SENATE BILL 217

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

William P. Soules

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO LICENSING; AMENDING DUTIES OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES DIVISION OF THE REGULATION AND LICENSING DEPARTMENT; SPECIFYING MINIMUM BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 60-13-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 73, Section 1, as amended by Laws 2013, Chapter 142, Section 2 and by Laws 2013, Chapter 153, Section 2) is amended to read:

     "60-13-9. DIVISION--DUTIES.--The division shall:

          A. approve and adopt examinations on codes and standards, business knowledge, division rules and regulations and on the Construction Industries Licensing Act recommended by the commission for all classifications of contractor's licenses;

          B. issue, under the director's signature, contractor's licenses and certificates of qualification in accordance with the provisions of the Construction Industries Licensing Act;

          C. submit a list of all contractor's licenses, statewide inspector's certificates and certificates of qualification issued by the division to the commission for review and approval;

          D. resolve jurisdictional conflicts by assigning specific responsibility to the appropriate bureau for preparing examinations and for certifying and inspecting each occupation, trade or activity covered by the Construction Industries Licensing Act;

          E. establish and collect fees authorized to be collected by the division pursuant to the Construction Industries Licensing Act;

          F. adopt all building codes and minimum standards as recommended by the trade bureaus and approved by the commission so that the public welfare is protected, uniformity is promoted and conflicting provisions are avoided; provided that except as provided in the second sentence of Subsection E of Section 60-13-6 NMSA 1978, within twelve months of the promulgation by the international code council of a revision of the International Building Code, all building codes shall meet the minimum standards set forth in that most recent revision;

          G. with approval of the superintendent of regulation and licensing, employ such personnel as the division deems necessary for the exclusive purpose of investigating violations of the Construction Industries Licensing Act, enforcing Sections 60-13-12 and 60-13-38 NMSA 1978 and instituting legal action in the name of the division to accomplish the provisions of Section 60-13-52 NMSA 1978;

          H. approve, disapprove or revise the recommended budget of each trade bureau and submit the budgets of those bureaus, along with its own budget, to the regulation and licensing department;

          I. approve, disapprove or revise and submit to the regulation and licensing department all requests of the trade bureaus for emergency budget transfers;

          J. make an annual report to the superintendent of regulation and licensing and develop a policy manual concerning the operations of the division and the trade bureaus. The report shall also contain the division's recommendations for legislation it deems necessary to improve the licensing and technical practices of the construction and LP gas industries and to protect persons, property and agencies of the state and its political subdivisions;

          K. adopt, subject to commission approval, rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the Construction Industries Licensing Act and the LPG and CNG Act;

          L. maintain a complete record of all applications; all licenses issued, renewed, canceled, revoked and suspended; and all fines and penalties imposed by the division or commission and may make that information available to certified code jurisdictions;

          M. furnish, upon payment of a reasonable fee established by the division, a certified copy of any license issued or of the record of the official revocation or suspension thereof. Such certified copy shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein; and

          N. publish a list of contractors, with their addresses and classifications, licensed by the division. The list shall be furnished without charge to such public officials, public bodies or public works and building departments as the division deems advisable. The list shall be published annually, and supplements shall be provided as the division deems necessary. Copies of the list and supplements shall be furnished to any person upon request and payment of a reasonable fee established by the division."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2022.

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