PRINTER'S NO. 1766
No. 1483 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY B. F. O'BRIEN, J. L. WRIGHT JR., STAIRS, GOODMAN
AND BURNS, JULY 12, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON MINES AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT,
JULY 12, 1977
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of July 17, 1961 (P.L.659, No.399), entitled,
2 "An act relating to bituminous coal mines; amending,
3 revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating
4 thereto; providing for the health and safety of persons
5 employed in and about the bituminous coal mines of
6 Pennsylvania and for the protection and preservation of
7 property connected therewith; prescribing powers and duties
8 in connection therewith; prescribing penalties; and repealing
9 existing laws," further providing for qualifications for
10 certification as miners.
11 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12 hereby enacts as follows:
13 Section 1. Section 212, act of July 17, 1961 (P.L.659,
14 No.399), known as the "Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Mine Act,"
15 subsections (a) and (c) amended November 30, 1967 (P.L.661,
16 No.307), is amended to read:
17 Section 212. Qualifications for Certification as Miners.--
18 Miners shall be examined and granted certificates by the
19 district board of examiners or the mine inspector in the
20 district under such rules and regulations as the secretary shall
21 prescribe.
1 (a) No person shall be qualified to take the examination
2 unless he produces evidence of having had not less than one
3 year's practical experience in [the] bituminous coal mines [of
4 this Commonwealth] anywhere in the United States as a miner or
5 who has served as a noncertified miner for a period of not less
6 than one year. The applicant, and his present or prior employer
7 shall furnish affidavits evidencing one year of practical
8 experience of the applicant. A certificate shall not be granted
9 unless the applicant appears in person before the board or mine
10 inspector and answers orally, intelligently and correctly, at
11 least eight practical questions propounded to him.
12 (b) All persons possessing certificates of qualification
13 issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania entitling them to act
14 as mine foremen, assistant mine foremen, mine examiners or mine
15 electricians, shall be eligible to engage at any time as miners
16 in bituminous coal mines of this Commonwealth.
17 (c) Supervisory and technically trained employes of the
18 operator whose work contributes only indirectly to mine
19 operations, employes who are not performing the work of a miner
20 as that term is defined in this act, and noncertified miners,
21 shall not be required to possess a miner's certificate.
22 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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