The licensing and regulation of thermal system insulation mechanics; creating a thermal system insulation council; requiring the employment of a state inspector; establishing standards for installing and maintaining thermal system insulation; requiring the exercise of rule-making authority; making an appropriation; and providing a penalty

Under the bill, the state inspector must have at least ten years of experience as a mechanic and must have successfully completed an apprenticeship program in installing and maintaining thermal system insulation. The state inspector must inspect buildings to determine whether the buildings comply with standards established by Commerce for the installation and maintenance of thermal system insulation (state standards). The state inspector must also keep complete and accurate records of all inspected buildings and give notice of noncompliance to the owner of every building who fails to comply with state standards. The bill authorizes the state inspector to enter and inspect buildings and to issue orders requiring the owner of a building to make repairs or alterations necessary for the building to conform to state standards. Under the bill, the state inspector must also provide assistance and information to building inspectors who inspect buildings for compliance with the standards established by Commerce under this bill.

The bill establishes minimum licensing requirements for thermal system insulation mechanics. Under the bill, a person may not obtain a mechanic's license unless he or she has acquired a specified amount of experience installing and maintaining thermal system insulation and passed a written examination approved by Commerce or has successfully completed an approved apprenticeship program.

The licensing requirement under the bill does not apply to a person who makes only minor repairs to thermal system insulation.

The bill allows Commerce to waive any licensing requirement for mechanics for a person who is licensed in another state in which the standards for licensure are at least as strict as the bill's requirements. The bill also allows Commerce to waive any licensing requirement for experienced mechanics who submit evidence satisfactory to Commerce that the mechanic is qualified for licensure. The bill further provides that Commerce may not renew a license issued to a mechanic unless the mechanic completes an approved continuing education course during the previous license period.

The bill authorizes Commerce to assess directly a forfeiture by issuing an order against any person who installs, or contracts to install, insulation products without a license or who fails to comply with an order issued by the state inspector.