Senate Bill No. 651 Summary

• Establishes the Missouri Home Inspectors' Board consisting of five members (four licensed home inspectors and one public member) appointed by the governor with senate consent to regulate home inspector licensing

• Requires home inspectors to obtain a state license before performing inspections for compensation; exempts property owners, government employees, real estate professionals, FHA inspectors, and those inspecting only two or fewer building systems

• Sets qualification requirements including 80 classroom or field training hours, passing an examination, good moral character, and an apprenticeship program option with 50 supervised inspections

• Creates the Missouri Home Inspectors' Fund administered by the division of professional registration to pay board operations, with fees set to cover administrative costs without substantial excess

• Establishes disciplinary procedures through the administrative hearing commission for violations including fraud, incompetency, dishonesty, and contingent fee arrangements; allows censure, probation up to 5 years, suspension up to 3 years, or license revocation

• Imposes one-year statute of limitations for damages claims against home inspectors and makes violations a class B misdemeanor; effective date January 1, 2014