The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB388, s. 1 1Section 1. 15.157 (15) of the statutes is created to read:
AB388,3,62 15.157 (15) Thermal system insulation and fire-stop council. There is
3created in the department of commerce a thermal system insulation and fire-stop
4council consisting of the state thermal system insulation and fire-stop inspector who
5shall serve as chairperson of the council, the secretary of commerce or his or her
6designee, and the following members appointed for 3-year terms:
AB388,3,77 (a) Two members who represent a major insulation company.
AB388,3,98 (b) One member who is an architect licensed to do business in this state with
9work experience in the area of indoor air quality.
AB388,3,1110 (c) One member who is an industrial hygienist with work experience in the area
11of indoor air quality, mold, and fungal growth.
AB388,3,1312 (d) Two members who are mechanics with at least 10 years of experience in the
13area of heat and frost insulation.
AB388,3,1414 (e) One member who is an adult resident of this state.
AB388, s. 2 15Section 2. 101.02 (20) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act
16456
, is amended to read:
AB388,4,217 101.02 (20) (a) For purposes of this subsection, "license" means a license,
18permit or certificate of certification or registration issued by the department under
19ss. 101.09 (3) (c), 101.122 (2) (c), 101.136, 101.143 (2) (g), 101.15 (2) (e), 101.17,
20101.177 (4) (a), 101.178 (2) or (3) (a), 101.63 (2) or (2m), 101.653, 101.73 (5) or (6),

1101.82 (2), 101.87, 101.935, 101.95, 101.951, 101.952, 101.985 (1) to (3), 145.02 (4),
2145.035, 145.045, 145.15, 145.16, 145.165, 145.17, 145.175, 145.18 or 167.10 (6m).
AB388, s. 3 3Section 3. 101.02 (21) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act
4456
, is amended to read:
AB388,4,105 101.02 (21) (a) In this subsection, "license" means a license, permit or
6certificate of certification or registration issued by the department under s. 101.09
7(3) (c), 101.122 (2) (c), 101.136, 101.143 (2) (g), 101.15 (2) (e), 101.17, 101.177 (4) (a),
8101.178 (2) or (3) (a), 101.63 (2), 101.653, 101.73 (5) or (6), 101.82 (2), 101.87, 101.935,
9101.95, 101.951, 101.952, 101.985 (1) to (3), 145.02 (4), 145.035, 145.045, 145.15,
10145.16, 145.165, 145.17, 145.175, 145.18 or 167.10 (6m).
AB388, s. 4 11Section 4. 101.136 of the statutes is created to read:
AB388,4,13 12101.136 Regulation of thermal system installation. (1) Definitions. In
13this section:
AB388,4,1714 (a) "Building" means a commercial, industrial, or residential building,
15structure, or facility, as defined by the department by rule, but does not include a
16residential building, structure, or facility that contains fewer than 4 residential
17units.
AB388,4,2018 (b) "Contractor" means a person who is engaged in the business of contracting
19to provide services for installing, removing, or maintaining thermal system
20insulation and fire-stop products.
AB388,4,2121 (c) "Council" means the thermal system insulation and fire-stop council.
AB388,4,2422 (d) "Fire-stop product" means a product that is used to prevent the spread of
23fire or smoke and that is installed on or around a pipe, duct, wire, or any other
24penetration through a floor, ceiling, or wall of a building.
AB388,5,2
1(e) "Mechanic" means a person who installs, removes, or maintains thermal
2system insulation and fire-stop products.
AB388,5,43 (f) "State inspector" means the state thermal system insulation and fire-stop
4inspector.
AB388,5,85 (g) "Thermal system insulation" means a product that is used to insulate any
6hot or cold surface including a pipe, duct, valve, boiler, flue, or tank, or equipment
7on or in a building. "Thermal system insulation" does not include an insulation
8product used in the walls of a home or building.
AB388,5,10 9(2) Duties of the thermal system insulation and fire-stop council. (a) The
10council shall do all of the following:
AB388,5,1311 1. Recommend to the department rules establishing standards for the
12installation, removal, and maintenance of thermal system insulation and fire-stop
13products in buildings.
AB388,5,1714 2. Recommend to the department requirements for the licensure of mechanics
15and contractors and circumstances under which the department may take
16disciplinary action against a mechanic or contractor including suspension and
17revocation of a license.
AB388,5,1818 3. Recommend to the department qualifications for the state inspector.
AB388,5,2019 4. Recommend to the department training and continuing education
20requirements for mechanics.
AB388,5,2421 (b) The council may consult with engineering authorities and other
22organizations concerned with safety and health issues related to thermal system
23insulation and fire-stop products and mold in performing its duties under this
24subsection.
AB388,6,6
1(3) State thermal system insulation and fire-stop inspector. (a) The
2department shall employ a person who has at least 10 years of experience as a
3mechanic, and who has successfully completed a 4-year apprenticeship in the trade
4of heat and frost insulation, as the state thermal system insulation and fire-stop
5inspector. The state inspector shall work under the direct supervision of the
6secretary or his or her designee.
AB388,6,77 (b) The state inspector shall do all of the following:
AB388,6,148 1. Inspect buildings constructed, or in which the mechanical systems have been
9altered, on or after the effective date of this subdivision .... [revisor inserts date], to
10determine whether the installation, removal, or maintenance of thermal system
11insulation and fire-stop products in those buildings and structures complies with the
12standards established by the department under sub. (4) (d). The state inspector shall
13conduct the inspections on a random basis and whenever requested to do so by a local
14building inspector.
AB388,6,1915 2. Keep complete and accurate records of all inspected buildings including a list
16identifying all buildings that are in compliance with the standards established by the
17department under sub. (4) (d), a list of all buildings that are not in compliance with
18the standards established by the department under sub. (4) (d), and a list of all orders
19that the state inspector issues under par. (c) 2.
AB388,6,2220 3. Give written notice of noncompliance to the owner of every building that the
21inspector determines does not comply with the standards established by the
22department under sub. (4) (d).
AB388,6,2323 (c) The inspector may do any of the following:
AB388,6,2524 1. Enter any building at a reasonable hour for the purpose of inspecting, or
25gathering information about, any thermal system insulation or fire-stop product.
AB388,7,4
12. Issue an order requiring the owner of a building to make repairs or
2alterations that the inspector determines are necessary in order for the building to
3comply with the standards established by the department under sub. (4) (d). The
4inspector shall issue such an order in writing.
AB388,7,6 5(4) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules establishing all of the
6following:
AB388,7,97 (a) Requirements for the licensing of mechanics and contractors. The rules
8shall provide that a license issued to a mechanic or a contractor under this section
9is valid for 2 years and is renewable.
AB388,7,1210 (b) License fees for mechanics and contractors. The rules shall establish fees
11for the licensing of mechanics and contractors that are not less than $250 nor more
12than $1,000 for each license period.
AB388,7,1313 (c) Training and continuing education requirements for mechanics.
AB388,7,1514 (d) Standards for the installation, removal, and maintenance of thermal
15system insulation and fire-stop products in buildings.
AB388,7,2016 (e) Procedures governing the assessment of forfeitures under sub. (14)
17including the procedure for issuing an order for an alleged violation of this section,
18the procedure for contesting an order issued for an alleged violation of this section,
19and the procedure for contesting the assessment of a forfeiture for an alleged
20violation of this section.
AB388,7,24 21(5) Compliance with installation standards. Every contractor who contracts
22to install, remove, or maintain thermal system insulation or firestop products shall
23ensure that such installation, removal, and maintenance complies with the
24standards established by the department under sub. (4) (d).
AB388,8,6
1(6) Licensing of mechanics and contractors. (a) 1. No person may install,
2remove, or maintain thermal system insulation or fire-stop products in any building
3unless that person is a mechanic licensed by the department under this section, is
4working under the direct supervision of a licensed mechanic, or is serving an
5apprenticeship with a licensed contractor who meets the requirements specified
6under ch. 106.
AB388,8,97 2. A person wishing to obtain a mechanic's license shall apply for a license by
8submitting an application on a form provided by the department together with the
9applicable fee.
AB388,8,1210 (b) 1. No person may contract to install, remove, or maintain thermal system
11insulation or fire-stop products in any building unless that person is a contractor
12licensed by the department under this subsection.
AB388,8,1513 2. A person wishing to obtain a contractor's license shall apply for a license from
14the department by submitting an application on a form provided by the department
15together with the applicable fee.
AB388,8,20 16(7) Requirements for licensure of mechanics. (a) Except as provided in par.
17(b), the department may not issue a license to a mechanic unless the mechanic
18demonstrates, in a manner satisfactory to the department, that he or she has met the
19requirements established by the department by rule and either of the following
20requirements:
AB388,8,2321 1. He or she has successfully completed at least 160 hours of relevant training
22approved by the department, upon consultation with the council, and has passed a
23written examination approved by the department.
AB388,8,2524 2. He or she has successfully completed an apprenticeship that meets the
25requirements specified under ch. 106.
AB388,9,4
1(b) The department may waive any requirement, or any portion of a
2requirement under par. (a) for any person with experience in installing, removing,
3or maintaining thermal system insulation and fire-stop products upon submission
4of evidence satisfactory to the department that the person is qualified for licensure.
AB388,9,95 (c) The department may not renew a license issued to a mechanic under this
6section unless the mechanic submits a certificate to the department that
7demonstrates that the mechanic has attended and successfully completed during the
8previous license period a continuing education course approved by the department,
9upon consultation with the council.
AB388,9,12 10(8) Requirements for licensure of contractors. The department may not
11issue a license to a contractor unless the contractor meets all of the following
12requirements:
AB388,9,1513 (a) The contractor is registered with the department of workforce development
14as a contractor that employs and trains apprentices in the trade of heat and frost
15insulation.
AB388,9,1716 (b) The contractor is skilled in the planning, superintending, and practical
17installation of thermal system insulation and fire-stop products.
AB388,9,1918 (c) The contractor demonstrates, in a manner satisfactory to the department,
19that the contractor has met the requirements established by the department by rule.
AB388,9,23 20(9) Licensing exception. The department may waive a licensing requirement
21under sub. (7) or (8) for any person who is licensed as a mechanic or contractor in
22another state in which the standards for licensure are at least as strict as the
23requirements under subs. (7) or (8).
AB388,9,25 24(10) Temporary and emergency licenses. The department may promulgate
25rules establishing standards and procedures for the issuance of temporary and

1emergency licenses for mechanics and contractors. The rule shall provide that a
2temporary or emergency license issued under this subsection is valid for a period of
330 days.
AB388,10,4 4(11) Prohibitions. No person may do any of the following:
AB388,10,65 (a) Make a false statement of material fact in an application for the issuance
6or renewal of a license under this section.
AB388,10,87 (b) Engage in fraud, misrepresentation, or bribery in order to obtain a license
8under this section.
AB388,10,119 (c) Fail to notify the department or the owner or lessee of any building that the
10building fails to meet the standards established by the department by rule under
11sub. (4) (d).
AB388,10,14 12(12) Penalties. A person who violates this section or who fails to comply with
13an order issued by the state inspector under this section is subject to a forfeiture of
14not less than $2,000 nor more than $5,000 for each violation.
AB388,10,18 15(13) Assessment of forfeitures by the department. (a) The department may
16directly assess a forfeiture by issuing an order against any person who violates this
17section or who fails to comply with an order issued by the state inspector under this
18section.
AB388,10,2019 (b) The department shall remit all forfeitures paid to the department under this
20subsection to the secretary of administration for deposit in the school fund.
AB388,10,2221 (c) All forfeitures that are not paid to the department as required under this
22subsection shall accrue interest at the rate of 12 percent per year.
AB388,11,223 (d) The attorney general may bring an action in the name of the state to collect
24any forfeiture imposed by the department, or interest accrued, if the forfeiture or

1interest has not been paid after the exhaustion of all administrative and judicial
2reviews.
AB388, s. 5 3Section 5 . Nonstatutory provisions.
AB388,11,64 (1) Council. Notwithstanding the length of terms of the thermal system
5insulation and fire-stop council specified in section 15.157 (15) of the statutes, as
6created by this act, the initial members shall be appointed for the following terms:
AB388,11,77 (a) Two members for a term that expires on July 1, 2009.
AB388,11,88 (b) Two members for a term that expires on July 1, 2010.
AB388,11,99 (c) Three members for a term that expires on July 1, 2011.
AB388,11,1410 (2) Position increase. The authorized FTE positions for the department of
11commerce are increased by 1.0 GPR position to be funded from the appropriation
12under s. 20.143 (3) (a) of the statutes for the purpose of performing the
13responsibilities of the state thermal system insulation and fire-stop product
14inspector.
AB388, s. 6 15Section 6. Effective dates. This act takes effect on first day of the 12th month
16beginning after publication, except as follows:
AB388,11,1817 (1) The treatment of sections 15.157 (15), and 101.136 (1), (2), (3), (4), and (10)
18of the statutes and Section 5 of this act take effect on the day after publication.
AB388,11,1919 (End)
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