BILL REQ. #:  S-0562.1 

Read first time 01/28/09.   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection.

     AN ACT Relating to home inspectors; and amending RCW 18.280.030, 18.280.060, and 18.280.070.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 18.280.030 and 2008 c 119 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     A person licensed under this chapter is responsible for performing a visual and noninvasive inspection of the following readily accessible systems and components of a home and reporting on the general condition of those systems and components at the time of the inspection in his or her written report: The roof, foundation, exterior, heating system, air-conditioning system, structure, plumbing and electrical systems, and other aspects of the home as may be identified by the board. The inspection must include looking for mold and certain fire and safety hazards as defined by the board. The standards of practice to be developed by the board will be used as the minimum standards for an inspection. The duties of the home inspector with regard to wood destroying organisms are provided in RCW 18.280.190.

Sec. 2   RCW 18.280.060 and 2008 c 119 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     The board has the following authority in administering this chapter:
     (1) To establish rules, including board organization and assignment of terms, and meeting frequency and timing, for adoption by the director;
     (2) To establish the minimum qualifications for licensing applicants as provided in this chapter;
     (3) To approve qualified instructional courses. In order to facilitate distance learning, the board must approve both online and traditional classroom courses that meet appropriate instructional standards;
     (4) To approve the method of administration of examinations required by this chapter or by rule as established by the director;
     (((4))) (5) To approve the content of or recognition of examinations prepared by other entities for adoption by the director;
     (((5))) (6) To set the time and place of examinations with the approval of the director; and
     (((6))) (7) To establish and review standards of professional conduct, practice, and ethics for adoption by the director. These standards must address what constitutes certain fire and safety hazards as used in RCW 18.280.030.

Sec. 3   RCW 18.280.070 and 2008 c 119 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     In order to become licensed as a home inspector, an applicant must submit the following to the department:
     (1) An application on a form developed by the department;
     (2) Proof of a minimum of one hundred twenty hours of ((classroom)) instruction approved by the board;
     (3) Proof of up to forty hours of field training supervised by a licensed home inspector;
     (4) Evidence of successful passage of the written exam as required in RCW 18.280.080; and
     (5) The fee in the amount set by the department.