Contractors' State License Board: solar energy systems companies: regulations.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various professions and vocations by boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law, the Contractors' State License Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of contractors by the Contractors' State License Board. Existing law requires licensed contractors to be classified and authorizes them to be classified as, among other things, a solar contractor. Under existing law, a solar contractor installs, modifies, maintains, and repairs thermal and photovoltaic solar energy systems. Existing law prohibits a solar contractor from performing building or construction trades, crafts, or skills, except when required to install a thermal or photovoltaic solar energy system. This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2017, the board to develop and make available on its Internet Web site a specified "solar energy system disclosure document." The bill would require this disclosure document to be provided by the solar energy systems company to the consumer prior to completion of a sale, financing, or lease of a solar energy system. Existing law requires a home improvement contract to contain, as specified, a notice stating that the owner or tenant has the right to require the contractor to have a performance and payment bond. The bill would require the board to establish through regulation requirements for a contractor to maintain a blanket performance and payment bond for the purpose of solar installation. Existing law prohibits the downpayment for a home improvement contract from exceeding $1,000 or 10% of the contract amount, whichever is less. Existing law exempts from this restriction a contractor who, among other things, furnishes a blanket performance and payment bond. The bill would subject a contractor for the installation of a solar energy system to the restriction despite having those performance and payment arrangements.