SB 1438 Summary

• Transfers regulatory authority for drug laboratory site remediation firms from the Registrar of Contractors to the State Board of Technical Registration under Title 32, Chapter 1.

• Establishes criminal penalties including class 5 felonies for disturbing posted notices of contamination, occupying unremediates property, selling items from contaminated areas, and leasing property before remediation is complete.

• Allows counties, cities, and towns to remediate contaminated property and seek reimbursement from a technical registration fund, with liens placed on property to recover costs upon sale.

• Creates a $15 penalty assessment on drug-related convictions under Title 13, Chapter 34, deposited into the technical registration fund to support investigations and enforcement of remediation requirements.

• Expands civil and criminal liability for property owners who fail to disclose contamination to buyers, allow posted notices to be disturbed, or contract with unlicensed remediation firms.