A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 40-59-20, relating to THE DEFINITION OF A RESIDENTIAL SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR, so as to INCLUDE SWIMMING POOL INSTALLERS AMONG THE AREAS OF RESIDENTIAL SPECIALTY CONTRACTING RECOGNIZED BY THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS COMMISSION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.   Section 40-59-20(7) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   (7) "Residential specialty contractor" means an independent contractor who contracts with a licensed residential builder, general contractor, or individual property owner to do construction work, repairs, improvement, or reimprovement which requires special skills and involves the use of specialized construction trades or craft, when the undertakings exceed five hundred dollars and are not regulated by the provisions of Chapter 11. A residential specialty contractor is not authorized to construct additions to residential buildings or structures without supervision by a residential builder or other appropriately licensed person or entity. Residential specialty contracting includes the following areas of contracting and other areas as the commission may recognize by regulation:

      (a) plumbers;

      (b) electricians;

      (c) heating and air conditioning installers and repairers;

      (d) vinyl and aluminum siding installers;

      (e) insulation installers;

      (f) roofers;

      (g) floor covering installers;

      (h) masons;

      (i) dry wall installers;

      (j) carpenters;

      (k) stucco installers;

      (l) painters and wall paperers;

      (m) solar panel installers; and

      (n) swimming pool installers.

   Plumbers, electricians, and heating and air conditioning installers and repairers must be issued specialty contractor licenses after passing the required examination, if the other requirements of this article are met. Vinyl and aluminum siding installers, masons, dry wall installers, carpenters, stucco installers, painters and wall paperers, and solar panel installers must be issued specialty contractor registrations, if the other requirements of this article are met.

   A residential specialty contractor is prohibited from undertaking work outside the scope of his license or registration, including employing, hiring, and contracting or subcontracting with others to perform such work on his behalf.

   The provisions of this chapter do not preclude a licensed residential builder from also obtaining licensure or registration as a residential specialty contractor in an area of contracting identified in statute or recognized by the commission. In addition, a residential builder, who is licensed by examination in this State, is authorized to perform work in any of the areas of residential specialty contracting without separately obtaining a residential specialty contractor license or registration.

SECTION 2.   This takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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