Certify specialty residential construction contractor
Legislative Analysis Report Certify specialty residential construction contractor
1. Primary Purpose of the Bill
This bill establishes a voluntary 'residential-only' certification program for specialty residential construction contractors, including those working in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, electrical, plumbing, and hydronics. It outlines the application process, liability insurance requirements, fees, and continuing education standards for obtaining and renewing this optional certification.
Business and CommerceLabor and Employment
2. Changes to Existing Law
ORC Sec. 4740.18 Enacts a new section to create a voluntary 'residential-only' certification for specialty residential contractors, setting requirements for liability insurance, fees, renewal periods, and continuing education.
ORC Sec. 4740.99 Amends the penalty section to make falsely claiming to hold a residential-only certification a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a fourth-degree misdemeanor for subsequent offenses.
3. Key Information for Citizens
🗳️ What You Need to Know
- The new residential-only certification is completely voluntary; contractors are not required to have it to work on residential projects in Ohio.
- To qualify, contractors must carry at least $250,000 in liability insurance, including coverage for direct labor subcontractors, and pay a $100 fee.
- Certifications must be renewed every five years, requiring 20 hours of approved continuing education.
- Falsely claiming to be a certified residential-only contractor is illegal and carries criminal penalties.
4. Entities Affected
- Residential specialty contractors (HVAC, refrigeration, electrical, plumbing, and hydronics)
- Direct labor subcontractors
- Continuing education training agencies
- Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board
5. Regulatory Impact & Enforcement
Agency Authority: The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board is granted authority to issue and renew certifications, approve continuing education courses and training agencies, and collect associated fees. The Attorney General is authorized to bring civil actions against violators.
Penalties & Mandates: Falsely claiming to be a certified residential-only contractor is a minor misdemeanor for the first offense and a fourth-degree misdemeanor for subsequent offenses. The Attorney General may also seek injunctions or restraining orders against violators.
Implementation Timeline: Not applicable
6. Estimated Fiscal Impact
State Revenue Impact
Not applicable
Local Government Impact
Not applicable
Implementation Costs
Not applicable
Net Annual Fiscal Effect
Not applicable
Policy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Meet the representatives and senators who introduced this bill and are pushing it through the chamber. Click on any sponsor to see their district, party affiliation, and what other legislation they’ve championed this session.
Primary Sponsors
Tim Schaffer
District
20
Chamber
Senate
Party
Republican
Co-Sponsors
Related Topics
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Taxation & Finance
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Criminal Justice
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Transportation
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Business & Commerce
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Local Government
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Status Changes
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Referred to committee
Jan 29 2025
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Documents
Access the primary source. This section hosts the full, unedited text of the legislation alongside every official document produced during its journey. From the initial draft to the final enrolled version, you can review the exact language being proposed for state law.
