The Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors (KBHI) has decided it belongs back in the Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction (DHBC), its original home in state government.
Jim Chandler, the new Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors (KBHI) chairman, has decided the Board belongs back in the Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction (DHBC), its original home in state government.
It is the right decision.
Soon after he was elected chairman, Chandler told the Board it would be key to his agenda. The main job of any chairman, of course, is to set the agenda.
Probably the most disastrous decision the KBHI ever made was letting itself get tossed out of DHBC – and then claiming the KBHI filed for the “divorce” because it would avoid having KBHI funds “swept” in the recession’s tough budget years.
The move out of DHBC was the brainchild of one-time KBHI Chairman Mike Green, a serial law breaker who did more to screw up home inspector licensing than any two other KBHI members in history. After the “divorce,” and contrary to Green’s story, unspent KBHI were promptly swept in the next budget, in 2012. Green’s story that the move would prevent sweeping KBHI money was a bogus smokescreen. Over $300,000 has been swept so far – solely because the KBHI never spent it to help educate the public.) When Green had the audacity to apply to get appointed to the KBHI again last year, KBHI members rose up to object.
Rightly so.
But that was then and this is now.
Mistakes happen. It takes character to just admit a mistake and fix it.
Looks like new KBHI Chairman Jim Chandler just may have that kind of character. The day he became chairman, months late under the usual annual election of officers in September, Chandler announced his top priority was getting back to DHBC. He came in months late because the Board and its counsel forgot the state law that requires annual elections on the Board’s officers. Did we mention “mistakes happen”?
It should be a win-win. DHBC administers KRS Chapter 198B and the KBHI is created under KRS 198B.700-738. It’s always been a natural fit from the General Assembly’s legislation and intent. The KBHI would finally get lawyers and staff who know home building, instead of its current hourly rental lawyer from “environmental protection.” DHBC would pick up somewhere around $100,000 a year that the KBHI currently pays for its lawyer and its rent of a conference room 12 days a year, plus a part-time secretary, at OOP. Both DHBC and KBHI could coordinate better to keep improving public protection and avoid confusion. That was the main idea from the start.
Still, time is short. Going back to DHBC will take a new law passed by the General Assembly, basically putting the original law back in place. New laws start as “bills” in the General Assembly, which is in session now. But it is not in session long. The deadline for requesting bills is Friday, Feb. 6. Friday a week later, Feb. 13, is the last day to file new Senate bills. Tuesday, Feb. 17 is the deadline for filing House bills.
But it could be done. It just takes a pretty intense effort. Contact already has been made to get DHBC support. Other support needed to be successful – like Public Protection Cabinet Secretary Amrbose Wilson IV – is being sought right now. Sec. Wilson is the former Commissioner of DHBC, starting in early 2012, so he probably gets it, and does not have a bad taste left in his mouth from any involvement with KBHI Chairman Green.
We wish Chandler and the Board luck.
PLI does not mix in politics, but our Dean has said he will commit personal time to backing the KBHI and Chandler in achieving a return to the DHBC. That improves the odds.
Even if the return to DHBC does not make it through the General Assembly this session, at least the effort will plough the ground to make it more likely next session. But the next General Assembly session is two years away.
It wouldn’t hurt to have some home inspectors pitch in too, y lobbying their legislators if this gets off the ground in the three weeks ahead.
We’ll keep you posted.