"General Contractor Licensing Act;" provides for regulation of general contractors and general contracting businesses.*
What changed between versions
Entirely new section 12 requires every general contractor business to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs, renew registration annually for a fee, file amended registrations within 20 days of changes, and employ at least one board-licensed general contractor whose identity must be disclosed to the board.
The bill title changed from 'General Contractor Licensing Act' to 'General Contractor Licensing and General Contractor Business Registration Act,' reflecting the expanded scope to cover both individual licensure and business registration.
Civil penalties of up to $15,000 for a first violation and up to $25,000 for each subsequent violation are imposed on general contractor businesses that fail to comply with the new business registration requirements, collected through summary proceedings under the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999.
If the sole licensed general contractor of a business is terminated, resigns, or becomes incapacitated, the business must notify the division and employ a replacement licensed general contractor within six months.
The licensing examination changed from one prepared or approved by the board to the nationally recognized Certified Professional Constructor (CPC) exam administered alongside a new supplemental exam developed by the board in consultation with the American Institute of Constructors, which must test knowledge of New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code.
A new exception in section 5 allows individuals to practice general contracting without a personal license if they are working under the direction or supervision of a licensed individual, and section 11 requires such supervised individuals to display the supervising licensee's license (or a copy) at the work site.
Section 9 was restructured so that exempt individuals (those with 10+ years prior experience or a closely allied state license) are now explicitly required to receive a license from the board, rather than simply being exempt from the education and examination requirements without receiving one.
