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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Construction Industries Division, Regulation and Licensing Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 801 would delete references to the uniform building codes as the standards or codes followed by Construction Industries Division in regulating construction. In place of these codes the proposed legislation would refer to standards adopted by the Construction Industries Commission and meet standards of nationally recognized building code or standards that are in general use in the United States. The bill also makes technical amendments to language in existing statutes.

     Significant Issues

The enactment of this bill would give the Construction Industries Commission the ability to adopt building standards that reflect changes in the building industries and in the building associations that draft the industry standards. The building industries are dynamic not static. As changes occur in them, in the materials and processes they use, and in the professions that perform construction services, the standards by which their work product is measured must also change. If this Bill is not passed, CID will be restricted to codes that are not reflective of national standards. As long as the Construction Industries Licensing Act contains express reference to a specific code, CID will not be able to respond to the developments and improvements in building standards and will, therefore, not be able to fulfill its statutory charge to provide the highest level of protection for the residents of New Mexico through adoption of sound and uniform standards.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

No impact on agency performance.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Developing a new state building code would have minimal impact on the agency budget.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

This bill would have minimal administrative impact.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Section 59A-52-15B NMSA 1978 Comp. makes reference to the "Uniform Building Code." This reference should be amended to reflect changes proposed by this bill.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This bill would authorize the Construction Industries Commission to allow use of alternative building materials and techniques and could embrace alternative energy sources in construction projects. The code could be changed as new building standards are developed.

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