(a)Any residential home builder who desires to receive a new or renewal license under this chapter shall make and file with the board 30 days prior to the next meeting of the board a written application on a form prescribed by the board. Each applicant shall be a citizen of the United States or, if not a citizen of the United States, an individual who is legally present in the United States with appropriate documentation from the federal government. The application shall be accompanied by the payment of the annual license fee required by the board. After the board accepts the application, the applicant may be examined by the board at its next meeting. The board, in examining the applicant, shall consider the following qualifications of the applicant:
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(a) Any residential home builder who desires to receive a new or renewal license under this chapter shall make and file with the board 30 days prior to the next meeting of the board a written application on a form prescribed by the board. Each applicant shall be a citizen of the United States or, if not a citizen of the United States, an individual who is legally present in the United States with appropriate documentation from the federal government. The application shall be accompanied by the payment of the annual license fee required by the board. After the board accepts the application, the applicant may be examined by the board at its next meeting. The board, in examining the applicant, shall consider the following qualifications of the applicant:
(1) Experience.
(2) Ability.
(3) Character.
(4) Business-related financial condition.
a. The board may require a financial statement on a form prescribed by the board and a public records search directly from a credit reporting agency.
b. The board may require a positive net worth or other evidence of business-related financial condition sufficient to reasonably satisfy the board of the applicant’s financial responsibility.
c. The board may require that business-related judgments, judgment liens, and other perfected liens must be satisfied and released.
d. Any information obtained by the board pursuant to this subsection relating to the financial condition of an applicant shall not be public information.
(5) Ability and willingness to serve the public and conserve the public health and safety.
(6) Any other pertinent information the board may require.
(b)(1) If the board finds the applicant qualified to engage in residential home building in Alabama, the applicant shall be issued a license. An applicant rejected by the board shall be given an opportunity to be reexamined after a new application has been filed and an additional application fee paid.
(2) A record shall be made and preserved by the board of each examination and the findings of the board pertaining to the examination. A copy of the record shall be made available to any applicant requesting it upon the payment of a reasonable fee to the board.
(c) The board, by rule, may require proof of and maintenance of insurance as a qualification for licensure.
(d) The board, by rule, may establish or adopt, or both, education requirements and may approve, administer, or financially support the program or programs providing residential construction education.
(e)(1) Each licensee shall notify the board within 10 days after notice of the institution of any criminal prosecution against him or her. The notification shall be in writing, by certified mail, and shall include a copy of the specific charge made together with a copy of the indictment, information, or complaint, affidavit, and warrant making the charges.
(2) Each licensee shall notify the board in writing by certified mail within 10 days after he or she receives
notice that any criminal verdict has been rendered against him or her, or that a criminal action pending against him or her has been dismissed.
(f) Each licensee shall
use
a valid written contract when engaging in the business of residential home building.
In addition to any other requirements provided by law, the contract shall contain the licensee’s license number issued by the board.
(g) Whenever a licensee engages in advertising, the licensee shall ensure that the licensee’s valid license number issued by the board is displayed.
(h)
When any residential home building to be performed will comply with a program designed to enhance the resiliency of the structure beyond the requirements of the applicable building codes, the licensee shall disclose this compliance to the homeowner in writing prior to the commencement of the residential home building.
(i)(1)
Any licensee who desires to receive an inactive license shall make and file with the board a written application for an inactive license on a form prescribed by the board prior to the expiration of his or her current license. The application shall be accompanied by the payment of the annual inactive license fee required by the board. No act for which a license is required may be performed under an inactive license. In the event a person holding a current inactive license applies for a license, he or she may rely upon his or her inactive license as evidence of the experience and ability requirements for licensure under subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a).
(2) A person holding an expired license who seeks to reactivate his or her license within three years of the date of expiration shall be deemed to have satisfied the experience and ability requirements for licensure if the application is made within the three-year time period and all other licensing requirements pursuant to subsection (a) have been met.
(3) Any building official or building inspector who desires to receive an inactive license shall make and file with the board 30 days prior to the next meeting of the board a written application for an inactive license on a form prescribed by the board. After the board accepts the application, the applicant may be examined by the board at its next board meeting. The board, in examining the applicant, shall consider the following qualifications of the applicant as satisfying the experience and ability requirements for licensure:
a. That the building inspector is an employee of the United States, the State of Alabama, or any municipality, county, or other political subdivision and, by virtue of that employment, is exempted or prohibited by law from holding a license; and
b. That the building inspector does any of the following:
1. Maintains current certification from the Southern Building Code Congress International as one of the following:
(i) Chief building official.
(ii) Deputy building official.
(iii) Building inspector.
(iv) Housing inspector.
(v) Design professional.
(vi) Plan reviewer.
2. Maintains current certification from the International Code Council as one of the following:
(i) Certified building official.
(ii) Building inspector.
(iii) Residential building inspector.
(iv) Property maintenance and housing inspector.
(v) Building plans examiner.
(vi) Design professional.
3. Possesses sufficient building qualifications and experience to receive a license, as demonstrated by satisfactory evidence presented to the board.
(4) In the event a building official or building inspector holding a current inactive license applies for a license, he or she may rely upon his or her inactive license as evidence of the experience and ability requirements for licensure under subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a).