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Contractors and industry press DEES staffing bill, agency warns bill as written could impose large costs
Summary
HB1426FN would direct DEES to seek certified personnel for program areas. Contractors (asbestos industry) urged certified reviewers after reporting delays and changing practices; DEES said the bill’s broad language could require many staff to hold dozens of certifications, create conflicts and large costs; recommended narrowing scope and using 'preferred qualifications' language.
Representative Kesslering introduced HB1426FN to give DEES flexibility to recruit or contract certified personnel in program areas. Contractors in asbestos and environmental services testified that recent procedural changes at DEES had delayed approvals and, in some cases, required repeated plan revisions. Witnesses said certified reviewers on staff would reduce delays and avoid inconsistent interpretations of federal asbestos standards.
Department of Environmental Services officials did not oppose the goal but cautioned that the bill’s current phrasing would apply across many program areas and could require staff to obtain numerous private certifications. DEES provided a fiscal-note estimate driven by how many certifications and on‑call expectations would apply and suggested refining the language to target specific programs (for example, asbestos or septic designers) and to make certification a preferred hiring qualification rather than a mandatory requirement for all program staff. DEES offered to work on targeted language and suggested removing an expansive on‑call requirement.
Several contractors urged restoring a stakeholder advisory committee and clearer rulemaking processes; DEES described existing public and stakeholder processes and recent program staffing improvements. The hearing closed with departmental offers to work with the sponsor on narrowed language.
