CHAPTER 237

SB 226 – FINAL VERSION

01/18/12 0203s

15May2012… 1629h

06/06/12 2425CofC

2012 SESSION

12-2855

10/01

SENATE BILL 226

AN ACT transferring the administration of the electricians’ board to the joint board for licensure and certification, and changing the administrative fine authority of the board of accountancy.

SPONSORS: Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Rep. Hawkins, Hills 18; Rep. Chandler, Carr 1

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill transfers the administration of the electricians’ board from the department of safety to the joint board for licensure and certification. The bill also expands the authority for the board of accountancy to impose administrative fines for violations of the New Hampshire accountancy act.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

01/18/12 0203s

15May2012… 1629h

06/06/12 2425CofC

12-2855

10/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT transferring the administration of the electricians’ board to the joint board for licensure and certification, and changing the administrative fine authority of the board of accountancy.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

237:1 Joint Board; Electricians’ Board Added. Amend RSA 310-A:1 to read as follows:

310-A:1 Joint Board Established. There shall be a joint board of licensure and certification for professional engineers, architects, land surveyors, foresters, professional geologists, natural scientists, landscape architects, court reporters, home inspectors, accountants, manufactured housing installers, [and] real estate appraisers, and electricians, and the board of manufactured housing, consisting of each of the members of the board of professional engineers, board of architects, state board of licensure for land surveyors, foresters’ board, board of professional geologists, the board of natural scientists, the board of landscape architects, the board of court reporters, the board of home inspectors, the board of accountancy, the real estate appraiser board, the electricians’ board, the manufactured housing installation standards board, and the board of manufactured housing.

237:2 Electricians’ Board; Administration. RSA 319-C:4, IV is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

IV. All administrative, clerical, and business processing functions, and personnel and equipment of the board shall be transferred to the joint board of licensure and certification, established in RSA 310-A:1, on July 1, 2013.

237:3 Employment of Inspectors. Amend RSA 319-C:5, I to read as follows:

I. The [state fire marshal and the] board[, with the approval of the commissioner of safety,] shall be empowered to appoint such inspectors as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Any person so employed shall be under the administration and supervisory direction of the [state fire marshal] board.

237:4 Fees. Amend RSA 319-C:6-b to read as follows:

319-C:6-b Fees. The board[, with the approval of the commissioner of safety,] shall establish application fees for examination of applicants, fees for licensure, for renewal, and for late renewal of licenses to practice under this chapter, and for transcribing and transferring records and other services. The fee for examination shall not include fees charged by and paid to an examination entity approved by the board. The fees established by the board shall be sufficient to produce estimated revenues equal to 125 percent of the direct operating expenses of the board for the previous fiscal year. Fees collected shall be deposited in the [fire standards and training and emergency medical services fund, established in RSA 21-P:12-d, and used for the purposes of operating expenses of the electricians’ board. Fees collected in excess of actual operating expenses shall be deposited in the] general fund as unrestricted revenue.

237:5 Rulemaking Authority. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 319-C:6-a to read as follows:

319-C:6-a Rulemaking Authority. [Notwithstanding RSA 21-G:9,] The board, with an affirmative vote of at least 3 of the 5 appointed board members [and with the approval of the commissioner of safety], shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to:

237:6 New Section; Electricians’ Board; Continuing Education. Amend RSA 319-C by inserting after section 6-b the following new section:

319-C:6-c Continuing Education, NFPA 70 Changes. The board shall adopt rules relative to continuing education applicable to all licensees for training and compliance with the latest published edition of the NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, as published by the National Fire Protection Association. Each licensee shall show proof of completion of continuing education requirements adopted under this section within 12 months from the January 1 following the publication date of the latest version of the NFPA 70. Proof of completion shall be furnished to the board by the continuing education provider. Failure to complete the continuing education shall render the electrician’s license invalid until the licensee demonstrates to the board that he or she has completed the requisite number of continuing education hours.

237:7 Repeal. The following are repealed:

I. RSA 319-C:11, relative to disposition of funds.

II. RSA 21-P:12, VI, relative to the bureau of electrical safety and licensing within the division of fire safety.

III. RSA 6:12, I(b)(201), relative to the electricians’ board account.

237:8 New Hampshire Accountancy Act; Enforcement; Disciplinary Action. Amend RSA 309-B:10, I to read as follows:

I. After notice and hearing pursuant to RSA 309-B:12, the board may [revoke any certificate, permit, or registration issued under RSA 309-B:7, 309-B:8 or 309-B:9 or corresponding provisions of prior laws; suspend any such certificate, permit, or registration; or refuse to renew any such certificate, permit, or registration for a period of not more than 5 years. The board may reprimand, censure, or limit the scope of practice of any licensee; impose an administrative fine not exceeding $1,000; or place any licensee on probation, all with or without terms, conditions, and limitations, for any one or more of the following reasons] take disciplinary action in any one or more of the following ways:

(a) By written reprimand or censure.

(b) By suspension or refusal to renew for a period of not more than 5 years, any such certificate, permit, or registration.

(c) By limiting the scope of practice of any licensee or placing a licensee on probation, with or without terms, conditions, and limitations.

(d) By revocation of any certificate, permit, or registration issued under RSA 309-B:7, 309-B:8, or 309-B:9 or corresponding provisions of prior laws.

(e) By assessing administrative fines, after notification and due process, in amounts established by the board which shall not exceed $2,000 per offense or, in the case of continuing offenses, $200 for each day the violation continues, whichever is greater.

I-a. Misconduct sufficient to support disciplinary proceedings under this section shall include:

(a) Fraud or deceit in obtaining a certificate, permit, or registration.

(b) Cancellation, revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew a license or practice rights by any other state, including possessions of the United States, for any cause involving disciplinary reasons.

(c) Failure, on the part of a holder of a certificate under RSA 309-B:7 or permit under RSA 309-B:8 or registration under RSA 309-B:9, to maintain compliance with the requirements for issuance or renewal of such certificate, permit, or registration or to report changes to the board under RSA 309-B:7, VI and 309-B:8, VI.

(d) Revocation or suspension of the right to practice before any state, including possessions of the United States, or federal agency for disciplinary reasons.

(e) Dishonesty, fraud, or gross negligence in the performance of services as a licensee or in the filing or failure to file the licensee’s own income or employment tax returns or the payment of the licensee’s income or employment tax liability.

(f) Violation of any provision of this chapter or rule adopted by the board under this chapter or violation of professional standards.

(g) Violation of any rule of professional conduct adopted by the board under RSA 309-B:4, VIII(d).

(h) Conviction of a felony, or of any crime an element of which is dishonesty or fraud, under the laws of the United States, of this state, or of any other state, of any possessions of the United States, or of any other country if the acts involved would have constituted a crime under the laws of this state.

(i) Performance of any fraudulent act while holding a certificate, registration, or permit issued under this chapter or prior law.

(j) Any conduct reflecting adversely upon the licensee’s fitness to perform services as a licensee.

(k) Making any false or misleading statement or verification, in support of an application for a certificate, registration, or permit filed by another.

237:9 New Hampshire Accountancy Act; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 309-B:4, VIII(i) to read as follows:

(i) The establishment of administrative fines for violations of this chapter.

(j) Such other rules as the board may deem necessary or appropriate for implementing the provisions and purposes of this chapter.

237:10 Effective Date.

I. Section 6 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2014.

II. Sections 8 and 9 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2012.

III. The remainder of this act shall take effect July 1, 2013.

Approved: June 18, 2012

Effective Date: I. Section 6 shall take effect January 1, 2014.

II. Sections 8 and 9 shall take effect July 1, 2012.

III. Remainder shall take effect July 1, 2013.