SD21 - Final Report on the Establishment of a Pilot Program for Local Assistance with the Investigation of Complaints and the Implementation of Final Disciplinary Orders of the Board for Contractors


Executive Summary:
The purpose of this document is to provide a final report on the pilot program established by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, consisting of cooperative agreements with three local governing bodies. The legislative directive for the program was to authorize local government participants to assist in the investigation of complaints and the implementation of final disciplinary orders of the Board for Contractors (the Board), as required by Senate Bill 285 and House Bill 454 of the 2004 General Assembly Session

The Board, through the provisions of Chapter 11 of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia, is tasked with the licensing of contractors and the sanctioning of contractors who violate those statutes or regulations promulgated by the Board. As required by the legislation, the Board entered into formal cooperative agreements with three localities and is in the discussion phase with several others. Although the provisions of the legislation required the implementation of a pilot program with a single locality, the Department sought to involve jurisdictions representing a variety of geographic and demographic areas in order to obtain relevant data on the impact of such a program.

Three localities signed Memorandums of Understanding and participated in a formal agreement of joint cooperation and resource sharing. The pilot program allowed the Department and participating localities to collect and analyze data, review current procedures, improve communication of disciplinary information to responsible parties, and increase direct contact with licensees and consumers.

The Department and participating localities agree the electronic reporting of disciplinary data should continue past the legislation's sunset date of July 1, 2006. The Department and the Board have determined that the Executive Director should continue serving as regulatory and compliance liaison for all localities, essentially extending cooperative agreement provisions to all localities in the Commonwealth. In addition, the Board will continue to provide resources to consumer groups, local governments and trade organizations for educational programs and training sessions. Finally, as a result of the pilot program, the Department will explore additional partnership initiatives to advance cooperative efforts with all local governments.

See interim report, Senate Document 16, 2004 (SD16)