Bill Text: NY A00699 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires any person engaged in commercial mold remediation to be certified by the commissioner; provides minimum work practices and procedures for mold remediation and assessment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - referred to environmental conservation [A00699 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-A00699-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 699 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 9, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, JAFFEE, QUART -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CAHILL, PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing mold assessment and remediation requirements The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a 2 new article 32 to read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 32 4 MOLD ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION REQUIREMENTS 5 Section 32-0101. Definitions. 6 32-0102. Credentials; general conditions. 7 32-0103. Exceptions and exemptions. 8 32-0104. Conflict of interest and disclosure requirement. 9 32-0105. Mold assessment technician; licensing requirements. 10 32-0106. Mold remediation contractor; licensing requirements. 11 32-0107. Minimum work practices and procedures for mold assess- 12 ment. 13 32-0108. Minimum work practices and procedures for mold remedi- 14 ation. 15 32-0109. Post-remediation assessment and clearance. 16 32-0110. Duty of property owner. 17 32-0111. Compliance; inspections and investigations. 18 32-0112. Compliance; reprimand, suspension, revocations, 19 probation. 20 32-0113. Compliance; administrative penalty. 21 § 32-0101. Definitions. 22 1. The following words and terms within this article shall have the 23 following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD04072-01-9A. 699 2 1 a. "Assessor" means a person who conducts mold assessment as defined 2 in this section and who is licensed under this article as a mold assess- 3 ment technician or mold assessment consultant. 4 b. "Commercial mold remediation" means the removal, cleaning, sanitiz- 5 ing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventive activities, of 6 mold or mold-contaminated matter that was not purposely grown at a 7 location. Preventive activities include those intended to prevent future 8 mold contamination of a remediated area, including applying biocides or 9 anti-microbial compounds. 10 c. "Containment" means a component or enclosure designed or intended 11 to control the release of mold or mold-containing dust or materials into 12 surrounding areas in the building. The broad category of containment 13 includes such sub-categories as walk-in containment, surface containment 14 (such as plastic sheeting), and containment devices (such as wall-mount- 15 ed glove boxes). 16 d. "Containment area" means an area that has been enclosed to control 17 the release of mold or mold-containing dust or materials into surround- 18 ing areas. 19 e. "Credential" means a license, registration, or accreditation issued 20 under this article. 21 f. "Employee" means an individual who is paid a salary, wage, or 22 remuneration by another person or entity for services performed and over 23 whom the person or entity exerts supervision or control as to the place, 24 time, and manner of the individual's work. 25 g. "Facility" means any institutional, commercial, public, govern- 26 mental, industrial or residential building. 27 h. "Managing agent" means a company or individual that manages a resi- 28 dential or commercial building for an owner. 29 i. "Mold assessment report" means a document prepared by a licensed 30 mold assessment technician for a client that describes any observations 31 made, measurement taken, and locations and analytical results of samples 32 taken by an assessment consultant or by an assessment technician during 33 a mold assessment. An assessment report can be either a stand-alone 34 document or a part of a mold management plan or mold remediation proto- 35 col. 36 j. "Mold management plan" means a document prepared by a licensed mold 37 assessment consultant for a client that provides guidance on how to 38 prevent and control indoor mold growth at a location. 39 k. "Mold remediation protocol" or "mold remediation work analysis" 40 means a document, prepared by a licensed mold assessment technician for 41 a client, that specifies the estimated quantities and locations of mate- 42 rials to be remediated and the proposed remediation methods and clear- 43 ance criteria for each type of remediation in each type of area for a 44 mold remediation project. 45 l. "Mold remediation work plan" means a document, prepared by a 46 licensed mold remediation contractor that provides specific instructions 47 and/or standard operating procedures for how a mold remediation project 48 will be performed. 49 m. "Mold remediation worker" means an employee of the mold remediation 50 contractor who engages in any mold-related activity restricted only 51 under supervision of a licensed mold remediation contractor. 52 n. "Remediator" means a person who conducts mold remediation as 53 defined in this section and who is credentialed under this article as a 54 mold remediation contractor. 55 o. "Supervise" means to direct and exercise control over the activ- 56 ities of a person by being physically present at the job site or, if notA. 699 3 1 physically present, accessible by telephone within ten minutes and able 2 to be at the site within one hour of being contacted. 3 p. "Work analysis" means a mold remediation protocol. 4 q. "Work plan" means a mold remediation work plan. 5 § 32-0102. Credentials; general conditions. 6 1. A person must be licensed in compliance with this article to engage 7 in mold assessment or mold remediation unless specifically exempted 8 under section 32-0103 of this article. 9 2. Age requirement. Each individual applying to be licensed under this 10 article must be at least eighteen years old at the time of application. 11 3. Certification. An applicant for the license shall submit proof or 12 certification by the American Council for Accredited Certification or 13 any other nationally recognized, third-party accredited certifying body 14 that operates independently of training organizations and industry trade 15 associations. An applicant for license renewal shall submit proof of 16 continued certification by the American Council for Accredited Certif- 17 ication or any other nationally recognized, third-party accredited 18 certifying body that operates independently of training organizations 19 and industry trade associations. 20 4. Department examination. An applicant for an initial license must 21 pass the department licensing examination in that area of licensure with 22 a score of at least seventy percent correct before applying for the 23 license. All applicants must pass the department licensing examination 24 within six months of earning certification pursuant to subdivision three 25 of this section. 26 a. Re-examination. An individual is permitted to take two re-examina- 27 tions after failing an initial examination. An individual who fails both 28 re-examinations must submit a new application for the state examination. 29 b. Scheduling and registration. Annually, the department shall publish 30 a schedule of examination dates and locations. Registration for examina- 31 tion date and location must be submitted by mailing, faxing, or e-mail- 32 ing a registration form to the department and must be received by the 33 department no later than five working days before the examination date. 34 Information on the examination schedule and assistance with registration 35 is available by contacting the department. Entrance into the examination 36 site will be allowed only upon presentation of a valid photo identifica- 37 tion. 38 c. A fee of twenty-five dollars is required for any examination or 39 re-examination. The department must receive the required fees no later 40 than five working days before the examination. 41 5. Applications. Each application for approval for licensing shall be 42 provided by the department. Each application for approval must provide 43 all required information. An applicant for an initial license must 44 submit the complete application to the department within six months of 45 obtaining certification pursuant to subdivision three of this section, 46 or must successfully pass the department licensing examination before 47 submitting a new initial application. 48 6. Term and expiration. a. All licenses issued on or after January 49 first, two thousand twenty, shall be valid for two years and expire on 50 the second anniversary of the effective date of the license. 51 b. Fees commensurate with a two-year license must be included with any 52 application for a license that will expire on the second anniversary of 53 its effective date of the license. 54 c. A license holder is in violation of this article if the holder 55 practices with lapsed qualifications.A. 699 4 1 7. Condition of issuance. No identification (ID) card or approval 2 issued under this article shall be sold, assigned, or transferred. ID 3 cards issued by the department must be present at the worksite any time 4 an individual is engaged in mold-related activities. The department 5 retains the right to confiscate and revoke any ID card or approval that 6 has been altered. 7 § 32-0103. Exceptions and exemptions. 8 1. Exceptions. This article shall not apply to: 9 a. the following activities when not conducted for the purpose of mold 10 assessment or mold remediation: 11 (1) routine cleaning; 12 (2) the diagnosis, repair, cleaning, or replacement of plumbing, heat- 13 ing, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, or air duct systems or 14 appliances; 15 (3) commercial or residential real estate inspections; and 16 (4) the incidental discovery or emergency containment of potential 17 mold contamination during the conduct or performance of services listed 18 in this subdivision. For purposes of this subdivision, an emergency 19 exists if a delay in mold remediation services in response to a water 20 damage occurrence would increase mold contamination; 21 b. the repair, replacement, or cleaning of construction materials 22 during the building phase of the construction of a structure; 23 c. the standard performance of custodial activities for, preventive 24 maintenance of, and the routine assessment of property owned or operated 25 by a governmental entity; or 26 d. a pest control inspection conducted by a person regulated under 27 article thirty-three of this chapter. 28 2. Minimum area exemption. A person is not required to be licensed 29 under this article to perform mold remediation in an area in which the 30 mold contamination for the project affects a total surface area of less 31 than twenty-five contiguous square feet. 32 3. Residential property exemption. An owner, or a managing agent or 33 employee of an owner, is not required to be licensed under this article 34 to perform mold assessment or mold remediation on a residential property 35 which is owned by that person, and which has fewer than six residential 36 dwelling units. This exemption applies regardless of the total surface 37 area within the residential property that is affected by mold growth. 38 This exemption does not apply to a managing agent or employee who 39 engages in the business of performing mold assessment or mold remedi- 40 ation for the public. 41 4. Facility exemption. An owner or tenant, or a managing agent or 42 employee of an owner or tenant, is not required to be licensed under 43 this article to perform mold assessment or mold remediation on property 44 owned or leased by the owner or tenant. This exemption does not apply: 45 a. if the managing agent or employee engages in the business of 46 performing mold assessment or mold remediation for the public; 47 b. if the mold remediation is performed in an area in which the mold 48 contamination affects a total surface area of twenty-five contiguous 49 square feet or more; or 50 c. to a person exempt under subdivision three of this section. 51 5. Construction and improvement exemption. A person is not required to 52 be licensed under this article to perform mold assessment or mold reme- 53 diation in a one-family or two-family dwelling that the person 54 constructed or improved if the person performs the mold assessment or 55 mold remediation at the same time the person performs the construction 56 or improvement or at the same time the person performs repair work onA. 699 5 1 the construction or improvement. This exemption applies regardless of 2 the total surface area that is affected by mold growth. This exemption 3 does not apply if the person engages in the business of performing mold 4 assessment or mold remediation for the public. For purposes of this 5 subdivision, "improve" means "to build, construct, or erect a new build- 6 ing or structure or a new portion of a building or structure that is 7 attached to an existing building or structure" and "improvement" means 8 "a building or structure, or a portion of a building or structure, that 9 was built, constructed, or erected as an attachment to an existing 10 building or structure after the construction or erection of the existing 11 building or structure." 12 6. Supervised employee exemption. An employee of a license holder is 13 not required to be licensed under this article to perform mold assess- 14 ment or mold remediation while supervised by the license holder. 15 7. Exceptions for licensed professionals. All persons engaged in mold- 16 related activities must be licensed as outlined in this article, except 17 that those professionals currently licensed by the state in another 18 field (including, but not limited to, medicine, architecture, or engi- 19 neering) who provide to a mold licensee only consultation related to 20 that other field are not required to be separately licensed under this 21 article. In such a case, the responsibility for the project or activity 22 remains with the mold licensee. 23 8. Loss of exemption. A person who is performing mold remediation 24 under the licensing exemptions of subdivision two or four of this 25 section and identifies additional mold such that the total mold contam- 26 ination affects a total surface area of twenty-five contiguous square 27 feet or more shall: 28 a. immediately cease all remediation work and implement emergency 29 containment if necessary; and 30 b. advise the person requesting the remediation that the exemption 31 under subdivision two or four of this section has been lost and that any 32 additional mold remediation and post-remediation assessment in the area 33 must be done by a person licensed or registered under this article. 34 9. Fee exemption for department employees. Employees of the department 35 who engage in mold-related activity as a condition of their employment 36 shall be exempt from examination fees and credentialing fees under this 37 article. Fee-exempted credentials shall be restricted for use only in 38 required departmental duties, and the credentials will indicate the 39 restriction. An employee who is no longer required to possess a creden- 40 tial as a condition of employment shall immediately return that creden- 41 tial to the department for closure. An individual who terminates employ- 42 ment with the department shall immediately return all unexpired 43 credentials to the department for closure. The department may impose an 44 administrative penalty or take other disciplinary action against any 45 employee or former employee who uses a fee-exempt credential to engage 46 in a mold-related activity that is not a required departmental duty. 47 § 32-0104. Conflict of interest and disclosure requirement. 48 1. Conflict of interest. a. A licensee shall not perform both mold 49 assessment and mold remediation on the same project. 50 b. A person shall not own an interest in an entity that performs mold 51 assessment services and an entity that performs mold remediation 52 services on the same project. 53 2. Disclosure requirement. At the time of application for licensing, 54 an applying company that is not solely owned, shall disclose to the 55 department the name, address, and occupation of each person that has an 56 ownership interest of ten percent or more in the company. A licenseeA. 699 6 1 shall report to the department within ten days any change related to a 2 person who has an ownership interest of ten percent or more including 3 additions to or deletions from any list of such persons previously 4 supplied to the department and any changes in the names, addresses, or 5 occupations of any persons on such a list. 6 3. This section does not apply to a license holder employed by a 7 school district working on a project for that school district. 8 § 32-0105. Mold assessment technician; licensing requirements. 9 1. Licensing requirement. Unless exempted under section 32-0103 of 10 this article, an individual must be licensed as a mold assessment tech- 11 nician to perform activities listed under subdivision two of this 12 section. 13 2. Scope. An individual licensed under this section is authorized to 14 determine the location and extent of mold or suspected mold present in a 15 facility. A mold assessment technician is licensed to: 16 a. record visual observations and take on-site measurements, including 17 temperature, humidity, and moisture levels, during an initial or post- 18 remediation mold assessment; 19 b. collect samples for mold analysis during an initial mold assess- 20 ment; 21 c. prepare a mold assessment report; and 22 d. collect samples during a post-remediation mold assessment. 23 3. Qualifications. In addition to the requirements for all applicants 24 listed in section 32-0102 of this article, an applicant must be a high 25 school graduate or have obtained a general education development (GED) 26 certificate. 27 4. Fees. The fees for a mold assessment technician license shall be 28 two hundred dollars. 29 5. Applications and renewals. Applications for licenses shall be 30 submitted as required by subdivision five of section 32-0102 of this 31 article. An applicant shall include the following information with the 32 application: 33 a. if the application is for an initial license: 34 (1) a copy of a high school diploma or GED certificate; 35 (2) a copy of certification as described in subdivision three of 36 section 32-0102 of this article; and 37 (3) proof of successfully passing the state licensing examination with 38 a score of at least seventy percent correct; or 39 b. if the application is for renewal of a license, a copy of certif- 40 ication pursuant to subdivision three of section 32-0102 of this arti- 41 cle. 42 6. Responsibilities. A licensed mold assessment technician shall: 43 a. perform only activities allowed under subdivision two of this 44 section; 45 b. comply with mold sampling protocols accepted as industry standards; 46 c. utilize the services of a laboratory that is licensed by the 47 department to provide analysis of mold samples; and 48 d. provide to the client a mold assessment report following an initial 49 (pre-remediation) mold assessment. 50 § 32-0106. Mold remediation contractor; licensing requirements. 51 1. Licensing requirements. Unless exempted under section 32-0103 of 52 this article, an individual must be licensed as a mold remediation 53 contractor to perform activities listed under subdivision two of this 54 section. 55 2. Scope. An individual licensed under this section may perform mold 56 remediation and supervise registered mold remediation workers performingA. 699 7 1 mold remediation. In addition, a licensed mold remediation contractor is 2 licensed to provide mold remediation services including: 3 a. preparing a mold remediation work plan providing instructions for 4 the remediation efforts to be performed for a mold remediation project; 5 and 6 b. conducting and interpreting the results of activities recommended 7 in a work plan developed under paragraph a of this subdivision. 8 3. Qualifications. In addition to the requirements for all applicants 9 listed in section 32-0102 of this article, an applicant must meet at 10 least one of the following education and/or experience requirements: 11 a. a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a 12 major in a natural or physical science, engineering, architecture, 13 building construction, or building sciences and at least one year of 14 experience either in an allied field or as a general contractor in 15 building construction; 16 b. at least sixty college credit hours with a grade of C or better in 17 the natural sciences, physical sciences, environmental sciences, build- 18 ing sciences, or a field related to any of those sciences, and at least 19 three years of experience in an allied field or as a general contractor 20 in building construction; 21 c. a high school diploma or general education development (GED) 22 certificate, plus at least five years of experience in an allied field 23 or as a general contractor in building construction; or 24 d. certification as an industrial hygienist, a professional engineer, 25 a professional registered sanitarian, a certified safety professional, 26 or a registered architect, with at least one year of experience either 27 in an allied field or as a general contractor in building construction. 28 4. Fees. The fee for a mold remediation contractor license is five 29 hundred dollars. 30 5. Applications and renewals. Applications shall be submitted as 31 required by subdivision five of section 32-0102 of this article. An 32 applicant shall include the following in the application package: 33 a. if the application is for an initial license: 34 (1) verifiable evidence that the applicant meets at least one of the 35 qualifications under paragraph c of subdivision three of this section; 36 (2) a copy of a certification as described in subdivision three of 37 section 32-0102 of this article; 38 (3) proof of successfully passing the state licensing examination with 39 a score of at least seventy percent correct; or 40 b. if the application is for renewal of a license, a copy of a certif- 41 ication as described in subdivision three of section 32-0102 of this 42 article. 43 6. Responsibilities. The mold remediation contractor shall be respon- 44 sible for: 45 a. supervising mold remediation workers as defined in section 32-0101 46 of this article; 47 b. accurately interpreting field notes, drawings, and reports relating 48 to mold assessments; 49 c. advising clients about options for mold remediation; 50 d. complying with standards for preparing mold remediation work plans; 51 e. providing to a client a mold remediation work plan for the project 52 before the mold remediation preparation work begins; 53 f. inquiring of the client whether any known or suspected hazardous 54 materials, including lead-based paint and asbestos, are present in the 55 project area;A. 699 8 1 g. signing and dating each mold remediation work plan that he or she 2 prepares on the cover page. The cover page shall also include his or her 3 license number and license expiration date. He or she must also initial 4 the work plan on every page that addresses the scope of work and on all 5 drawings related to the remediation work; 6 h. ensuring that all individuals are provided with, tested for and 7 trained in the correct use of personal protection equipment required 8 under subdivision three of section 32-0108 of this article; 9 i. providing to the property owner a completed certificate of mold 10 damage remediation not later than the tenth day after the remediation 11 project is complete; and 12 j. assuring that the certificate of mold damage remediation must 13 include a statement by a licensed mold assessment technician (not the 14 licensed mold remediation contractor) that based on visual, procedural, 15 and analytical evaluation, the mold contamination identified for the 16 project has been remediated as outlined in the mold remediation protocol 17 and the underlying cause of the mold has been remediated so that such 18 technician is reasonably certain that the mold will not return from the 19 same cause. 20 § 32-0107. Minimum work practices and procedures for mold assessment. 21 1. Scope. These general work practices are minimum requirements and do 22 not constitute complete or sufficient specifications for mold assess- 23 ment. 24 2. Purpose. The purpose of a mold assessment is to determine the 25 sources, locations and extent of mold growth in a building, to determine 26 the condition or conditions that caused the mold growth, and to enable 27 the assessment technician to prepare a mold remediation protocol. 28 3. Mold remediation protocol. An assessment technician shall prepare a 29 mold remediation protocol that is specific to each remediation project 30 and provide the protocol to the client before the remediation begins. 31 The mold remediation protocol must specify: 32 a. the rooms or areas where the work will be performed; 33 b. the estimated quantities of materials to be cleaned or removed; 34 c. the methods to be used for each type of remediation in each type of 35 area; 36 d. the personal protection equipment (PPE) to be used by remediators. 37 A minimum of an N-95 respirator is recommended during mold-related 38 activities when mold growth could or would be disturbed. Using profes- 39 sional judgment, a technician may specify additional or more protective 40 PPE if he or she determines that it is warranted; 41 e. the proposed types of containment, as that term is defined in para- 42 graph c of subdivision one of section 32-0101 of this article and as 43 described in subdivision five of this section, to be used during the 44 project in each type of area; and 45 f. the proposed clearance procedures and criteria, as described in 46 this section, for each type of remediation in each type of area. 47 4. Building occupants. A mold assessment consultant shall consider 48 whether to recommend to a client that, before remediation begins, the 49 client should inform building occupants of mold-related activities that 50 will disturb or will have the potential to disturb areas of mold contam- 51 ination. 52 5. Containment requirements. Containment must be specified in a mold 53 remediation protocol when the mold contamination affects a total surface 54 area of twenty-five contiguous square feet or more for the project. 55 Containment is not required if only persons who are licensed under this 56 article occupy the building in which the remediation takes place at anyA. 699 9 1 time during the remediation project. The containment specified in the 2 remediation protocol must prevent the spread of mold to areas of the 3 building outside the containment under normal conditions of use. If 4 walk-in containment is used, supply and return air vents must be 5 blocked, and air pressure within the walk-in containment must be lower 6 than the pressure in building areas adjacent to the containment. 7 6. Disinfectants, biocides and antimicrobial coatings. An assessment 8 technician who indicates in a remediation protocol that a disinfectant, 9 biocide, or antimicrobial coating will be used on a mold remediation 10 project shall indicate a specific product or brand only if it is regis- 11 tered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the 12 intended use and if the use is consistent with the manufacturer's label- 13 ing instructions. A decision by an assessment consultant to use such 14 products must take into account the potential for occupant sensitivities 15 and possible adverse reactions to chemicals that have the potential to 16 be off-gassed from surfaces coated with such products. 17 7. Clearance procedures and criteria. In the remediation protocol for 18 the project, the assessment technician shall specify: 19 a. at least one nationally recognized analytical method for use within 20 each remediated area in order to determine whether the mold contam- 21 ination identified for the project has been remediated as outlined in 22 the remediation protocol; 23 b. the criteria to be used for evaluating analytical results to deter- 24 mine whether the remediation project passes clearance; 25 c. that post-remediation assessment shall be conducted while walk-in 26 containment is in place, if walk-in containment is specified for the 27 project; and 28 d. the procedures to be used in determining whether the underlying 29 cause of the mold identified for the project has been remediated so that 30 such technician is reasonably certain that the mold will not return from 31 the same cause. 32 § 32-0108. Minimum work practices and procedures for mold remediation. 33 1. Scope. These general work practices are minimum requirements and do 34 not constitute complete or sufficient specifications for a mold remedi- 35 ation project. More detailed requirements developed by an assessment 36 technician for a particular project shall take precedence over the 37 provisions of this section. 38 2. Remediation work plan. A remediation contractor shall prepare a 39 mold remediation work plan that is specific to each project, fulfills 40 all the requirements of the mold remediation protocol and provides 41 specific instructions and/or standard operating procedures for how a 42 mold remediation project will be performed. The remediation contractor 43 shall provide the mold remediation work plan to the client before site 44 preparation work begins. 45 3. Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements. If an assessment 46 technician specifies in the mold remediation protocol that PPE is 47 required for the project, the remediation contractor shall provide the 48 specified PPE to all employees who engage in remediation activities and 49 who will, or are anticipated to, disturb or remove mold contamination, 50 when the mold affects a total surface area for the project of 25 contig- 51 uous feet or more. The recommended minimum PPE is an N-95 respirator. 52 Each employee who is provided PPE must receive training on the appropri- 53 ate use and care of the provided PPE. 54 4. Containment requirements. The containment specified in the remedi- 55 ation protocol must be used on a mold remediation project when the mold 56 affects a total surface area of twenty-five contiguous square feet orA. 699 10 1 more for the project. Containment is not required if only persons who 2 are licensed under this article occupy the building in which the remedi- 3 ation takes place at any time during the remediation project. The 4 containment, when constructed as described in the remediation work plan 5 and under normal conditions of use, must prevent the spread of mold to 6 areas outside the containment. If walk-in containment is used, supply 7 and return air vents must be blocked, and air pressure within the walk- 8 in containment must be lower than the pressure in building areas adja- 9 cent to the containment. 10 5. Notice signs. Signs advising that a mold remediation project is in 11 progress shall be displayed at all accessible entrances to remediation 12 areas. The signs shall be at least eight inches by ten inches in size 13 and shall bear the words "NOTICE: Mold remediation project in progress" 14 in black on a yellow background. The text of the signs must be legible 15 from a distance of ten feet. 16 6. Removal of containment. No person shall remove or dismantle any 17 walk-in containment structures or materials from a project site prior to 18 receipt by the licensed mold remediation contractor overseeing the 19 project of a written notice from a licensed mold assessment technician 20 that the project has achieved clearance as described under section 21 32-0109 of this article. 22 7. Disinfectants, biocides and antimicrobial coatings. Disinfectants, 23 biocides and antimicrobial coatings may be used only if their use is 24 specified in a mold remediation protocol, if they are registered by the 25 United States Environmental Protection Agency for the intended use and 26 if the use is consistent with the manufacturer's labeling instructions. 27 If a protocol specifies the use of such a product but does not specify 28 the brand or type of product, a remediation contractor may select the 29 brand or type of product to be used, subject to the other provisions of 30 this subdivision. A decision by an assessment technician or remediation 31 contractor to use such a product must take into account the potential 32 for occupant sensitivities and possible adverse reactions to chemicals 33 that have the potential to be off-gassed from surfaces coated with the 34 product. 35 § 32-0109. Post-remediation assessment and clearance. 36 1. Clearance criteria. For a remediation project to achieve clearance, 37 a licensed mold assessment technician shall conduct a post-remediation 38 assessment using visual, procedural, and analytical methods. If walk-in 39 containment is used during remediation, the post-remediation assessment 40 shall be conducted while the walk-in containment is in place. The post- 41 remediation assessment shall determine whether: 42 a. the work area is free from all visible mold and wood rot; and 43 b. all work has been completed in compliance with the remediation 44 protocol and remediation work plan and meets clearance criteria speci- 45 fied in the protocol. 46 2. Underlying cause of mold. Post-remediation assessment shall, to the 47 extent feasible, determine that the underlying cause of the mold has 48 been remediated so that it is reasonably certain that the mold will not 49 return from that remediated cause. 50 3. Analytical methods. a. The assessment technician shall perform a 51 visual, procedural, and analytical evaluation in each remediated area in 52 order to determine whether the mold contamination identified for the 53 project has been remediated as outlined in the remediation protocol. 54 b. The technician shall use only the analytical methods and the crite- 55 ria for evaluating analytical results that were specified in the remedi- 56 ation protocol, unless circumstances beyond the control of the techni-A. 699 11 1 cian and the remediation contractor necessitate alternative analytical 2 methods or criteria. The consultant shall provide to the client written 3 documentation of the need for any deviation from the remediation proto- 4 col and the alternative analytical methods and criteria selected, and 5 shall obtain approval from the client for their use, before proceeding 6 with the post-remediation assessment. 7 c. Where visual inspection reveals deficiencies sufficient to fail 8 clearance, analytical methods need not be used. 9 4. Passed clearance report. An assessment technician who determines 10 that remediation has been successful shall issue a written passed clear- 11 ance report to the client at the conclusion of each mold remediation 12 project. The report must include the following: 13 a. a description of relevant worksite observations; 14 b. the type and location of all measurements made and samples 15 collected at the worksite; 16 c. all data obtained at the worksite, including temperature, humidity, 17 and material moisture readings; 18 d. the results of analytical evaluation of the samples collected at 19 the worksite; 20 e. copies of all photographs the consultant took; and 21 f. a clear statement that the project has passed clearance. 22 5. Final status report. If the mold assessment consultant determines 23 that remediation has not been successful and ceases to be involved with 24 the project before the project passes clearance, the consultant shall 25 issue a written final status report to the client and to the remediation 26 contractor or company performing the project. The status report must 27 include the items listed in paragraphs a, b, c, d, and e of subdivision 28 four of this section and any conclusions that the consultant has drawn. 29 § 32-0110. Duty of property owner. 30 If a property owner sells the property, the property owner shall 31 provide to the buyer a copy of each certificate of mold damage remedi- 32 ation issued for the property under this section during the five years 33 preceding the date the property owner sells the property. 34 § 32-0111. Compliance; inspections and investigations. 35 1. The department may inspect or investigate the business practices of 36 any persons involved with mold-related activity for compliance with this 37 article. 38 2. A department representative, upon presenting a department identifi- 39 cation card, shall have the right to enter at all reasonable times any 40 area or environment, including but not limited to any containment area, 41 building, construction site, storage or office area, or vehicle to 42 review records, to question any person, or to locate, identify, or 43 assess areas of mold growth for the purpose of inspection and investi- 44 gation for compliance with this article. 45 3. A department representative conducting official duties is not 46 required to notify in advance or seek permission to conduct inspections 47 or investigations. It is a violation for any person to interfere with, 48 deny, or delay an inspection or investigation conducted by a department 49 representative. A department representative shall not be impeded or 50 refused entry in the course of official duties by reason of any regula- 51 tory or contractual specification. 52 4. A person who believes that any provision under this title has been 53 violated may file a written complaint with the department. The complaint 54 form is available on the department's website. The department shall 55 conduct an investigation, including for an anonymous complaint if the 56 complainant provides sufficient information.A. 699 12 1 Department representatives shall investigate complaints by the public 2 regarding violations of the provisions of this title. 3 § 32-0112. Compliance; reprimand, suspension, revocations, probation. 4 The department may issue an administrative penalty as described in 5 section 32-0113 of this article, deny an application, suspend, suspend 6 with probationary terms, or revoke a license of a person who violates 7 any provision under this title. In addition, the department may issue an 8 administrative penalty, deny an application, suspend, suspend with 9 probationary terms, or revoke a license of a person who: 10 1. fails to comply with this article; 11 2. has fraudulently or deceptively obtained or attempted to obtain a 12 credential, ID card or approval, including engaging in misconduct or 13 dishonesty during the state licensing examination, such as cheating or 14 having another person take or attempt to take the examination for that 15 person; 16 3. duplicates or allows another person to duplicate a credential, ID 17 card or approval; 18 4. uses a credential issued to another person or allows any other 19 person to use a credential, ID card or approval not issued to that other 20 person; 21 5. falsifies records for mold-related activities that the department 22 requires the person to create, submit, or maintain; or 23 6. is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor arising from mold-related 24 activity. 25 § 32-0113. Compliance; administrative penalty. 26 1. If a person violates this article, the department may assess an 27 administrative penalty. 28 2. The penalty shall not exceed three thousand dollars per violation. 29 The department may reduce or enhance penalties as warranted. 30 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
