02/04/2002 03:15 PM House L&C

HB 291-LICENSING OF RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTORS                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
TAPE 02-11, SIDE A                                                                                                              
Number 0001                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  MURKOWSKI announced  the  final order  of business,  HOUSE                                                               
BILL NO. 291, "An Act  relating to the requirements for obtaining                                                               
a residential contractor endorsement."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Number 0033                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KOTT  moved  to   adopt  the  proposed  committee                                                               
substitute (CS),  version 22-LS1158\C,  Lauterbach, 2/1/02,  as a                                                               
work draft.   There being no objection, Version C  was before the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
NUMBER 0080                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MEYER,   sponsor  of   HB  291,   explained  that                                                               
currently  a person  must apply  for  the residential  contractor                                                               
endorsement within  six months after successfully  completing the                                                               
exam.   He said a constituent,  Mr. Devore, had written  a letter                                                               
noting that  he'd been out  of state  for a family  emergency and                                                               
had missed the six-month deadline;  Mr. Devore's concern was that                                                               
the law didn't allow for  extenuating circumstances.  If a person                                                               
misses the six-month  deadline, the only recourse is  to take the                                                               
residential contractor exam again -  which is four hours long and                                                               
is only offered four  times a year, with a $75  fee each time the                                                               
test is taken.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MEYER  said  he'd  contacted  Catherine  Reardon,                                                               
Director, Division  of Occupational Licensing, who'd  agreed that                                                               
the law could allow some flexibility.   He said a simple solution                                                               
was  to   extend  the   timeline  to   apply  for   a  contractor                                                               
endorsement.   He said Ms.  Reardon had  explained to him  that a                                                               
common reason  for missing the  deadline was that a  person might                                                               
be in the process of starting a new construction business.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER pointed out  that originally HB 291 extended                                                               
the deadline  from six months  to two  years, but Version  C only                                                               
extends the  deadline to twelve  months.   He said this  was more                                                               
agreeable to all the parties involved.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Number 0283                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CATHERINE REARDON, Director,  Division of Occupational Licensing,                                                               
Department  of Commerce  and Economic  Development, informed  the                                                               
committee that  the Division  of Occupational  Licensing supports                                                               
HB 291.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Number 0302                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ROKEBERG moved  to report  CSHB 291  [version 22-                                                               
LS1158\C,  Lauterbach,  2/1/02]  from committee  with  individual                                                               
recommendations and  the accompanying fiscal notes.   There being                                                               
no objection, CSHB 291(L&C) was moved  out of the House Labor and                                                               
Commerce Standing Committee.