WHEREAS, The residential building industry is a major Kansas in- dustry and is vital to the economic health of the state; and
WHEREAS, Residential building contractors are not required to be licensed or regulated by the state; and
WHEREAS, All cities and counties have not exercised the authority to license or regulate residential building contractors; and
WHEREAS, Problems resulting from violations of city and county building codes continue to occur; and
WHEREAS, Existing city and county building codes are not always adequately enforced; and
WHEREAS, Lack of consumer knowledge prevents home buyers from adequately protecting themselves from dishonest or unqualified res- idential building contractors; and
WHEREAS, Losses incurred by homeowners as a result of improper construction practices are of concern; and
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas, the Senate concurring therein: That a task force on the regulation of residential building contractors shall be appointed to conduct a study and review of the issues surrounding the need for regulation or licensure of residential building contractors and to provide comprehensive solutions to the problems that exist in purchasing and constructing safe and struc- turally sound residences; and
Be it further resolved: That such task force shall be comprised of 15 members as follows: (a) One member to be appointed by the Kansas Building Industry Association; (b) one member to be appointed by the Lawrence Home Builders Association; (c) one member to be appointed by the Wichita Area Builders Association; (d) one member to be ap- pointed by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City; (e) two city or county building code enforcement officers, one to be ap- pointed by the President of the Senate and one to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (f) two members of the general public representing consumers, one to be appointed by the President of the Senate and one to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (g) four legislators, of which one shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, one shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; (h) an assistant attorney general from the con- sumer protection division to be appointed by the Attorney General; (i) one member who is an architect to be appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and (j) one member appointed by the League of Kansas Municipalities; and
Be it further resolved: The Attorney General's appointee shall call the first meeting of the task force and at that time the members of the task force shall elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson and set an agenda for future meetings. Staffing from the Revisor of Statutes Office and Legislative Research Department shall be available if authorized by the Legislative Coordinating Council; and
Be it further resolved: That such task force shall recommend to the Governor and Legislature legislation which may be enacted to provide a comprehensive solution; and
Be it further resolved: That a written report, including any recom- mendation of proposed legislative alternatives, shall be presented by the task force to the Governor and the Legislature no later than January 31, 1997; and
Be it further resolved: That legislative members shall receive com- pensation and mileage as authorized by the Legislative Coordinating Council; that nonlegislative members shall receive no compensation; and
Be it further resolved: That copies of this resolution be distributed to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. [j82]House April 24, 1996 [j82]Senate April 25, 1996