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REFERENCE TITLE: well drillers; continuing education |
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State of Arizona Senate Forty-eighth Legislature First Regular Session 2007
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SB 1352 |
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Introduced by Senators Flake, Arzberger
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AN ACT
amending title 45, chapter 2, article 10, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 45-595.01; relating to wells.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 45, chapter 2, article 10, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 45-595.01, to read:
45-595.01. Well drillers; continuing education; advisory committee
a. As a prerequisite to renewal of a license, a state licensed well driller shall present evidence satisfactory to the director of having met the continuing education requirements of either subsection B or C.
B. The basic continuing education requirement for renewal of a license is completion by the applicant during the immediately preceding year of courses or seminars of at least four credit hours. The courses or seminars and the amount of credit to be earned for each course or seminar shall be as approved by the director.
C. An applicant for renewal of a license may satisfy all or part of the continuing education requirements by presenting evidence of the following:
1. Completion of an educational program of study determined by the director to be equivalent for continuing education purposes to courses approved by the director pursuant to subsection B.
2. Participation other than as a student in the educational processes and programs that are approved by the director and that relate to regulated industry or to technological advances in well drilling.
3. INstruction by a licensed well driller to other licensees in a continuing education course approved by the director. An instructor shall receive three credit hours for every hour of instruction, except that no more than four credit hours shall be earned for instruction in any year.
D. The director shall adopt rules to assure that a person renewing a license as a well driller follows practices and techniques that provide a high degree of competency and protection to the public. The rules shall include:
1. Policies and procedures for obtaining approval of courses and seminars pursuant to subsection B.
2. STandards, policies and procedures to be applied by the director in evaluating an applicant's claim for equivalency in accordance with subsection C.
3. Standards, monitoring methods and systems for recording attendance to be employed by course sponsors as a prerequisite to approval of courses for credit.
4. A requirement that licensed well drillers complete a department sponsored review course covering administrative rules for well drillers at least once in every three year period.
E. In adopting rules pursuant to subsection D, the director shall give consideration to courses of instruction, seminars or other appropriate well drilling educational courses or programs developed and recommended by the well drilling continuing education advisory committee. Topics for courses and seminars shall include occupational health and safety, business and office skills, interpersonal skills, technical aspects of the well drilling industry, general hydrology or geology, administrative requirements of the industry and any other subjects that the director determines appropriate to increase the technical skills and abilities of licensees. The director shall determine the number of credit hours to be earned for each course or seminar and shall not allow more than three credit hours to be earned in any one course or seminar or all four credit hours to be earned in the same topic.
F. The well drillers continuing education advisory committee is established consisting of the director or the director's designee, one person who is a representative of a supplier or manufacturer of well drilling equipment and who is appointed by the director, one member who is a technical advisory in the field of well drilling and who is appointed by the director and four licensed well drillers who are appointed by the director. Members of the committee are not eligible for compensation or reimbursement of expenses. Appointed members of the committee shall serve for staggered two year terms. Initial terms shall be determined by lot.
G. The director may waive all or a portion of the continuing education requirements for good cause shown by an Applicant for renewal of a license.
Sec. 2. Applicability
A. This act applies to persons who seek to renew their well drilling licenses for any period on or after July 1, 2008.
B. From the effective date of this act through June 30, 2008, the director of water resources may approve courses and seminars that are reasonably intended to meet the requirements of this act, even if those courses are not in compliance with rules subsequently adopted by the director. The director shall approve sufficient courses and seminars to allow licensees to comply with requirements of this act in fiscal year 2007-2008.
Sec. 3. Purpose
The purpose of this act is to increase protection of groundwater resources, increase compliance with well drilling rules, increase protection for prospective well owners and increase public confidence in water well contractors by requiring the contractors that renew their licensees to remain current on regulatory, industry and technological advances.