Qualifying improvement contractors.

(1) A county or municipality shall establish a process, or approve a process established by a program administrator, to register contractors for participation in a program authorized by a county or municipality pursuant to s. 163.081. A qualifying improvement contractor may only perform such work that the contractor is appropriately licensed, registered, and permitted to conduct. At the time of application to participate and during participation in the program, contractors must:

(a) Hold all necessary licenses or registrations for the work to be performed which are in good standing. Good standing includes no outstanding complaints with the state or local government which issues such licenses or registrations.

(b) Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including obtaining and maintaining any other permits, licenses, or registrations required for engaging in business in the jurisdiction in which it operates and maintaining all state-required bond and insurance coverage.

(c) File with the program administrator a written statement in a form approved by the county or municipality that the contractor will comply with applicable laws and rules and qualifying improvement program policies and procedures, including those on advertising and marketing.

(2) A third-party administrator or a program administrator, either directly or through an affiliate, may not be registered as a qualifying improvement contractor.

(3) A program administrator shall establish and maintain:

(a) A process to monitor qualifying improvement contractors for performance and compliance with requirements of the program and must conduct regular reviews of qualifying improvement contractors to confirm that each qualifying improvement contractor is in good standing.

(b) Procedures for notice and imposition of penalties upon a finding of violation, which may consist of placement of the qualifying improvement contractor in a probationary status that places conditions for continued participation, suspension, or termination from participation in the program.

(c) An easily accessible page on its website that provides information on the status of registered qualifying improvement contractors, including any imposed penalties, and the names of any qualifying improvement contractors currently on probationary status or that are suspended or terminated from participation in the program.