In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. “Assignment of local registration” means any procedure by which a licensee or registrant grants to another person a right to use a local registration to enable that person to engage in the business of providing electrical services. “Assignment of local registration” includes any procedure by which: a licensee or registrant agrees to be the representative of another person; and by virtue of that agreement, the other person is authorized to engage in the business of providing electrical services. “Engage in the business of providing electrical services” means to engage in providing electrical services for compensation. “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the State Board to provide or assist in providing electrical services. “License” includes, unless the context requires otherwise: a master electrician license; and a journeyperson electrician license. “Licensed apprentice electrician” means, unless the context requires otherwise, an electrician who is licensed by the State Board to assist in providing electrical services while: under the direction or control of a licensed master electrician; and in training to become a journeyperson electrician. “Licensed journeyperson electrician” means, unless the context requires otherwise, an electrician who is licensed by the State Board to provide or assist in providing electrical services while: under the direction or control of a licensed master electrician; and in training to become a master electrician. “Licensed master electrician” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a master electrician who is licensed by the State Board to provide electrical services. “Local board” means a board that a local jurisdiction of the State creates to regulate any aspect of the electrical trade. “Local registration” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a registration that is issued by a local board to provide electrical services. “Master electrician” means an individual who has the experience, knowledge, and skill to provide electrical services in all aspects of the electrical trade, in a manner that complies with applicable plans, specifications, codes, or law. “Provide electrical services” means to provide any service in the electrical trade. “Provide electrical services” includes installing, repairing, maintaining, erecting, or altering any electrical equipment, wiring, fixture, appliance, apparatus, raceway, conduit, or system that: generates, transmits, transforms, or uses electrical energy in any form for light, heat, power, or communication; and is located within a plant, substation, or elsewhere. “State Board” means the State Board of Electricians. “State license” means a license that is issued by the State Board to an electrician.

The purpose of this title is to establish a licensing program for individuals who provide or assist in providing electrical services, in order to safeguard the life, health, property, and public welfare of the citizens of the State.

This title does not affect the right of any local jurisdiction of the State: to regulate locally the quality and character of work of a person who engages in the business of providing electrical services by establishing a system of registrations, permits, fees, and inspections designed to: ensure compliance with and implementation of State and local building laws; or enforce other local laws protecting public health and safety; to require a person who engages in the business of providing electrical services to submit any plan or specification for approval before the electrical services are provided; to establish a local board to: carry out items (1) and (2) of this subsection; take any disciplinary action, except for revocation of a license issued by the State Board, against the holder of a local registration or the holder of a local permit who violates any provision of this title or any local law; and report any enforcement activity to the State Board; except as provided in §§ 6–504 and 6–602 of this title and subject to the requirements of this section, to require an examination before issuing a registration to provide electrical services within the local jurisdiction; or to collect, from a person who is registered with a local board, fees for: an examination for a registration to provide electrical services; issuance and renewal of the registration; or an inspection. If a local jurisdiction registers any class of electricians other than master electricians, journeyperson electricians, or apprentice electricians, that class is also under the control and supervision of the local board. Beginning July 1, 2021, a local jurisdiction may not issue licenses for apprentice, journeyperson, or master electricians. A local jurisdiction that licensed apprentice–level, journeyperson–level, or master–level electricians before July 1, 2021, may continue to register the electricians according to the same rules and requirements for licenses issued before July 1, 2021, if the local jurisdiction complies with subsections (d) and (e) of this section. A local jurisdiction that did not license apprentice–level, journeyperson–level, or master–level electricians before July 1, 2021, may choose to register apprentice–level, journeyperson–level, or master–level electricians if it complies with subsections (d) and (e) of this section. If a local jurisdiction chooses to register apprentice–level, journeyperson–level, or master–level electricians under subsection (c) of this section, the local board shall administer the same examination as the State Board as provided under § 6–306 of this title. On or before July 1, 2022, and on or before July 1 each year thereafter, a local jurisdiction that registers apprentice–level, journeyperson–level, or master–level electricians shall report to the Department: each apprentice electrician registration issued in the previous year; each journeyperson electrician registration issued in the previous year; each master electrician registration issued in the previous year; each individual who sat for a journeyperson electrician examination in the previous year; each individual who sat for a master electrician examination in the previous year; and any other information the Department requires. This title may not be construed to waive any requirement of an ordinance or regulation that sets out the type of work to be performed by a person who engages in the business of providing electrical services as required under State or local building laws.