House Bill 1533 would allow an individual holding a specialty electrician certificate of competency to continue performing specialty work for a single employer while enrolled in a journey‑level apprenticeship program, provided the employer follows reporting and notification requirements, committee staff said.

Jarrett Sachs, committee staff, summarized the measure: for single‑employer apprenticeship plans an employer may use an apprentice to perform work under the apprentice’s specialty electrician certificate if the employer submits a quarterly attestation of the apprentice’s specialty hours to the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and provides annual written notice to the apprentice of the employer’s intent to use the apprentice for specialty work. The specialty work would not count toward hours required to complete the apprenticeship program, and an employer is exempt from the apprenticeship standard requiring reasonable continuous employment so long as the employer provides at least 800 working hours per year that count toward the apprentice’s apprenticeship experience. Sachs said a fiscal note shows an estimated $356,000 cost for L&I, including about $150,000 from accident and medical aid accounts and the remainder from the electrical‑licensing account.

Representative Schmidt, sponsor, framed the bill as a rural and small‑employer fix. He told the committee that a 2017 law shifted electrician pathways so more candidates must complete approved apprenticeship programs, and that small, single‑employer apprenticeship plans in rural areas had trouble with the suspension model that previously forced employers to suspend apprentices from work while they completed new requirements. "We didn't want to take away if they had a certification, a license that they already earned," Schmidt said, and argued the bill preserves workers' ability to earn a living while completing additional apprenticeship training.

Two industry witnesses spoke in support during public testimony. Carolyn Logue of Associated Builders and Contractors’ Inland Pacific Chapter said the measure helps contractors in rural communities that perform multiple types of work and want employees to gain commercial apprenticeship experience without losing specialty work needed for local projects. Matthew Heppner, executive director of Certified Electrical Workers of Washington and a journeyman electrician, said the bill balances flexibility and accountability and asked for enforcement of the 800‑hour annual minimum; he said the caucus compromise was an acceptable starting point.

Committee members did not record a final vote on HB 1533 in the provided transcript; staff heard multiple proponent witnesses and indicated stakeholders had worked collaboratively on draft language.

Next steps: Committee paused to caucus and proceed through other bills; HB 1533 received sponsor and industry support and may return to committee for executive consideration or to be rolled into further action.