SB930: Bill Text

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes the following changes related to certificates of financial responsibility issued by the Department of Safety and Professional Services that current law generally requires a person to hold in order to obtain a building permit:

1. Requires that a person complete an educational course that consists of in-person or live virtual instruction to obtain a certificate of financial responsibility. Under the bill, the course must include instruction on accounting, lien law, ethics, and best business practices, and the applicant must show photo identification to register attendance for the course. Current rules promulgated by DSPS require a person to complete 12 hours in an approved educational course to obtain a certificate of financial responsibility.

2. Requires a person to complete a total of at least four hours of continuing education on construction laws and codes and contracts, liability, and risk management every two years to maintain a certificate of financial responsibility. Under the bill, these hours count towards the 12 hours of continuing education that current law requires a certificate holder to complete every two years.

3. Requires providers of continuing education courses for financial responsibility certificates to submit to DSPS test questions related to their courses and verification that attendees completed their courses.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB930,1 Section 1. 101.654 (1m) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB930,2,7 101.654 (1m) (b) 1. Completion every 2 years of at least 12 hours of continuing education relevant to the professional area of expertise of the person seeking to obtain a building permit, approved by the department. The hours of continuing education required under this subdivision shall include a total of at least 4 hours of continuing education on construction laws and codes and contracts, liability, and risk management every 2 years.

SB930,2 Section 2. 101.654 (1m) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

SB930,2,10 101.654 (1m) (f) A provider of a continuing education course approved by the department under this subsection shall do all of the following:

SB930,2,11 1. Submit to the department test questions related to the course.

SB930,2,14 2. After each occasion that a person completes the course over the Internet, submit to the department verification that the person completed the course and any test related to the course.

SB930,3 Section 3. 101.654 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 101.654 (3) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB930,2,19 101.654 (3) (a) (intro.) Upon receipt of the proof required under sub. (2) and the fee required by rules promulgated under s. 101.63 (2m) all of the following, the department shall issue to the applicant a certificate of financial responsibility.:

SB930,3,2 (b) A certificate of financial responsibility issued under this subsection is valid for one year after the date of issuance, unless sooner suspended or revoked.

SB930,4 Section 4. 101.654 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is created to read:

SB930,3,4 101.654 (3) (a) 1. The proof required under sub. (2).

SB930,5 Section 5. 101.654 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

SB930,3,6 101.654 (3) (a) 2. The fee required by rules promulgated under s. 101.63 (2m).

SB930,6 Section 6. 101.654 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

SB930,3,9 101.654 (3) (a) 3. Proof of completing at least 12 hours in an educational course approved by the department that satisfies all of the following:

SB930,3,10 a. The educational course consists of in-person or live virtual instruction.

SB930,3,12 b. The provider of the educational course requires the applicant to show photo identification to register attendance for the course.

SB930,3,14 c. The educational course includes instruction on accounting, lien law, ethics, and best business practices.

SB930,7 Section 7. Initial applicability.

SB930,3,19 (1) The renumbering and amendment of s. 101.654 (3) and the creation of s. 101.654 (3) (a) 1., 2., and 3. first apply to an application for a certificate of financial responsibility received by the department of safety and professional services on the effective date of this subsection.

SB930,8 Section 8. Effective date.

SB930,3,22 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.

SB930,3,23 (End)