HB 207-LICENSE HOME INSPECTORS                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG  announced the first order of  business would be                                                              
HOUSE  BILL NO.  207,  "An Act  relating  to the  registration  of                                                              
persons  who  perform  home  inspections;  and  providing  for  an                                                              
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS  made a motion to adopt as  a work draft the                                                              
proposed  committee substitute  (CS)  for HB  207  [Version Y,  1-                                                              
LS0132\Y, Lauterbach,  3/8/00].  There being no  objection, it was                                                              
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 0144                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG,  speaking as the  sponsor of HB  207, explained                                                              
that  Version  Y   removes  the  entire  licensure   on  the  home                                                              
inspection  issue.    In Section  1,  it  leaves  in that  a  home                                                              
inspector  cannot exculpate  himself or  herself from  a cause  of                                                              
action.   It also makes the  home inspector report that  is issued                                                              
good for  one year; it includes  the other prohibited acts  in the                                                              
original  bill; and it  contains definitions.   Fundamentally,  it                                                              
strips  all the  licensure out;  takes  the controversy  regarding                                                              
architects and civil engineers out;  and takes licensing fees out.                                                              
It puts  in to  Title 9  - the  civil action  section - the  legal                                                              
actions that cannot  be exculpated; in other words,  the liability                                                              
does exist,  as a matter  of public policy,  "and under  Title 45,                                                              
which is the trade practices title."                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO  made a motion to  move Version Y  of HB 207                                                              
[1-LS0132\Y,   Lauterbach,   3/8/00],   out  of   committee   with                                                              
individual recommendations  and the  attached fiscal note.   There                                                              
being  no objection,  CSHB 207(L&C)  was  moved out  of the  House                                                              
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.