An Act To Amend the Oil and Solid Fuel Board and Propane and Natural Gas Board Licensing Laws
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the need to weatherize Maine's existing housing inventory is critical to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the State; and
Whereas, the weatherization of existing homes across the State will require qualified individuals to perform energy efficiency and combustion testing on weatherized homes for safety reasons; and
Whereas, Maine law currently limits combustion testing of oil-fired and gas-fired heating appliances to individuals who are licensed as oil burner technicians or natural gas and propane technicians, therefore limiting the number of individuals permitted to perform combustion testing in connection with residential weatherization; and
Whereas, it is necessary to increase the number of individuals permitted to perform combustion testing on weatherized homes; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §2401-A, sub-§6, as amended by PL 1999, c. 386, Pt. J, §13, is further amended to read:
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §2401-A, sub-§7 is enacted to read:
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §14807, sub-§7, as repealed and replaced by PL 1999, c. 790, Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
Sec. 4. Implementation provision. The Oil and Solid Fuel Board and the Propane and Natural Gas Board shall each engage in emergency rulemaking pursuant to the Maine Administrative Procedure Act and each shall adopt final rules implementing this Act within 90 days after the effective date of this Act.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
summary
This bill creates an exemption from licensing requirements in the laws governing the Oil and Solid Fuel Board and the Propane and Natural Gas Board for individuals who perform combustion testing on oil burning equipment and propane and natural gas appliances. Each licensing board is required to engage in emergency rulemaking regarding combustion testing that an unlicensed individual may perform without a license. Each board's emergency rules are to be adopted under the provisions of the Maine Administrative Procedure Act within 90 days of the effective date of this Act.