shall have had at
least five years' experience, acceptable to the board, in planning for, laying out, supervising and
installing wiring, apparatus, or equipment for electrical light, heat and power.
(2) As of August 1, 1985, no new Class B master electrician's licenses shall be issued. An
individual who has a Class B master electrician's license as of August 1, 1985 may retain the
license and exercise the privileges it grants, which include electrical work limited to single phase
systems, not over 200 amperes in capacity, on farmsteads or single-family dwellings located in
towns or municipalities with fewer than 2,500 inhabitants.
    Subd. 2. Journeyman electrician. (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, no person
shall install, alter, repair, or supervise the installing, altering, or repairing of electrical wiring,
apparatus, or equipment for light, heat, power, or other purposes unless:
(1) the person is licensed by the board as a journeyman electrician; and
(2) the electrical work is:
(i) for a contractor and the person is an employee, partner, or officer of the licensed
contractor; or
(ii) performed under the supervision of a master electrician also employed by the person's
employer on electrical wiring, apparatus, equipment, or facilities owned or leased by the employer
that is located within the limits of property owned or leased, operated, and maintained by the
employer.
(b) An applicant for a Class A journeyman electrician's license shall have had at least four
years of experience, acceptable to the board, in wiring for, installing, and repairing electrical
wiring, apparatus, or equipment, provided however, that the board may by rule provide for the
allowance of one year of experience credit for successful completion of a two-year post high
school electrical course approved by the board.
(c) As of August 1, 1985, no new Class B journeyman electrician's licenses shall be issued.
An individual who holds a Class B journeyman electrician's license as of August 1, 1985 may
retain the license and exercise the privileges it grants, which include electrical work limited
to single phase systems, not over 200 amperes in capacity, on farmsteads or on single-family
dwellings located in towns or municipalities with fewer than 2,500 inhabitants.
    Subd. 3. Class A installer. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 1, 2, and 6, any
person holding a Class A installer license may lay out and install and supervise the laying out
and installing of electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment for major electrical home appliances
on the load side of the main service on farmsteads and in any town or municipality with fewer
than 1,500 inhabitants, which is not contiguous to a city of the first class and does not contain an
established business of a contractor.
    Subd. 3a. Class B installer. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 1, 2 and 6, any
person holding a Class B installer license may lay out and install electrical wiring, apparatus and
equipment on center pivot irrigation booms on the load side of the main service on farmsteads,
and install such other electrical equipment as is determined by the board.
    Subd. 3b. Coursework or experience. An applicant for a Class A or B installer license shall
have completed a post high school course in electricity acceptable to the board or shall have had
at least one year's experience, acceptable to the board in electrical wiring.
    Subd. 3c. Bond. Every installer, as a condition of licensure, shall give bond to the state in the
sum of $1,000 conditioned upon the faithful and lawful performance of all work contracted for or
entered upon by the installer within the state of Minnesota, and such bond shall be for the benefit
of persons injured or suffering financial loss by reason of failure of such performance. Such bond
shall be in lieu of all other license bonds to any political subdivision of the state. Such bond shall
be written by a corporate surety licensed to do business in the state of Minnesota.
    Subd. 3d. Power limited technician. (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, no person
shall install, alter, repair, plan, lay out, or supervise the installing, altering, or repairing of
electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment for technology circuits or systems unless:
(1) the person is licensed by the board as a power limited technician; and
(2) the electrical work is:
(i) for a licensed contractor and the person is an employee, partner, or officer of, or is the
licensed contractor; or
(ii) performed under the supervision of a master electrician or power limited technician also
employed by the person's employer on technology circuits, systems, apparatus, equipment, or
facilities owned or leased by the employer that are located within the limits of property owned or
leased, operated, and maintained by the employer.
(b) An applicant for a power limited technician's license shall (1) be a graduate of a four-year
electrical course in an accredited college or university; or (2) have had at least 36 months'
experience, acceptable to the board, in planning for, laying out, supervising, and installing wiring,
apparatus, or equipment for power limited systems, provided however, that the board may by rule
provide for the allowance of up to 12 months (2,000 hours) of experience credit for successful
completion of a two-year post high school electrical course or other technical training approved
by the board.
(c) The board may initially set experience requirements without rulemaking, but must adopt
rules before July 1, 2004.
(d) Licensees must attain eight hours of continuing education acceptable to the board every
renewal period.
(e) A person who has submitted an application by June 30, 2003, to take the alarm and
communications examination administered by the board, and who has achieved a minimal score
of 70 percent on the examination by September 30, 2003, may obtain a power limited technician
license without further examination by submitting an application and a license fee of $30.
(f) A company holding an alarm and communication license as of June 30, 2003, may
designate one person who may obtain a power limited technician license without passing an
examination administered by the board by submitting an application and license fee of $30.
(g) A person who has submitted an application by September 30, 2005, to take the power
limited technician examination administered by the board is not required to meet the qualifications
set forth in paragraph (b).
    Subd. 4. Special electrician. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 1, 2, 6, and 7,
the board may by rule provide for the issuance of special electrician licenses empowering the
licensee to engage in a limited class or classes of electrical work, which class or classes shall be
specified on the license certificate. Each licensee shall have had at least two years of experience,
acceptable to the board, in each such limited class of work for which the licensee is licensed.
    Subd. 5. Unlicensed persons. (a) An unlicensed person shall not perform electrical work
unless the work is performed under the personal supervision of a person actually licensed to
perform such work and the licensed electrician and unlicensed persons are employed by the same
employer. Licensed persons shall not permit unlicensed persons to perform electrical work except
under the personal supervision of a person actually licensed to perform such work. Unlicensed
persons shall not supervise the performance of electrical work or make assignments of electrical
work to unlicensed persons. Except for technology circuit or system work, licensed persons shall
supervise no more than two unlicensed persons. For technology circuit or system work, licensed
persons shall supervise no more than three unlicensed persons.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no person other than a master
electrician or power limited technician shall plan or lay out electrical wiring, apparatus, or
equipment for light, heat, power, or other purposes, except circuits or systems exempted from
personal licensing by subdivision 12, paragraph (b).
(c) Contractors employing unlicensed persons performing electrical work shall maintain
records establishing compliance with this subdivision, which shall designate all unlicensed
persons performing electrical work, except for persons working on circuits or systems exempted
from personal licensing by subdivision 12, paragraph (b), and shall permit the board to examine
and copy all such records as provided for in section 326.244, subdivision 6.
    Subd. 6. Contractor's license required. Except as otherwise provided by law, no person
other than an employee, partner, or officer of a licensed contractor, as defined by section 326.01,
subdivision 5 , shall undertake or offer to undertake to plan for, lay out, supervise or install or
to make additions, alterations, or repairs in the installation of electrical wiring, apparatus, and
equipment for light, heat, power, and other purposes with or without compensation unless the
person obtains a contractor's license. A contractor's license does not of itself qualify its holder to
perform or supervise the electrical work authorized by holding any class of personal electrical
license.
    Subd. 6a. Bond required. Each contractor shall give and maintain bond to the state in the
penal sum of $5,000 conditioned upon the faithful and lawful performance of all work entered
upon by the contractor within the state of Minnesota and such bond shall be for the benefit of
persons injured or suffering financial loss by reason of failure of such performance. The bond shall
be filed with the board and shall be in lieu of all other license bonds to any political subdivision.
Such bond shall be written by a corporate surety licensed to do business in the state of Minnesota.
    Subd. 6b. Insurance required. Each contractor shall have and maintain in effect general
liability insurance, which includes premises and operations insurance and products and completed
operations insurance, with limits of at least $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate limit
for bodily injury, and property damage insurance with limits of at least $25,000 or a policy with
a single limit for bodily injury and property damage of $300,000 per occurrence and $300,000
aggregate limits. Such insurance shall be written by an insurer licensed to do business in the state
of Minnesota and each contractor shall maintain on file with the board a certificate evidencing
such insurance which provides that such insurance shall not be canceled without the insurer first
giving 15 days written notice to the board of such cancellation.
    Subd. 6c. Employment of master electrician or power limited technician. (a) No
contractor shall engage in business of electrical contracting unless the contractor employs a
licensed Class A master or Class B master electrician, or power limited technician, who shall
be responsible for the performance of all electrical work in accordance with the requirements
of sections 326.241 to 326.248 or any rule or order adopted or issued under these sections. The
classes of work for which the licensed contractor is authorized shall be limited to those for which
such Class A master electrician, Class B master electrician, or power limited technician employed
by the contractor is licensed.
(b) When a contractor's license is held by an individual, partnership, limited liability
company, or corporation and the individual, one of the partners, one of the members, or an
officer of the corporation, respectively, is not the responsible master electrician or power limited
technician of record, all requests for inspection shall be signed by the responsible master
electrician or power limited technician of record. The designated responsible master electrician
or power limited technician of record shall be employed by the individual, partnership, limited
liability company, or corporation which is applying for a contractor's license and shall not be
employed in any capacity as a licensed electrician or licensed technician by any other contractor
or employer designated in subdivision 12.
(c) All applications for contractor's licenses and all renewals shall include a verified
statement that the applicant or licensee has complied with this subdivision.
    Subd. 7. Examination. In addition to the requirements imposed herein and except as herein
otherwise provided, as a precondition to issuance of a personal license, each applicant must pass a
written or oral examination given by the board to insure the competence of each applicant for
license. An oral examination shall be administered only to an applicant who furnishes a written
statement from a certified teacher or other professional, trained in the area of reading disabilities
stating that the applicant has a specific reading disability which would prevent the applicant from
performing satisfactorily on a written test. The oral examination shall be structured so that an
applicant who passes the examination will not impair the applicant's own safety or that of others
while acting as a licensed person. No person failing an examination may retake it for six months
thereafter, but within such six months the person may take an examination for a lesser grade of
license. Any licensee failing to renew a license for two years or more after its expiration shall be
required to retake the examination before being issued a new license.
An applicant for a personal license shall submit to the board an application and examination
fee at the time of application. Upon approval of the application, the board shall schedule the
applicant for the next available examination, which shall be held within 60 days. The applicant
shall be allowed one opportunity to reschedule an examination without being required to submit
another application and examination fee. Additionally, an applicant who fails an examination, or
whose application has been disapproved, must submit another application and examination fee.
    Subd. 8. License and renewal fees. All licenses issued hereunder shall expire in a manner as
provided by the board. Fees, as set by the board, shall be payable for examination, issuance and
renewal of the following:
(1) For examination:
Class A Master.
Class B Master.
Class A Journeyman, Class B Journeyman, Installer, Power Limited Technician, or Special
Electrician.
(2) For issuance of original license and renewal:
Class A Master.
Class B Master.
Power Limited Technician.
Class A Journeyman, Class B Journeyman, Installer, or Special Electrician.
Electrical contractor.
Technology Systems Contractor.
(3) An individual or contractor who fails to renew a license before 30 days after the
expiration of the license must submit a late fee equal to one year's license fee in addition to the
full renewal fee. Fees for renewed licenses are not prorated. An individual or contractor that fails
to renew a license by the expiration date is unlicensed until the license is renewed.
    Subd. 9. Denial, suspension, and revocation of licenses. The board may by order deny,
suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license, or may censure a licensee if the board finds (1) in its
discretion that the order is in the public interest and (2) that, based upon a preponderance of the
evidence presented, the applicant or licensee:
(a) has filed an application for a license which is incomplete in any material respect or
contains any statement which, in light of the circumstances under which it is made, is false or
misleading with respect to any material fact;
(b) has engaged in any fraudulent, deceptive, or dishonest act or practice;
(c) has been convicted within the past five years of a misdemeanor involving a violation of
sections 326.241 to 326.248;
(d) has violated or failed to comply with sections 326.241 to 326.248 or any rule or order
adopted or issued under these sections; or
(e) has, in the conduct of the applicant's or licensee's affairs, including, but not limited to, the
performance of electrical work, been shown to be incompetent or untrustworthy.
If a licensee engages in conduct that is proven by a preponderance of the evidence to be a
basis for discipline pursuant to paragraphs (a) to (e), the conduct shall constitute a violation of this
subdivision. The board may take action under this subdivision or any other law authorizing action
against a licensee regardless of whether the underlying conduct was willful.
The board may adopt rules further specifying and defining actions, conduct, and omissions
that constitute fraudulent, deceptive, dishonest, or prohibited practices, and establishing standards
of conduct for applicants and licensees.
    Subd. 9a. Civil penalties. Whenever a preponderance of the evidence presented proves that a
person has violated or failed to comply with sections 326.241 to 326.248 or any rule or order
adopted or issued under these sections, the board may impose a civil penalty upon the person in
an amount not to exceed $10,000 per violation.
    Subd. 9b. Orders for hearing. The complaint committee may, on behalf of the board, issue
an order requiring a licensee or an applicant for a license to appear at a hearing on the issue
of whether the license should be revoked or suspended, the licensee censured, the application
denied, or a civil penalty imposed. The order shall be calculated to give reasonable notice of the
time and place for hearing, and shall state the reasons for the entry of the order. All hearings
shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 14. After the hearing, the board shall enter an
order making a disposition of the matter as the facts require. If the licensee or applicant fails to
appear at a hearing of which that person has been duly notified, the person is in default and the
proceeding may be determined against that person upon consideration of the order for hearing, the
allegations of which may be deemed to be true.
    Subd. 9c. Temporary suspension. (a) The complaint committee may, on behalf of the board
and in the public interest, temporarily suspend a license pending final determination of an order
for hearing. The complaint committee shall not issue a temporary suspension order until an
investigation of the facts has been conducted pursuant to section 214.10 by the attorney general.
The complaint committee shall issue a temporary suspension order only when the safety of life or
property is threatened or to prevent the commission of fraudulent, deceptive, or dishonest acts
against the public. Service of the temporary suspension order is effective if the order is served
on the licensee or counsel of record personally or by first class mail to the most recent address
provided to the board for the licensee or the counsel of record.
(b) If a license is suspended pending final determination of an order for hearing, a hearing
on the merits shall be held within 45 days of the issuance of the order of temporary suspension.
The administrative law judge shall issue a report within 30 days after closing of the contested
case hearing record. The board shall issue a final order within 30 days after receipt of that report
and any exceptions.
(c) If the licensee requests a hearing in writing within ten days of service of the order,
the board shall hold a hearing before its own members on the sole issue of whether there is a
reasonable basis to continue, modify, or vacate the temporary suspension. The board shall hold
the hearing within five working days of the licensee's request for hearing. Evidence presented by
the complaint committee or licensee shall be in affidavit form only. The licensee or counsel of
record for the licensee may appear for oral argument. Within five working days after the hearing,
the board shall issue its order either continuing or vacating the temporary suspension.
    Subd. 9d. Cease and desist order. (a) Whenever it appears to the complaint committee that
any person has engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting a violation of
sections 326.241 to 326.248, any other law authorizing the issuance of a cease and desist order,
or any rule or order adopted or issued under these sections, the complaint committee may, on
behalf of the board, issue and cause to be served upon the person an order requiring the person
to cease and desist from violating sections 326.241 to 326.248 or any rule or order adopted or
issued under these sections. The complaint committee shall not issue a cease and desist order
until an investigation of the facts has been conducted pursuant to section 214.10 by the attorney
general. The order shall be calculated to give reasonable notice of the right of the person to
request a hearing and shall state the reasons for the entry of the order. If no hearing is requested of
the board within 15 days of service of the order, the order shall become final and shall remain in
effect until it is modified or vacated by the board and shall not be reviewable by a court.
(b) A hearing shall be held not later than 30 days from the date of the board's receipt of a
written hearing request, unless otherwise agreed by the person requesting the hearing and the
complaint committee. Within 30 days of receipt of the administrative law judge's report and any
exceptions, the board shall issue a final order modifying, vacating, or making permanent the
cease and desist order as the facts require. The final order remains in effect until modified or
vacated by the board.
    Subd. 9e. Costs of proceeding. The board may impose a fee to reimburse the board for all
or part of the cost of the proceedings resulting in disciplinary action or the imposition of civil
penalties or the issuance of a cease and desist order. Such fees include, but are not limited to,
the amount paid by the board for services from the office of administrative hearings, attorney
fees, court reporters, witnesses, reproduction of records, board members' per diem compensation,
board staff time, and expense incurred by board members and staff.
    Subd. 9f. District court action; injunctive relief and civil penalties. (a) Whenever it
appears to the board, or the complaint committee if authorized by the board, that any person has
engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting a violation of sections 326.241 to
326.248 or any rule or order adopted or issued under these sections, the board, or the complaint
committee if authorized by the board, may bring an action in the name of the board in the Ramsey
County District Court or the district court of any other county in which venue is proper.
(b) The action may be brought to enjoin the acts or practices and to enforce compliance with
sections 326.241 to 326.248, any other law authorizing a civil or injunctive action, or any rule or
order adopted or issued under these sections and for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each
separate violation of sections 326.241 to 326.248, any other law authorizing a civil or injunctive
action, or any rule or order adopted or issued under these sections.
(c) A temporary restraining order and other temporary injunctive relief shall be granted in
the proceeding whenever it appears that any person has engaged in or is about to engage in
any act, conduct, or practice constituting violation of sections 326.241 to 326.248, any other
law authorizing a civil or injunctive action, or any rule or order adopted or issued under these
sections. The board shall not be required to show irreparable harm.
    Subd. 9g. Other remedies. The issuance of a cease and desist order or injunctive relief
under this section does not relieve a person from criminal prosecution by any competent authority
or from disciplinary action by the board and does not prevent the board from exercising any
other authority granted to it.
    Subd. 9h. Powers additional. The powers contained in subdivisions 9 to 9g are in addition
to all other powers of the board.
    Subd. 9i. Cooperation required. A person who is the subject of an investigation, or who
is questioned in connection with an investigation, by or on behalf of the board or its complaint
committee shall cooperate fully with the investigation. Cooperation includes, but is not limited to:
(1) responding fully and promptly to questions raised by or on behalf of the board or its
complaint committee relating to the subject of the investigation;
(2) providing copies of records in the person's possession related to the matter under
investigation as requested by the board, its complaint committee, or the attorney general within
the time limit set by the board, its complaint committee, or the attorney general;
(3) assisting the board, its complaint committee, or the attorney general in its investigation;
and
(4) appearing at conferences or hearings scheduled by the board or its complaint committee.
    Subd. 9j. Disciplinary proceedings closed. Proceedings held before the board or its
complaint committee under chapter 214 or subdivisions 9 to 9d are exempt from the requirements
of section 13D.01.
    Subd. 9k. Conflicts of law. If there is a conflict between sections 326.241 to 326.248 and
chapter 214, sections 326.241 to 326.248 shall control.
    Subd. 10. Continuation of business by estates. Upon the death of a master who is a
contractor, the board may permit the decedent's representative to carry on the business of the
decedent for a period not in excess of six months, for the purpose of completing work under
contract or otherwise to comply with sections 326.241 to 326.248. The representative shall give
such bond as the board may require conditioned upon the faithful and lawful performance of such
work and such bond shall be for the benefit of persons injured or suffering financial loss by reason
of failure of such performance. Such bond shall be written by a corporate surety licensed to do
business in the state of Minnesota. Such representative shall also comply with all public liability
and property damage insurance requirements imposed by this chapter upon a licensed contractor.
    Subd. 11. Reciprocity. To the extent that any other state which provides for the licensing of
electricians provides for similar action the board may grant licenses, without examination, of the
same grade and class to an electrician who has been licensed by such other state for at least one
year, upon payment by the applicant of the required fee and upon the board being furnished with
proof that the required fee and upon the board being furnished with proof that the qualifications of
the applicant are equal to the qualifications of holders of similar licenses in Minnesota.
    Subd. 12. Exemptions from licensing. (a) A maintenance electrician who is supervised by
the responsible master electrician for a contractor who has contracted with the maintenance
electrician's employer to provide services for which a contractor's license is required or by a
master electrician or an electrical engineer registered with the board and who is an employee of
an employer and is engaged in the maintenance, and repair of electrical equipment, apparatus, and
facilities owned or leased by the employer, and performed within the limits of property which is
owned or leased and operated and maintained by said employer, shall not be required to hold or
obtain a license under sections 326.241 to 326.248.
(b) Employees of a licensed electrical or technology systems contractor or other employer
where provided with supervision by a master electrician in accordance with subdivision 1, or
power limited technician in accordance with subdivision 3d, paragraph (a), clause (1), are not
required to hold a license under sections 326.241 to 326.248 for the planning, laying out, installing,
altering, and repairing of technology circuits or systems except planning, laying out, or installing:
(1) in other than residential dwellings, class 2 or class 3 remote control circuits that control
circuits or systems other than class 2 or class 3, except circuits that interconnect these systems
through communication, alarm, and security systems are exempted from this paragraph;
(2) class 2 or class 3 circuits in electrical cabinets, enclosures, or devices containing
physically unprotected circuits other than class 2 or class 3; or
(3) technology circuits and systems in hazardous classified locations as covered by chapter
5 of the National Electrical Code.
(c) Companies and their employees that plan, lay out, install, alter, or repair class 2 and
class 3 remote control wiring associated with plug or cord and plug connected appliances other
than security or fire alarm systems installed in a residential dwelling are not required to hold a
license under sections 326.241 to 326.248.
(d) Heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration contractors and their employees
are not required to hold or obtain a license under sections 326.241 to 326.248 when performing
heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or refrigeration work as described in section 326.245.
(e) Employees of any electric, communications, or railway utility, cable communications
company as defined in section 238.02, or a telephone company as defined under section 237.01 or
its employees, or of any independent contractor performing work on behalf of any such utility,
cable communications company, or telephone company, shall not be required to hold a license
under sections 326.241 to 326.248:
(1) while performing work on installations, materials, or equipment which are owned or
leased, and operated and maintained by such utility, cable communications company, or telephone
company in the exercise of its utility, antenna, or telephone function, and which
(i) are used exclusively for the generation, transformation, distribution, transmission, or
metering of electric current, or the operation of railway signals, or the transmission of intelligence
and do not have as a principal function the consumption or use of electric current or provided
service by or for the benefit of any person other than such utility, cable communications company,
or telephone company, and
(ii) are generally accessible only to employees of such utility, cable communications
company, or telephone company or persons acting under its control or direction, and
(iii) are not on the load side of the service point or point of entrance for communication
systems;
(2) while performing work on installations, materials, or equipment which are a part of the
street lighting operations of such utility; or
(3) while installing or performing work on outdoor area lights which are directly connected
to a utility's distribution system and located upon the utility's distribution poles, and which are
generally accessible only to employees of such utility or persons acting under its control or
direction.
(f) An owner shall not be required to hold or obtain a license under sections 326.241
to 326.248.
History: 1967 c 602 s 2; 1976 c 222 s 168,169; 1979 c 121 s 2; 1981 c 63 s 1; 1981 c 195 s
1; 1985 c 73 s 5-9; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1Sp1985 c 6 s 4,5; 1986 c 373 s 3-6; 1986 c 444; 1991 c
289 s 11-29; 2002 c 328 s 9-21; 2003 c 58 s 2-4; 2005 c 62 s 1