Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
RATIO FOR APPRENTICE ELECTRICIANS ON JOB SITE
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
Senate Bill 895 (S-2) as reported from House committee Analysis available at
Sponsor: Sen. John Cherry http://www.legislature.mi.gov
House Committee: Labor
Senate Committee: Labor [Discharged]
Complete to 12-5-24
SUMMARY:
Senate Bill 895 would amend the Skilled Trades Regulation Act to modify the required ratio
of electrical journeyman or master electrician to apprentice from one-to-three to one-to-one
and to hold contractors and certain master electricians jointly responsible for ensuring
compliance with electrical wiring and equipment standards.
Currently under the act, there must be at least one electrical journeyman or master electrician
for every three registered apprentice electricians. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory
Affairs (LARA) or an enforcing agency (the governmental agency that, in accordance with the
Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, is responsible for administration
and enforcement of the State Construction Code within a county, city, village, or township) is
responsible for enforcing this ratio on a jobsite basis.
Under Senate Bill 895, the ratio would be one electrical journeyman or master electrician to
not more than one registered apprentice.
A person in violation of the ratio would be subject to a $5,000 administrative fine for a first
violation, a $10,000 administrative fine for a second violation, and a minimum 90 day’s
suspension of their master electrician’s license for a third violation. After 90 days, the license
could be reinstated if the person passes a master electrician examination.
If the violator is an electrical contractor, the contractor would be subject to the fine or license
suspension. If the violator is a master electrician who is employed by an electrical contractor
and is actively in charge of and responsible for compliance with the Michigan Electrical Code
for all installations of electrical wiring and equipment for that contractor, then both that
individual and the contractor would be subject to the fine or license suspension.
LARA would have to pay any money collected for a fine to the enforcing agency that
discovered the violation. If LARA issues an order for a violation, it would be entitled to actual
costs and attorney fees related to the investigation and adjudication of the violation.
Senate Bill 895 would additionally provide that if an electrical contractor’s license is issued to
a contractor who employs at least one full-time master electrician to be in charge of compliance
with the Michigan Electrical Code, then the electrical contractor and master electrician would
be jointly and severally responsible for the supervision or control of all electrical wiring
operations necessary to secure compliance with Article 7 (Electricians and Electrical
Contractors) of the Skilled Trades Regulation Act and all other laws and rules related to the
installation of electrical wiring and equipment. If that master electrician ceases to be employed
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 3
 by the contractor, the contractor would have to employ another master electrician to fulfill
those responsibilities within 30 days and notify LARA in writing of the change.
Finally, the bill would amend the definitions of apprentice electrician and fire alarm specialty
apprentice technician to provide that those individuals are engaged in learning about and
assisting in their respective fields under direct, on-site, in-person supervision by, as applicable,
an electrical journeyman or master electrician or a fire alarm specialty technician. 1
MCL 339.5701 et seq.
BACKGROUND:
2016 PA 73 increased the required ratio of electrical journeyman or master electrician to
apprentice from one-to-one to one-to-three.
BRIEF DISCUSSION:
Supporters argue that restoring the one-to-one ratio would improve the quality and safety of
electrical projects by ensuring that apprentices are properly trained by experienced
professionals, which is necessary given the dangerous conditions electricians face at work.
They suggest that SB 895 would help apprentices pass their licensing exam faster, since
increased supervision from electrical journeymen or master electricians would provide more
valuable learning opportunities and the bill’s provisions to hold contractors and master
electricians responsible for compliance would ensure that apprentices are properly registered
and able to get their hours certified. 2 Proponents believe that with the current number of
journey electricians in the field and with more apprentices able to become licensed on a shorter
timeline, the proposed ratio could be fulfilled without contributing to staffing shortages.
No arguments opposing the bill were presented during committee testimony, but concerns were
raised about whether the bill would limit job opportunities for new apprentices and whether
increasing the number of journey or master electricians per apprentice would have a tangible
impact on worker safety.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Senate Bill 895 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on state and local government units.
The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and local agencies that enforce the
Skilled Trades Regulation Act would likely receive increased revenues from collected violation
fines. The amount of the increase would depend on the number of violations, and the impact
on a specific agency would depend on how many violations the agency discovers. The bill
would likely require additional enforcement costs as well, which would depend on the volume
of complaints and investigations.
1
Currently, apprentices are under the direct, personal supervision of those individuals.
2
To be eligible to take the examination to become licensed as an electrical journeyman in Michigan, an individual
must obtain at least 8,000 hours of practical experience over a period of at least four years.
House Fiscal Agency SB 895 (S-2) as reported Page 2 of 3
POSITIONS:
Representatives of the IBEW Michigan State Conference testified in support of the bill.
(11-14-24)
The following entities indicated support for the bill (11-14-24):
• IBEW Local 58
• Lansing City Council
• Michigan Building Trades
• Michigan Nurses Association
• Michigan Pipe Trades
• National Electrical Contractors Association
• United Association (UA)
• UA Local 333
• United Food and Commercial Workers Local 876
The following entities indicated opposition to the bill (11-14-24):
• Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan
• Grand Rapids Chamber
• Home Builders Association of Michigan
• Lake Michigan College
• Michigan Chamber of Commerce
• Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council
• Michigan Manufacturers Association
• National Federation of Independent Business
• Small Business Association of Michigan
Legislative Analyst: Holly Kuhn
Fiscal Analyst: Una Jakupovic
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency SB 895 (S-2) as reported Page 3 of 3


Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 339.5701
As Passed by the Senate: 339.5701