Home inspectors board reports $65 renewal discount after three-year fund balance

The committee reviewed a report from the State Board of Appraisers, Abstractors and Home Inspectors. Diana Piolski, director of the board, Lacey Kirchner, counsel for the Department of Labor and Licensing, and Brian Hester, chairman of the home inspectors board, presented details about licensing and recent fee adjustments.

Piolski said the board has about 400 licensees. The board provided a $65 discount on renewal fees in the most recent renewal cycle in December because the program had built up more than a three-year fund balance, Piolski said. The funds for the board’s divisions have been combined into one, she added, and the board reviews fee levels every January to avoid underfunding the division.

When Representative Rose asked whether the $65 reduction applied only to renewal fees or to other fees and penalties, presenters said the discount was limited to renewal fees. The board also eliminated several small fees, including some address-change and late-reinstatement fees, Piolski said, and disciplinary penalties remain set by individual disciplinary cases.

Senator Flippo asked about Chairman Brian Hester’s qualifications. After some back-and-forth, Hester replied, “Absolutely nothing.” Later Hester described an individual named Bartholomew Hester as “Sketchy guy is all I know.”

There were no additional committee requests. “Without objection this report stands as reviewed,” the chair said.