Opinion No. 45-4693
April 18, 1945
TO: Mr. W. L. Barrowman 116 South Main Roswell, New Mexico
{*50} I have your letter of April 6, 1945, wherein you request an opinion of this office concerning the Electrical Contractors' Law, and how the merchants would be protected without passing House Bill No. 99.
I call your attention to Section 51-2210 of the N.M. 1941 Compilation, subsection (a), which provides an exception from obtaining permits for "minor repair work, the replacement of lamps, or the connection of portable electrical equipment to suitable receptacles which have been permanently installed."
While this provision is not written as a direct exception to the electrician's law, it is an exception concerning the obtaining of permits, and, therefore, in view of the provisions of Section 51-2201, concerning the application of the provisions of the electrician's law and the definitions contained in Section 51-2202 of the N.M. 1941 Compilation, concerning the definitions of electricians, which sections do not specifically mention the installation of such equipment, it is my opinion that a merchant may install portable electrical equipment, as provided in subsection (a) of Section 51-2210, without obtaining an electrician's license, or without complying with the provisions of the electricians law.
By HARRY L. BIGBEE,
Asst. Atty. General