KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Two Ulster County legislators have resurrected proposals to require electricians and contractors working within Ulster county to be licensed to practice their trades.
Minority Leader Hector Rodriguez has reintroduced an electrician’s licensing law and Legislator Laura Petit has brought back a contractor’s licensing law.
Rodriguez, D-New Paltz, had proposed the electrician’s licensing in 2017, but the law was defeated in legislative committees in September.
In 2009, the Legislature briefly considered enacting a contractor’s licensing law, but that effort died amid an outcry from contractors and opposition from county lawmakers.
Rodriguez said both laws would provide an additional level of protection to homeowners by ensuring that those “who are doing this kind of work have a baseline of knowledge.”
“This is about public safety,” Rodriguez said.
Under the proposed contractor’s licensing law, anyone who conducts, operates, engages in or transacts in the business of home improvement construction, or solicits home improvement construction contracts or holds himself or herself out as will be required to be licensed by the county. Additionally, the law details contractual requirements that must be met if the cost of any job exceeds $250, including the amount a contractor can require for a down payment and a requirement that the work come with at least a one year warranty on workmanship.
The electrician’s licensing law would require anyone working as an electrician in the county to either be a licensed master electrician or to work under a licensed master electrician.
In both instances, licenses would be issued by a seven-member board and persons applying for a license would be required to have a certain amount of experience and pass a written test.
Rodriguez said the proposed electrician’s law is similar to one already in place in the city of Kingston and in some surrounding counties.
Dutchess County lawmakers adopted an electrician’s licensing law in 2009, but repealed it in 2010.
On Monday, members of the Ulster County Legislature’s Laws and Rules Committee will consider two resolutions setting public hearings on the two proposed local laws. If approved, the full Legislature will vote Tuesday to schedule those hearings.
