101.96 Manufactured home installation regulated.

(1) Installation standards.

(a) Promulgation of standards. The department shall, by rule, establish installation standards for the safe installation of manufactured homes in this state. In promulgating rules under this paragraph, the department shall consider the recommendations of the manufactured housing code council under s. 101.933.

(b) Enforcement of standards. The department shall, by rule, establish a method for ensuring compliance with the rules promulgated under par. (a). The department shall require inspections of manufactured home installations by 3rd-party inspectors licensed by the department. The department shall, by rule, establish criteria for the licensure of 3rd-party inspectors that include a requirement that an individual may not serve as a 3rd-party inspector if the individual is, is employed by, or is an independent contractor of any of the following:

1. A manufactured home manufacturer who was directly involved in the sale of the particular manufactured home.

2. A manufactured home salesperson who was directly involved in the sale of the particular manufactured home.

3. An installer who was directly involved in the sale of the particular manufactured home.

(2) Manufactured home installers.

(a) License required; exceptions; liability. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, beginning on January 1, 2007, no person may act as an installer in this state unless the person is a licensed installer or employs one or more licensed installers to generally supervise each of the person's installations of manufactured homes in this state. This requirement does not apply to an individual who installs a manufactured home on his or her own property for his or her personal use or to an individual who installs a manufactured home under the general supervision of a licensed installer. A licensed installer is liable for all acts and omissions related to the installation of each individual who performs an installation under the licensed installer's general supervision.

(b) License eligibility. The department may issue an installer's license only to an individual to whom all of the following apply:

1. The individual is at least 18 years old.

2. The individual files with the department a license application on a form prescribed by the department.

3. The individual completes, to the satisfaction of the department, an examination approved by the department that tests the skills necessary to properly install manufactured homes and knowledge of the laws applicable to manufactured home installation.

4. The individual has not been found responsible in any judicial or administrative forum for any violation of this section during the 2 years before the date on which the individual's license application is submitted.

5. The individual has not been found responsible in any judicial or administrative forum during the 2 years before the date on which the individual's license application is submitted for any failure to perform an installation of a manufactured home as required under contract or for defrauding any person with regard to the provision of installation services.

6. The individual meets the standards of financial responsibility established by rule of the department.

(br) Examination waiver. The department shall, by rule, establish a procedure under which it may waive the examination requirement under par. (b) 3. for individuals that demonstrate sufficient experience installing manufactured homes including active participation in the installation of at least 10 manufactured homes. This paragraph does not apply after June 1, 2007.

(c) License term and fee. The department, by rule shall establish the term of installers' licenses and the conditions under which the department may revoke or suspend installers' licenses. The department shall establish an initial installer's license fee and license renewal fee by rule under s. 101.19.

History: 2005 a. 45.