65-34,110. Same; licensure of tank installers and contractors; duties of secretary; examinations; inspections; unlawful acts, penalties; qualifications for licensure; reciprocal agreements; validity of license. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to practice, or hold oneself out as authorized to practice, as an underground storage tank installer or underground storage tank contractor or use other words or letters to indicate such person is a licensed installer or contractor unless the person is licensed in accordance with this section.

(b) The secretary shall:

(1) Develop and administer a written examination to candidates for licensing under the terms of this section. Questions used in the examination shall be derived from standard instructions and recommended practices published by such authorities as the petroleum equipment institute, American petroleum institute, steel tank institute, national association of corrosion engineers, Fiberglass tank and pipe manufacturers institute, national fire protection association, western fire chiefs association and underwriters laboratories. Additional questions shall be derived from state and federal regulations applicable to storage tanks. The secretary shall make available sample questions and related material to qualified candidates to be used as a study guide in preparation for the examination.

(2) Conduct at least one on-site inspection annually, observing procedures used by each licensed underground storage tank contractor for installing, repairing or removing an underground storage tank.

(c) Any person who willfully violates any provision of subsection (a) shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided by law.

(d) Prior to 12 months after the effective date of this act, the department shall conduct written examinations, at such times and locations within the state as the department may designate, for the purpose of identifying installers as being qualified to receive an underground tank installer's license. Each underground tank installer's license shall be issued for a period of two years and shall be subject to periodic renewal thereafter under procedures prescribed by the department.

(e) Beginning 18 months after the effective date of this act, no contractor shall engage in the installation, repair or removal of an underground storage tank unless such contractor has been issued a contractor license. Each contractor license shall be issued for a period of two years and shall be subject to periodic renewal thereafter under procedures prescribed by the department.

(f) A contractor must meet the following requirements to qualify for a contractor license:

(1) At least one active officer or executive of the business must possess a valid underground storage tank installer's license.

(2) Any person who manufactures an underground storage tank for use in Kansas, or piping for such tank, or who installs or repairs such tanks or piping, shall maintain evidence of financial responsibility in an amount equal to or greater than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate for the costs of corrective action directly related to releases caused by improper manufacture, installation or repair of such tank or piping.

(3) The requirement in paragraph (2) shall not apply to the installation or repair of a tank or piping performed by the owner or operator of such tank or piping.

(4) Evidence of financial responsibility shall be presented with an application for a contractor license and subsequent renewals of contractor license to the department.

(5) The contractor must state in its license application and agree that at all times on any and all jobs involving the installation, repair or removal of an underground storage tank, an individual who possesses a valid underground storage tank installer's license will be present at the job site not less than 75% of the time during the progress of the work, and that such installer shall exercise responsible supervisory control over the work.

(6) The secretary may promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this subsection.

(g) The secretary may elect to establish reciprocal arrangements with states having similar licensing requirements and to provide for the licensing in this state of persons who have successfully completed examinations and otherwise qualified for licensure in another state.

(h) A valid interim contractor license or an unexpired contractor license shall be valid in all counties and municipalities throughout the state, and the issuance of either license to a contractor shall serve as authority for the contractor to engage in the installation, repair and removal of underground storage tanks in any jurisdiction within the state without requirement for obtaining additional county or local licenses. However, local jurisdictions may impose more stringent requirements for installation, repair or removal of such tanks than are imposed by state regulations, in which case a contractor shall be required to conduct its operations in the local jurisdiction in conformity with the local requirements.

History: L. 1989, ch. 186, § 11; L. 2007, ch. 34, § 2; L. 2012, ch. 22, § 2; July 1.