Scope statements
Commerce
Subject
Objective of the rule. The objective of the rule is to revise the department's requirements relating to plan review processing times.
Policy analysis
Currently, plan review processing times specified in the respective department chapters are based on receipt of all forms, fees, documents and information required to complete the review. This method of determining the starting date of processing times is not compatible with the new procedure that allows individuals to schedule a plan review appointment date over the Internet or by telephone. With the new appointment scheduling, plans may be received by the department any time before the appointment date, and the specified processing time could have expired by the date of the appointment. The rule will propose revisions to address this incompatibility.
The alternative of not revising the plan review processing time rules will result in continued confusion as to whether the specified processing times are being met.
Statutory authority
Staff time required
The department estimates that it will take approximately 100 hours to develop this rule. This time includes drafting the rule and processing the rule through public hearings, legislative review and adoption. The department will assign existing staff to develop the rule. There are no other resources necessary to develop the rule.
Entities affected by the rule
The rule will affect any person submitting plans to the department for required plan review. This includes plans for elevators, ski lifts, buildings, plumbing systems, and public swimming pools.
Comparison with federal requirements
The activities to be regulated by the rule are specific to the department's administrative procedures relating to plan review. There are no existing or proposed federal regulations that address the activities to be regulated by the rule.
Commerce
Subject
The objective of the rule is to revise chapter Comm 5, in one or more rule packages, to address at least the following subjects:
a) The terms of the licenses for plumbers and automatic fire sprinkler installers.
b) The definition of “HVAC equipment" as it relates to the registration of HVAC contractors.
c) The scope of application of the HVAC contractor registration requirements.
d) The evaluation and revision of license, certification and registration rules as needed to coordinate with changes in related statutes, codes or programs.
Policy analysis
The terms of most of the credentials for plumbers and automatic fire sprinkler installers in chapter Comm 5 are determined by statute in chapter 145, Stats., as being no longer than 2 years.
2005 Wisconsin Act 25 contained revisions to the credential terms specified in chapter 145, Stats. The rule will propose revisions to chapter Comm 5 that will set most credential terms for plumbers and automatic fire sprinkler installers at 4 years, as now allowed in chapter 145, Stats.
The current definition of “HVAC equipment" in chapter Comm 5 specifies equipment that is included and not included under the definition. This definition is used to determine whether or not a person must be registered as an HVAC contractor in order to install or service HVAC equipment. The rule will propose revisions to that definition for clarification of the contractor registration requirement.
The existing requirements for registration as an HVAC contractor do not address the activity where a person installs an HVAC system in a facility owned by the person. The rule may propose revisions to the HVAC contractor registration requirements to address that activity.
The current license, certification and registration rules in chapter Comm 5 are coordinated with the current statutes, codes and programs upon which the rules are based. As those related statutes, codes and programs change, the respective rules in chapter Comm 5 need to be changed. The rule will propose revisions as needed in order to keep current with those related statutes, codes and programs.
Statutory authority
Staff time required
The Department estimates that it will take approximately 200 hours to develop this rule package. This time includes meeting with affected industry groups, then drafting the rule and processing the rule through public hearings, legislative review and adoption. The Department will assign existing staff to develop the rule. There are no other resources necessary to develop the rule.
Entities affected by the rule
The rule will affect any person or business that obtains a license, certification or registration under chapter Comm 5 from the Department.
Comparison with federal requirements
There are no existing or proposed federal regulations that address the activities to be regulated by the rules applying to the licensure of plumbers or automatic fire sprinkler system installers, or to the registration of HVAC contractors.
The federal government issues licenses for a variety of activities, such as radio services, exporting, fisheries, storage of spent nuclear fuel, nuclear power plants, explosive materials dealer, and patents. The following 2 rules in chapter Comm 5 relate to activities addressed by the federal government.
a) Section
Comm 5.21 requires a person to hold a license issued by the department as a licensed fireworks manufacturer in order to manufacture fireworks in this state. To qualify for the fireworks manufacturer license, a person must hold a federal license issued under
18 USC chapter 40 section
843.
b) Section
Comm 5.72 requires a person to hold a certification issued by the department as a certified refrigerant handling technician in order to install or service a piece of refrigeration equipment that would release or may release an ozone-depleting refrigerant. To qualify for the refrigerant handling technician certification, a person must hold a technician certification issued in accordance with the federal regulations under title
40 CFR Part 82 Protection of Stratospheric Ozone, Subpart F Recycling and Emissions Reduction.
Commerce
Subject
The objective of the rule is to revise chapter Comm 155 relating to the submittal of interest to the department under the interest bearing real estate trust accounts (IBRETA) funding for housing programs.
Policy analysis
Currently, banks and lending institutions submit a statement and remit the interest from an IBRETA to the department in any format and at any time of the year.
This code project will propose that the statement and the interest be submitted to the department on a standardized form and by a specific date each year.
The alternative of not revising the existing rules will result in the continued inefficient and confusing submittal of the statements and interest.
Statutory authority
Staff time required
The department estimates that it will take approximately 60 hours to develop this rule. This time includes drafting the rule and related documents, and then processing the rule through public hearings, legislative review and adoption. The department will assign existing staff to develop the rule. There are no other resources necessary to develop the rule.
Entities affected by the rule
The rule will affect any banking or lending institution that submits a statement and interest to the department under the IBRETA funding program.
Comparison with federal requirements
There is no existing or proposed federal regulation that addresses the activities to be regulated by the rule.
Elections Board
Subject
Section ElBd 1.39. Scope of regulated activity: clarifying the discernability of required source identifications on communications made for political purposes.
Policy analysis
