Construction codes and licensing

A host of technical and clarifying changes to the state’s construction code and licensing statutes are made by a new law.

Sponsored by Rep. Kim Norton (DFL-Rochester) and Sen. Kathy Saltzman (DFL-Woodbury), the law includes changes requested by the Department of Labor and Industry. Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed it April 26.

Selected changes made by the law include:

• clarifying that people may receive state agency rulemaking notices either electronically or by regular mail;

• modifying statutes dealing with apprenticeship training to conform to changes in federal law;

• deleting outdated statutory language;

• removing a requirement that hard copies of construction code and licensing rulemaking changes be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State;

• clarifying that municipalities that fail to comply with reporting requirements on the collection of development-related fees are subject to enforcement actions;

• clarifying that DOLI may not pay compensation from the contractor recovery fund in an amount greater than $75,000 per licensee;

• clarifying requirements for having an application for compensation from the contractor recovery fund verified; and

• changing from 30 days to 45 days the time in which an administrative hearing must be conducted unless the parties agree to a later date, and requiring that notice be given at least 15 days before the hearing;

Most of the law takes effect Aug. 1, 2010.

HF3048*/ SF2928/CH280