BILL NUMBER: AB 1918INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Williams FEBRUARY 19, 2014 An act to add Section 7110.05 to the Business and Professions Code, and to add Section 381.3 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to air conditioner systems. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1918, as introduced, Williams. Air conditioner systems. Existing law, the Contractors' State License Law, provides for the licensing and regulation of contractors by the Contractors' State License Board in the Department of Consumer Affairs. Under existing law, a willful or deliberate disregard by a licensed contractor of various state building, labor, and safety laws constitutes a cause for disciplinary action. This bill would require the board to develop a system to track air conditioner appliance sales and installations and to ensure that air conditioner appliance systems are installed according to applicable building codes and with the necessary permits. Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, as defined. This bill would require the commission to open a new proceeding or expand the scope of an existing proceeding to establish, by January 1, 2016, an incentive program for contractors and local governments to improve the verification of building code compliance and acceptance of air conditioner appliance systems following installation. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 7110.05 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read: 7110.05. The board shall, pursuant to Section 7110, develop a system to track air conditioner appliance sales and installations in the state and to ensure that air conditioner appliance systems are installed according to applicable building codes and with the necessary permits. SEC. 2. Section 381.3 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read: 381.3. The commission shall open a new proceeding or expand the scope of an existing proceeding to establish, by January 1, 2016, an incentive program for contractors and local governments to improve the verification of building code compliance and acceptance of air conditioner appliance systems following installation. The incentives may include all of the following: (a) Funding for training and certification programs for air conditioning system installers and local government building officials. (b) Technical and financial support to establish performance protocols necessary to verify performance compliance of air conditioner appliance systems. (c) Grants to assist local agencies in offsetting costs associated with expediting the permitting of air conditioning appliance systems that are designed to achieve greater compliance with state and local building permit requirements. (d) Funding for the development of a system to track air conditioner appliance sales and installations pursuant to Section 7110.05 of the Business and Professions Code.