Bill > S2897

Introduced Session

This bill provides for the establishment of certain procedures for the inspection, identification, evaluation, and abatement of mold hazards in residential buildings and school facilities based upon, but not limited to, industry standards and standards and guidelines developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, the bill provides for the establishment of programs to certify mold inspectors and mold hazard abatement workers. The bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, to adopt, within six months after the effective date of the bill, rules and regulations that establish procedures for the inspection, identification, evaluation, and abatement of the interior of residential buildings and school facilities for mold. The bill requires the DCA to adopt, within 12 months after the effective date of the bill, rules and regulations to establish a certification program for persons who inspect for the presence of mold hazards in residential buildings and school facilities. The bill also requires the DCA to adopt, within 12 months after the effective date of the bill, rules and regulations to establish a certification program for persons who perform mold hazard abatement work in residential buildings and school facilities. The bill authorizes the DCA to charge an annual fee for the certification of persons who inspect for the presence of mold and perform mold hazard abatement, require the successful completion of a course of continuing education or training for certified inspectors or abatement workers at least once every two years, and conduct examinations to determine an applicant's proficiency with respect to State and federal laws, rules, and regulations and any standards or requirements applicable to the inspection or abatement of mold hazards. Further, the bill authorizes DCA to maintain a list of the names and addresses of all persons registered with DCA as provided under the bill, and annually forward the list to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development for inclusion and publication as an additional contractor list pursuant to the "Contractors' Registration Act," P.L.2004, c.16 (C.56:8-136 et seq.). In addition, the bill authorizes the DCA to adopt of rules and regulations to provide for the enforcement of, and compliance with, the mold inspection and mold hazard abatement certification programs established by the bill. The bill authorizes the DCA to also grant mold inspection and mold hazard abatement certifications to persons who are able to demonstrate that they have successfully completed an accredited program in mold inspection and mold hazard abatement by a nationally accepted accreditation organization. The bill provides that the accredited program must require persons enrolled in the program to have training and education that is determined by the DCA to be equal to or greater than the level of training and education required of persons who are otherwise certified by the DCA, that persons granted certification as a result of the successful completion of an accredited program pay the appropriate annual fee charged by the DCA, complete any course of continuing education and training for certified inspectors or abatement workers required by the DCA, and be subject to any other rules and regulations adopted by the DCA. The bill provides that on the first day of the sixth month following the adoption of rules and regulations concerning the establishment of programs to certify mold inspectors and mold hazard abatement workers, any person who inspects for the presence of mold hazards in residential buildings and school facilities and any person who performs mold hazard abatement work in those buildings must be certified by the DCA. The bill allows only certified contractors to represent themselves to the public as experts in mold inspection or mold hazard abatement, as applicable. Finally, the bill provides that an employee engaged in routine maintenance of a multiple dwelling owned or managed by their employer will not be required to complete the certification program for mold inspectors or mold hazard abatement workers to address the presence of mold in the multiple dwelling owned or managed by their employer.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Daniel Benson (D)*,  Linda Carter (D)*,  Fred Madden (D)*,  Bob Singer (R)*,  Benjie Wimberly (D)*,  Nicholas Chiaravalloti (D),  Craig Coughlin (D),  Timothy Eustace (D),  Linda Greenstein (D),  Eric Houghtaling (D),  Mila Jasey (D),  Sean Kean (R),  Pam Lampitt (D),  Yvonne Lopez (D),  John McKeon (D),  Gabriela Mosquera (D),  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D),  Shanique Speight (D),  Lisa Swain (D),  Britnee Timberlake (D), 

Pocket Veto - Bills not Acted on by Governor-end of Session (on 01/21/2020)