The bill requires the department to promulgate rules relating to ironwork.
These rules must specify, among other things, the tasks that master ironworkers and
journeyman ironworkers are permitted to perform. In addition, these rules must
establish ironworker ratios, specifying a minimum number of master ironworkers
that are required to provide work at a construction site and a maximum number of
apprentice ironworkers and individuals training as ironworkers that are permitted
to provide work at a construction site.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB660, s. 1 1Section 1. 101.02 (20) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act 28,
2is amended to read:
AB660,3,7
1101.02 (20) (a) For purposes of this subsection, "license" means a license,
2permit, or certificate of certification or registration issued by the department under
3ss. 101.09 (3) (c), 101.122 (2) (c), 101.136, 101.143 (2) (g), 101.147, 101.15 (2) (e),
4101.16 (3g), 101.17, 101.177 (4) (a), 101.178 (2) or (3) (a), 101.25 (3), 101.63 (2) or (2m),
5101.653, 101.73 (5) or (6), 101.82 (1m), (1v), and (2), 101.935, 101.95, 101.951,
6101.952, 101.985 (1) to (3), 145.02 (4), 145.035, 145.045, 145.15, 145.16, 145.165,
7145.17, 145.175, 145.18, or 167.10 (6m).
AB660, s. 2 8Section 2. 101.02 (21) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act 28,
9is amended to read:
AB660,3,1610 101.02 (21) (a) In this subsection, "license" means a license, permit, or
11certificate of certification or registration issued by the department under s. 101.09
12(3) (c), 101.122 (2) (c), 101.136, 101.143 (2) (g), 101.147, 101.15 (2) (e), 101.16 (3g),
13101.17, 101.177 (4) (a), 101.178 (2) or (3) (a), 101.25 (3), 101.63 (2), 101.653, 101.73
14(5) or (6), 101.82 (1m), (1v), and (2), 101.935, 101.95, 101.951, 101.952, 101.985 (1)
15to (3), 145.02 (4), 145.035, 145.045, 145.15, 145.16, 145.165, 145.17, 145.175, 145.18,
16or 167.10 (6m).
AB660, s. 3 17Section 3. 101.19 (1) (n) of the statutes is created to read:
AB660,3,1918 101.19 (1) (n) Certifying master ironworkers and journeymen ironworkers
19under s. 101.25 (3).
AB660, s. 4 20Section 4. 101.25 of the statutes is created to read:
AB660,3,22 21101.25 Master and journeyman ironworkers. (1) Definition. In this
22section, "ironworker" means an individual who does any of the following:
AB660,3,2423 (a) Raises, places, or unites girders, columns, and other structural steel
24members.
AB660,4,2
1(b) Positions and secures reinforcing rods or post tensioning cables during
2on-site construction of buildings or bridges.
AB660,4,33 (c) Installs prefabricated, ornamental metalwork.
AB660,4,44 (d) Erects precast girders during on-site construction of bridges.
AB660,4,65 (e) Rigs or raises a turbine for a wind energy system as defined in s. 66.0403
6(1) (m).
AB660,4,12 7(2) Certification. (a) Certificate required. Except as provided in sub. (5), no
8individual may perform work as an ironworker in this state without a master
9ironworker or journeyman ironworker certificate obtained from the department.
10Except as provided in sub. (5), an individual with a master ironworker or journeyman
11ironworker certificate shall perform work as an ironworker consistent with the rules
12promulgated under sub. (3) (d).
AB660,4,1413 (b) Employer liability. No employer may permit an employee to perform work
14in violation of par. (a).
AB660,4,1815 (c) Contractor and subcontractor liability. No person who is under a contract
16to construct an improvement to land may permit an agent of the person, or an
17independent contractor under contract with the person, to perform work on the
18improvement in violation of par. (a).
AB660,4,22 19(3) Administration. (a) Master ironworkers. Except as provided in sub. (4),
20the department shall administer a program for the certification of master
21ironworkers. The department may certify an individual as a master ironworker only
22if all of the following apply:
AB660,5,423 1. The individual satisfactorily completes a written examination regarding
24ironworking, unless the individual applies for recertification and provides sufficient
25evidence that the individual has safely completed at least 5,000 hours of work as a

1master ironworker or journeyman ironworker during the 5-year period before the
2date of the application for recertification and has successfully completed at least 30
3hours of training approved by the department during the 5-year period before the
4date of the application for recertification.
AB660,5,95 2. The individual holds a valid journeyman ironworker certificate for at least
6one year before the date of the individual's application for certification as a master
7ironworker, unless the individual has successfully completed an ironworker
8apprenticeship program that is approved by the department of commerce and the
9department of workforce development.
AB660,5,1310 (b) Journeyman ironworkers. Except as provided in sub. (4), the department
11shall administer a program for the certification of journeyman ironworkers. The
12department may certify an individual as a journeyman ironworker only if all of the
13following apply:
AB660,5,2014 1. The individual satisfactorily completes a written examination regarding
15ironworking, unless the individual applies for recertification and provides sufficient
16evidence that the individual has safely completed at least 5,000 hours of work as a
17journeyman ironworker during the 5-year period before the date of the application
18for recertification and has successfully completed at least 15 hours of training
19approved by the department during the 5-year period before the date of the
20application for recertification.
AB660,5,2521 2. The individual successfully completes an ironworker apprenticeship
22program that is approved by the department of commerce and the department of
23workforce development, or safely completes at least 8,000 hours of work in the
24ironworking trade, before the date of the individual's application for certification as
25a journeyman ironworker.
AB660,6,2
1(c) Term. A master ironworker certificate or journeyman ironworker certificate
2issued by the department shall be valid for a term of 5 years.
AB660,6,103 (d) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to administer the program
4established under this subsection. The rules shall specify the tasks related to
5ironworking that an individual certified as a master ironworker may perform and
6that an individual certified as a journeyman ironworker may perform. To the extent
7feasible, the rules shall be consistent with national standards applicable to
8ironworkers. The department of commerce shall promulgate any rules with regard
9to approved ironworker apprenticeship programs in consultation with the
10department of workforce development.
AB660,6,19 11(4) Federal approval. The department shall submit to the federal secretary
12of labor a plan for the certification of ironworkers under this section, if required to
13do so under 29 USC 667 (b), and shall request the federal secretary of labor to approve
14the plan. The plan submitted by the department shall be consistent with all of the
15provisions of this section. If no approval is required under 29 USC 667 (b) or if an
16approval is granted and in effect, the department shall implement the program
17under this section. If approval is required under 29 USC 667 (b), the department may
18not implement the program under this section unless an approval is granted and in
19effect.
AB660,6,22 20(5) Exceptions. (a) Lack of federal approval. Subsection (2) (a) does not apply
21if approval of the department's plan for the certification of ironworkers is required
22under 29 USC 667 (b) but is not granted and in effect.
AB660,6,2323 (b) Other exceptions. Subsection (2) (a) does not apply to any of the following:
AB660,7,3
11. An individual who is receiving training as an ironworker, if the individual
2is under the direct supervision of an ironworker who holds a valid master ironworker
3certificate received from the department.
AB660,7,64 2. An individual who is enrolled in and performing tasks that are within the
5scope of an ironworker apprenticeship program that is approved by the department
6of commerce and by the department of workforce development.
AB660,7,107 3. An individual who is a member of a uniformed service, as defined in s. 6.22
8(1) (c), or who is a member of the U.S. merchant marine, if the individual is
9performing work for the uniformed service of which the individual is a member or for
10the U.S. merchant marine, respectively.
AB660,7,1211 4. An individual who is performing ironwork on premises that are owned or
12leased by the individual.
AB660,7,1413 5. An individual who is performing ironwork in an attempt to remedy an
14emergency.
AB660,7,1715 6. An individual who is positioning and securing reinforcing rods during the
16construction of a road, sidewalk, or parking lot. Under this subdivision, the
17construction of a bridge is not the construction of a road.
AB660,7,1918 7. An individual who is performing ironwork within the scope of his or her
19employment, if the individual is employed to do primarily any of the following:
AB660,7,2020 a. Install, assemble, construct, or repair electrical work.
AB660,7,2121 b. Install, adjust, repair, or dismantle fire protection and fire control systems.
AB660,8,222 c. Erect, install, or repair transmission poles, fabricated metal transmission
23towers, outdoor substations, switch racks, or similar electrical structures, electric
24cables, and related auxiliary equipment for high-voltage transmission and

1distribution power lines that are used to conduct energy between generating
2stations, substations, and consumers.
AB660,8,33 d. Install, repair, alter, or recondition gas distribution pipeline.
AB660,8,64 e. Install or repair residential potable water lines, gravity waste disposal
5systems inside curb or fence lines, plumbing fixtures, and plumbing appliances such
6as dishwashers and water heaters.
AB660,8,97 f. Lay out, assemble, install, or maintain pipe systems, pipe supports, and
8related hydraulic and pneumatic equipment for steam, hot water, heating, cooling,
9lubricating, or industrial production and processing systems.
AB660,8,11 10(6) Penalties. Any person who violates sub. (2) may be fined not more than
11$500 or imprisoned for not more than 3 months or both.
AB660, s. 5 12Section 5. 101.255 of the statutes is created to read:
AB660,8,13 13101.255 Ironworker ratios. (1) Definitions. In this section:
AB660,8,1614 (a) "Apprentice ironworker" means an individual who is enrolled in an
15ironworker apprenticeship program that is approved by the department of commerce
16and by the department of workforce development.
AB660,8,1817 (b) "Master ironworker" means an individual who is certified as a master
18ironworker by the department of commerce under s. 101.25.
AB660,9,2 19(2) Rules. Except as provided in sub. (3), the department shall promulgate
20rules specifying a minimum number of master ironworkers that are required to
21provide work at a construction site, and a maximum number of apprentice
22ironworkers and individuals training as ironworkers that are permitted to provide
23work at a construction site, in order to provide for the safety of individuals at the
24construction site. The department may vary the minimum and maximum numbers

1established under the rules based upon the type of work being performed at the
2construction site.
AB660,9,11 3(3) Federal approval. The department shall submit to the federal secretary
4of labor a plan for enforcing the minimum and maximum numbers established under
5sub. (2), if required to do so under 29 USC 667 (b), and shall request the federal
6secretary of labor to approve the plan. The plan submitted by the department shall
7be consistent with all of the provisions of sub. (2). If no approval is required under
829 USC 667 (b) or if an approval is granted and in effect, the department shall
9promulgate and enforce the rules required under sub. (2). If approval is required
10under 29 USC 667 (b), the department may not promulgate or enforce the rules
11required under sub. (2) unless an approval is granted and in effect.
AB660, s. 6 12Section 6 . Nonstatutory provisions.
AB660,9,1713 (1) Federal approval of ironworker program. No later than the first day of
14the 3rd month beginning after the effective date of this subsection, the department
15of commerce shall submit to the federal secretary of labor the plans required under
16sections 101.25 (4) and 101.255 (3) of the statutes, as created by this act, if required
17to do so under 29 USC 667 (b).
AB660,9,2318 (2) Submission of proposed rules. No later than the first day of the 9th month
19beginning after the effective date of this subsection, the department of commerce
20shall submit in proposed form the rules required under sections 101.25 (3) and
21101.255 (2) of the statutes, as created by this act; and the fees permitted under
22section 101.19 (1) (n) of the statutes, as created by this act, to the legislative council
23staff under section 227.15 (1) of the statutes.
AB660,9,2524 (3) Grandfather provision; certification of certain master ironworkers.
25Except as provided in section 101.02 (20) (b) and (21) (b) of the statutes and

1notwithstanding section 101.25 (3) (a) of the statutes, as created by this act, if
2approval of the department of commerce's plan to certify ironworkers under section
3101.25 (4) of the statutes, as created by this act, is not required under 29 USC 667
4(b) or if such an approval is granted and in effect, the department shall certify as a
5master ironworker any individual who applies for a master ironworker certification
6within one year after the effective date of this subsection and who provides the
7department with sufficient evidence that the individual safely completed at least
815,000 hours of work in the ironworking trade during the 15-year period before the
9date of the application for certification.
AB660,10,1810 (4) Grandfather provision; certification of certain journeyman
11ironworkers.
Except as provided in section 101.02 (20) (b) and (21) (b) of the statutes
12and notwithstanding section 101.25 (3) (b) of the statutes, as created by this act, if
13approval of the department of commerce's plan to certify ironworkers under section
14101.25 (4) of the statutes, as created by this act, is not required under 29 USC 667
15(b) or if such an approval is granted and in effect, the department shall certify as a
16journeyman ironworker any individual who applies for a journeyman ironworker
17certification within one year after the effective date of this subsection and who
18provides the department with sufficient evidence of any of the following:
AB660,10,2119 (a) That the individual, before the date of the application for certification,
20successfully completed an apprenticeship program for ironworking that is approved
21by the department of workforce development.
AB660,10,2422 (b) That the individual safely completed at least 8,000 hours of work in the
23ironworking trade during the 8-year period before the date of the application for
24certification.
AB660, s. 7
1Section 7. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the first day of the 12th
2month beginning after publication, except as follows:
AB660,11,43 (1) Federal approval and proposed rules. Section 6 (1) and (2 ) of this act takes
4effect on the day after publication.
AB660,11,55 (End)
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