BILL NUMBER:  S6676

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the real property law, in relation
to home inspection professional licensing

 PURPOSE :

The purpose of this bill is to replace the current New York State home
inspector licensing examination with the National Home Inspector
examination.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

This bill would amend paragraph c of subdivision I of section 444-e of
the Real Property Law to designate the National Home Inspector
licensing exam as the exam required for licensure as a home inspector
in New York State.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Currently over 35 states regulate the home inspector profession; 28 of
those states use the National Home Inspector examination in the
licensing process. Unlike the majority of states that regulate home
inspectors, New York has chosen to use a state created exam with a
more limited question pool and less methodological rigor. The national
exam draws from a pool of nearly ten times as many questions as the
              

New York exam, is updated more regularly, and is developed in closer
consultation with actual home inspectors, who are the people most
likely to be aware of new developments in the industry.  Reflecting
its role in the industry, the National Home Inspector Exam is already
required for membership in the National Association of Home Inspectors
and since it predated most licensing laws, was used to grandfather in
home inspectors that had taken it when New York first passed its home
inspector licensing law.

By switching to the national exam, New York will afford its residents
a greater opportunity to work in neighboring states and will give home
inspectors greater flexibility in the future. By adopting a policy
similar to the majority of other states that license home inspectors,
including New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Vermont, New York home
inspectors will be able to better compete with home inspectors from
neighboring states. Under current law, a New York home inspector who
is already licensed in New York who wishes to also be licensed in New
Jersey, must take the national exam and then apply for a license in
the neighboring state, while home inspectors from neighboring states
are able to take the National Exam, get licensed in their home state,
and then simply pay a fee and be licensed in New York without the need
for any additional testing.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
The act shall take effect immediately.