HP0165, LD 188, item 1, An Act To License Residential Builders and Register Specialty Contractors

An Act To License Residential Builders and Register Specialty Contractors

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-A, sub-§50 is enacted to read:

50.

Maine Residential Builders and Specialty Contractors Board

Public Members Legislative Per Diem Other Members No Compensation Authorized

32 MRSA §19011

Sec. 2. 10 MRSA §8001, sub-§38, ¶MM, as amended by PL 2009, c. 344, Pt. B, §4 and affected by Pt. E, §2, is further amended to read:

MM. Board of Speech-language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dealing and Fitting; and

Sec. 3. 10 MRSA §8001, sub-§38, ¶NN, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 344, Pt. B, §5 and affected by Pt. E, §2, is amended to read:

NN. Maine Fuel Board . ; and

Sec. 4. 10 MRSA §8001, sub-§38, ¶OO is enacted to read:

OO. Maine Residential Builders and Specialty Contractors Board.

Sec. 5. 32 MRSA c. 141 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 141

MAINE RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS AND SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS ACT

SUBCHAPTER 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 19001. Short title

This chapter may be known and cited as "the Maine Residential Builders and Specialty Contractors Act."

§ 19002. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

1. Applicant. "Applicant" means a person who applies for a license or registration under this chapter.

2. Board. "Board" means the Maine Residential Builders and Specialty Contractors Board as set out in this chapter.

3. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation.

4. Department. "Department" means the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.

5. Dwelling. "Dwelling" means a single building that is owner-occupied or constructed for sale to an owner-occupant, that is not over 3 stories in height and that contains at least one but not more than 3 dwelling units.

6. Dwelling unit. "Dwelling unit" means a single unit providing complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.

7. Residential builder. "Residential builder" means a person who constructs, supervises or offers to construct or supervise the construction, repair or improvement of a dwelling when the cost of the construction, repair or improvement exceeds $3,000. A person who engages or offers to engage in construction, repair or improvement costing more than $3,000 in this State is considered to be a residential builder.

8. Residential specialty contractor. "Residential specialty contractor" means an independent contractor who is not a licensed residential builder and who contracts with a licensed residential builder or individual property owner to do construction work, repair or improvement the cost of which exceeds $1,000 that requires special skills and involves the use of a specialized construction trade or craft. "Residential specialty contractor" includes a vinyl and aluminum siding installer, insulation installer, roofer, floor covering installer, mason, foundation installer, drywall installer, carpenter and window installer and other specialists as the board includes by rule.

SUBCHAPTER 2

MAINE RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS AND SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS BOARD

§ 19011. Membership; appointment; organization

The Maine Residential Builders and Specialty Contractors Board, as established by Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 50, shall administer the provisions of this chapter to protect the public with respect to the practice of residential construction and repair. Appointments of members must comply with the provisions of Title 10, section 8009.

1. Membership. The board consists of 9 members, appointed by the Governor:

A. Two public members;

B. Four residential builders, each having at least 5 years of experience as a residential builder. After the expiration of the initial term of members under this paragraph, the members must be residential builders licensed under this chapter;

C. One municipal code enforcement officer;

D. One engineer or architect, licensed under this Title, with experience in the design or construction of dwellings, who serves as a nonvoting member; and

E. One firefighter, who serves as a nonvoting member.

2. Terms; removal. The term of office of each board member is 4 years. Members may be removed by the Governor for cause.

3. Meetings; quorum. The board shall meet at least once a year to conduct its business and elect its chair and at such other times as the board determines necessary. A majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business under this chapter.

§ 19012. Powers

1. Rules. The board shall adopt rules to administer this chapter. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. The rules must include, but are not limited to, license qualifications, standards of practice, standards of workmanship and provisions for continuing education and misconduct.

2. Licensing and registration. The board shall evaluate the qualifications of and approve the examination to be taken by applicants.

3. Disciplinary sanctions. The board may deny a license, refuse to renew a license or impose the disciplinary sanctions authorized by Title 10, section 8003, subsection 5-A for any of the reasons enumerated in Title 10, section 8003, subsection 5-A, paragraph A.

SUBCHAPTER 3

LICENSE AND REGISTRATION

§ 19021. Residential builder

1. Residential builder; license required. A residential builder must be licensed by the board for a period established by the board by rule. A licensee must pay an annual fee established by the Director of the Office of Licensing and Registration within the department pursuant to section 19026 that is based upon the department's costs in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter prohibits a person who is licensed to practice in this State under any other law from engaging in the practice for which that person is licensed.

2. Application; licensing requirements. An applicant for a residential builder's license under this subchapter shall file with the board a written application on a form prescribed by the board. The application must be accompanied by the payment of all applicable fees required pursuant to subsection 1. The board, through rulemaking, shall require the applicant to take either a written or oral form of examination, whichever the applicant prefers, as a prerequisite for licensure. A prerequisite for taking the examination for a residential builder's license is a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience under the supervision of a professional who is engaged in residential building construction or other education or experience or a combination of these as may be approved by the board. The board, in reviewing an applicant, may consider the applicant's experience, ability, character, financial condition, equipment and workers' compensation insurance and other pertinent information the board may require. The board shall issue a residential builder's license if the board finds that the applicant is qualified to engage in residential building in this State and the applicant submits proof of financial responsibility acceptable to the board.

3. Examination. An applicant who fails the examination for licensure under subsection 2 must be given the opportunity to be reexamined after payment of an additional examination fee. If the applicant fails the examination 3 times, the applicant is not eligible for reexamination for 12 months. A record must be made and preserved by the board of each examination of an applicant and the findings of the board pertaining to the examination. A certified copy of the record must be furnished to an applicant requesting the record upon the payment of a fee to the board that reasonably reflects the cost of furnishing the record to the applicant.

§ 19022. Residential specialty contractor

1. Residential specialty contractor; registration required. A residential specialty contractor must be registered by the board in a classification established pursuant to subsection 3 for a period established by the board by rule. A registrant must pay an annual fee established by the department based upon the department's costs in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter prohibits a person who is licensed to practice in this State under any other law from engaging in the practice for which that person is licensed.

2. Application; registration requirements. The board shall issue a residential specialty contractor registration certificate for the classification established pursuant to subsection 3 for which the applicant is qualified, if the board finds that the applicant is qualified to engage in that classification of residential specialty contracting in the State. A residential specialty contractor must be qualified and experienced in the particular classification in which the applicant intends to, and does, engage. The board, by rule, may require the applicant to take either a written or oral form of examination, whichever the applicant prefers, in specific areas of classification.

3. Registration; classification of residential specialty contractors. The board by rule shall establish classifications for registration of residential specialty contractors consistent with established usage and procedure in the construction business. The board may limit the field and scope of the operations of a residential specialty contractor to those in which the applicant is to be registered. A residential specialty contractor registration certificate issued by the board may not be for more than 3 of the classifications recognized by the board. A residential specialty contractor seeking registration for more than 3 classifications must be examined and licensed as a residential builder pursuant to section 19021.

§ 19023. Renewal; continuing education

The board shall renew a residential builder's license on its expiration upon the applicant's submission to the board of the completed renewal application, proof of financial responsibility acceptable to the board and payment of all applicable fees. If a license has been in inactive status for more than 3 years, the applicant is subject to the requirements of original licensure. As a condition of license renewal, the board may require by rule a licensee to satisfactorily complete continuing education through a program approved by the board, as long as the continuing education requirements are readily accessible to the licensee and do not impose an undue burden on the licensee.

§ 19024. Exemptions

A license or registration under this chapter is not required for a person who:

1. Residential builder. Otherwise acts as a residential builder but does not perform construction, repair or improvement costing more than $3,000 for any one owner of a dwelling in a calendar year;

2. Labor; services. Performs labor or services for a licensed residential builder under this chapter;

3. Trade; profession. Holds a license for a trade or profession and is acting within the scope of the trade or profession for which the person is licensed;

4. Representative. Is an authorized representative of the United States Government, the State or any incorporated municipality, county or other political subdivision of this State who is acting within the scope of that representative's authorization;

5. Ownership interest; family member; lessee. Performs work on a dwelling in which that person has an ownership interest or that is owned by a family member of that person or who is a lessee performing work on the lessee's leased property;

6. Certified applied technology program. Is a student enrolled in a certified applied technology program in which the student works under the direct supervision of a residential builder licensed under this chapter;

7. Public utility. Is a public utility operating under the laws of the State and rules of the Public Utilities Commission in construction, maintenance or development work incidental to the public utility's business;

8. Manufactured housing. Is licensed by the Manufactured Housing Board under Title 10, chapter 951 and performs home construction services in connection with the construction or installation of manufactured housing; or

9. Other professions. Is licensed in this State under any other provision of law and engages in the practice for which the person is licensed.

§ 19025. Violations

A violation of the licensing requirements under this chapter is governed by the provisions of Title 10, section 8003-C.

§ 19026. Fees

The Director of the Office of Licensing and Registration within the department, pursuant to Title 10, section 8003, subsection 2-A, paragraph D, may establish by rule fees for purposes authorized under this chapter in amounts that are reasonable and necessary for their respective purposes, except that the fee for any one purpose may not exceed $350. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

§ 19027. Effective date

This subchapter takes effect January 1, 2014.

Sec. 6. Maine Residential Builders and Specialty Contractors Board initial meeting; staggered terms. Initial members of the Maine Residential Builders and Specialty Contractors Board created pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 19011 must be appointed no later than May 1, 2012. The board shall convene its first meeting no later than July 15, 2012. Notwithstanding Title 32, section 19011, subsection 2, initial terms of the members of the board are as follows:

1. For the firefighter representative, 2 years;

2. For one public member, one year;

3. For one public member, 2 years;

4. For 2 residential builders, 3 years;

5. For 2 residential builders, 4 years;

6. For the municipal code enforcement officer, 2 years; and

7. For the engineer or architect, 2 years.

Sec. 7. Transfer 2012. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Controller shall transfer $837,732 from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund to the Office of Licensing and Registration, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation no later than July 1, 2012 to support the establishment and start-up costs of the Maine Residential Builders and Specialty Contractors Board created pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 19011.

Sec. 8. Transfer 2013. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Controller shall transfer $368,587 from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund to the Office of Licensing and Registration, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation no later than July 1, 2013 for operating costs of the Maine Residential Builders and Specialty Contractors Board created pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 19011.

summary

This bill creates the Maine Residential Builders and Specialty Contractors Act and establishes the Maine Residential Builders and Specialty Contractors Board within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Licensing and Registration. Beginning January 1, 2014, the board will authorize persons to practice residential building activities by issuing a license to residential builders and a registration certificate to residential specialty contractors. It establishes the requirements for licensure as a residential builder and for registration as a residential specialty contractor and includes certain specific exemptions from licensure and registration. The bill also provides for staggered initial appointments to the board and requires that all members be appointed to the board no later than May 1, 2012. The board is required to convene its first meeting no later than July 15, 2012.

HP0165 LD 188	First Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature		LR 43 Item 1
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