Proposed Amendment: N.J.A.C. 13:31-1.7

Continuing Education Requirements

Authorized By: Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, David Freed, Acting Executive Director.

Authority: N.J.S.A. 45:5A-6.

Calendar Reference: See Summary below for explanation of exception to calendar requirement.

Proposal Number: PRN 2013-029.

Submit written comments by April 20, 2013 to:

David Freed, Acting Executive Director
Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
124 Halsey Street
P.O. Box 45006
Newark, New Jersey 07101

The agency proposal follows:

Summary

The Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (the Board) proposes to amend N.J.A.C. 13:31-1.7, so that licensees may earn up to four credits of continuing education by completing correspondence, self-study, televised, videotaped, teleconference, or internet continuing education courses. No more than two credits may be earned in a single day. Licensees will also be permitted to obtain continuing education credits by completing courses related to alarms or electronic security systems that have been approved by the Fire Alarm, Burglar Alarm, and Locksmith Advisory Committee.

The Board has provided a 60-day comment period for this notice of proposal, therefore, this notice is excepted from the rulemaking calendar requirement pursuant to N.J.A.C. 1:30-3.3(a)5.

Social Impact

The proposed amendments will have a positive social impact on licensees. The proposed amendments recognize new methods for obtaining continuing education credits, which will increase the opportunities for licensees to complete their required continuing education. These courses will be more accessible and enable licensees to complete their continuing education credits more efficiently. The Board does not anticipate that the proposed amendments will have any adverse impact on society.

Economic Impact

The proposed amendments may have a positive economic impact on licensees. Licensees may be able to complete continuing education credits at less cost because correspondence, self-study, televised, videotaped, teleconference, and internet continuing education courses are often less expensive than other continuing education courses. Licensees may, therefore, realize decreased costs to complete continuing education requirements. The Board further believes that the proposed amendments may have a small impact on continuing education providers. Continuing education providers that develop distance learning programs may be able to offset a loss, if any, of revenues from decreased attendance at live events. Although the tuition for distance learning programs may be lower than for live events, distance learning programs may attract more students than live events because of their convenience.

Federal Standards Statement

A Federal standards analysis is not required because the proposed amendments are not subject to any Federal standards or requirements.

Jobs Impact

The Board does not believe that the proposed amendments will result in an increase or decrease in the number of jobs in the State.

Agriculture Industry Impact

The proposed amendments will have no impact on the agriculture industry in the State.

Regulatory Flexibility Statement

As the proposed amendments will impose no reporting, recordkeeping, or compliance requirements on providers or licensees, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.

Housing Affordability Impact Analysis

The proposed amendments will have an insignificant impact on affordable housing in New Jersey and there is an extreme unlikelihood that the rules would evoke a change in the average costs associated with housing because the proposed amendments concern continuing education requirements.

Smart Growth Development Impact Analysis

The proposed amendments will have an insignificant impact on smart growth and there is an extreme unlikelihood that the rules would evoke a change in housing production in Planning Areas 1 or 2, or within designated centers, under the State Development and Redevelopment Plan in New Jersey because the proposed amendments concern continuing education requirements.

Full text of the proposal follows (additions indicated in boldface thus; deletions indicated in brackets [thus]):

SUBCHAPTER 1. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

13:31-1.7 Continuing education requirements

(a)-(d) (No change.)

(e) Credit for continuing education shall be granted as follows for each triennial registration period:

1. Attendance at continuing education programs and courses approved by the Board: one credit for each hour of attendance at an approved program or course. Credit shall not be granted for programs or courses that are less than one instructional hour long. Credit shall not be granted for more than eight instructional hours obtained in one day. Completion of an entire program or course or segment of program or course instruction shall be required in order to receive any continuing education credit[;].

i. A licensee may earn a maximum of four credits per triennial registration period in correspondence, self-study, televised, videotaped, teleconference, or internet courses that have been approved by the Board pursuant to (h) below, consistent with the following:

(1) No more than two credits in an approved course may be obtained in one day; and

(2) The four credits may be earned only in approved courses in the subject areas set forth in (c)1 through 5 above;

2. (No change.)

3. Authorship of a textbook or manual or a chapter of a textbook or manual: five continuing education credits per textbook or manual or chapter of a textbook or manual, to a maximum of 10 credits per triennial registration period; [and]

4. Authorship of a published article: two continuing education credits per published article, to a maximum of eight credits per triennial registration period[.]; and

5. A licensee may obtain continuing education credit, consistent with the requirements of this section, for completing continuing education courses concerning alarms and/or electronic security systems that have been approved by the Fire Alarm, Burglar Alarm and Locksmith Advisory Committee, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:31A- [page=248] 1.12, provided the licensee obtains a certificate of completion from the course sponsor. Licensees shall not obtain any credit for courses approved by the Fire Alarm, Burglar Alarm and Locksmith Advisory Committee that concern the provision of locksmith services.

(f)-(k) (No change.)