RES. BUILDER LIC.: MIL. EXPERIENCE H.B. 4756 (H-3):
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
House Bill 4756 (Substitute H-3 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Bruce R. Rendon
House Committee: Military and Veterans Affairs
Senate Committee: Veterans, Military Affairs and Homeland Security
CONTENT
The bill would amend Chapter 24 (Residential Builders) of the Occupational Code to make exceptions to prelicensure education requirements for initial licensure as a residential builder or residential maintenance and alteration contractor, if an applicant had been an active duty member of the armed forces and had particular military experience. The bill would:
-- Exempt the applicant from the prelicensure education requirements if he or she had entry-level experience in, or basic knowledge of, all of the competency areas specified in the Code.
-- Allow the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to grant credit toward the prelicensure education requirements if the applicant had entry-level experience in, or basic knowledge of, some of those competency areas.
-- Require the applicant to complete the prelicensure course of study, if the applicant did not pass the license exam the first time he or she took it.
Chapter 24 requires an applicant for initial licensure as a residential builder or as a residential maintenance and alteration contractor to successfully complete prelicensure courses of study. Chapter 24 specifies courses of study and hours of study that must be completed. An applicant must successfully complete 60 hours of approved prelicensure courses consisting of at least six hours of courses in each of the following areas of competency:
-- Business management, estimating, and job costing.
-- Design and building science.
-- Contracts, liability, and risk management.
-- Marketing and sales.
-- Project management and scheduling.
-- The current Michigan Residential Code.
-- Construction safety standards promulgated under the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Under the bill, an applicant for initial licensure as a residential builder or residential maintenance and alteration contractor would be exempt from the prelicensure study requirements if he or she met all of the following:
-- Served as an active duty member of the armed forces.
-- While on active duty, was engaged in the erection, construction, replacement, repair, alteration, or demolition of buildings or other structures.
-- Was not dishonorably discharged from military service.
-- Had, and provided with his or her application, an affidavit signed by a commanding officer, supervisor, or military superior with direct knowledge of the applicant's service that he or she had entry-level experience in or basic knowledge of each of the areas of competency listed above.
If an applicant who otherwise met those requirements did not have entry-level experience in or basic knowledge of each of those areas of competency, he or she could provide an affidavit signed by a commanding officer, supervisor, or military superior with direct knowledge of the applicant's service, stating the areas of competency in which the applicant had entry-level experience or basic knowledge. The Department could, in its discretion, grant the applicant credit toward the 60-hour prelicensure education requirement based on that experience or knowledge.
If an applicant for initial licensure met the military experience criteria did not pass the examination for the license the first time he or she took it, the applicant would have to successfully complete the prelicensure course of study to obtain a license.
"Armed forces" would mean that term as defined in the Veteran Right to Employment Services Act. (That Act defines "armed forces" as the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or other military force designated by Congress as part of the Armed Forces of the United States.)
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
MCL 339.2404b Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.