Sec. 20-340b. Exemption from licensing for certain telecommunications companies' employees. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 20-340b. Exemption from licensing for certain telecommunications companies' employees. (a) As used in this section:

      (1) "Telecommunications electrical work" means work permitted to be performed by holders of a limited electrical contractor's license (T-1) as provided by regulation adopted under this chapter.

      (2) "Public service technician" means an employee of a public service company or certified telecommunications provider, as defined in section 16-1, or any affiliate of any such company or provider, who is engaged in telecommunications electrical work and who is not otherwise exempt from licensing pursuant to section 20-340.

      (b) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, a public service technician may be issued a certificate of registration by the Department of Consumer Protection, upon authorization of the Electrical Work Board, in lieu of any license which otherwise might be required under this chapter, which shall entitle the holder of such certificate to perform telecommunications electrical work only as provided in this section, provided the public service company, certified telecommunications provider or affiliate which employs the public service technician certifies to the Electrical Work Board that the employee has obtained such training and experience deemed necessary by the public service company, certified telecommunications provider or affiliate to perform telecommunications electrical work included in such employee's job functions.

      (c) The content and duration of the training and experience programs provided by the public service company, certified telecommunications provider or affiliate must be relevant to the duties of the employee and must be approved biennially by the Labor Department. In reviewing the programs and training provided by a public service company, certified telecommunications provider or affiliate, the Labor Department shall consider the specialization of the employees of the company or provider, the employee's previous company or provider training, the service record of the company or provider, the experience of the company or provider in training employees to perform telecommunications electrical work, and the quality assurance measures used by the company or provider.

      (d) An employee enrolled in the training programs of the public service company or certified telecommunications provider shall be issued a trainee's certificate by such company or provider, valid for the duration of the training program, and may perform telecommunications electrical work only under the supervision of an employee of the public service company, certified telecommunications provider or affiliate who is a registered public service technician or holds a journeyman's license.

      (e) A public service company or certified telecommunications provider employing a public service technician shall inform the Electrical Work Board upon the change in job description or termination of any registered public service technician previously certified to the board pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and upon the issuance or termination of a trainee's certificate provided to an employee pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.

      (f) A registered public service technician or employee of a public service company, certified telecommunications provider or affiliate issued a trainee's certificate by such company or provider may only perform such work on behalf of such public service company, certified telecommunications provider or affiliate and only while in the direct employment of such public service company, certified telecommunications provider or affiliate. Such registration or trainee's certificate will be immediately relinquished upon termination of employment from such public service company, certified telecommunications provider or affiliate.

      (g) A registered public service technician may not supervise any duly registered apprentice performing work under a permit issued pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 20-334a.

      (h) The public service technician's registration shall expire annually. The fee for registration as a public service technician shall be the same fee as that charged for a journeyman's license under section 20-335.

      (i) Registered public service technicians shall be subject to the same disciplinary actions as journeymen, including, but not limited to, actions authorized under sections 20-334, 20-341 and 21a-9.

      (j) Supervisory personnel of a public service company, certified telecommunications provider or affiliate authorized to employ registered public service technicians pursuant to this section may act as an agent of such company or provider for the purpose of taking out a permit pursuant to section 20-332-16(b) of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies.

      (k) In lieu of displaying a contractor's license number pursuant to section 20-334, each public service company, certified telecommunications provider or affiliate authorized pursuant to this section to employ registered public service technicians shall display its name, logo or other trademark which clearly identifies the company or provider on all commercial vehicles used in its business and in a conspicuous manner on all printed advertisements, bid proposals, contracts and invoices and on all stationery used in its business.

      (P.A. 90-48, S. 1-3; P.A. 96-259, S. 3; P.A. 98-3, S. 35; P.A. 01-164, S. 2, 3; P.A. 03-19, S. 51, 52; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(d); P.A. 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1.)

      History: (Revisor's note: In 1997 a reference in Subsec. (b) to "Department of Labor" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Labor Department" for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 96-259 amended Subsec. (h) to make the registration expire annually rather than after two years; P.A. 98-3 made technical changes; P.A. 01-164 added references to certified telecommunications providers and made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) to (f), (j) and (k), effective January 1, 2002; P.A. 03-19 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) and (k), effective May 12, 2003; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Department of Consumer Protection with Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.

      See Sec. 20-334a(i) re installation, service and repair of residential security systems.