Brief Description: Studying the licensing of home inspectors.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development (originally sponsored by Senators Spanel, Brandland and Kohl-Welles).

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development
House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background: Home inspectors are not required to be registered, certified, or licensed in this state. Many home inspectors are licensed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to perform structural pest inspections.

Summary: The Department of Licensing (DOL) is to conduct a study of the home inspector profession and recommend to the Legislature whether the profession should be regulated to protect the public as required under the statutes dealing with sunrise reviews. DOL is to consider the factors outlined in RCW 18.118.030 to the extent appropriate. DOL must hold public hearings as part of the study and must publish notice of these hearings in the Washington State Register. DOL must request the names of interested individuals and organizations from legislators and other identified and interested parties and send to those persons the notice that is published in the Register.

DOL must report on its findings and recommendations to the appropriate legislative committees by December 1, 2007.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      45   2
House      94   2   (House amended)
Senate      41   7   (Senate concurred)

Effective:   July 22, 2007