Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine March 2025

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2025

State National Chapter News

this? They want to help a felon work back into society by getting a job and learning a trade. Now there are certain crimes that will never allow a felon to take a job with the HVACR industry. — rape, incest, murder, etc. However, there are lots of folks that made lesser mistakes, drug possession for example, that have now grown up and want to make a life for themselves and their families. Those are the ones that can apply for a waiver and probably be approved by the board. As we move into the new HVACR industry, there are laws, regulations, and processes that we all need to know. If we learn them, our lives will be much smoother, and we will reduce our headaches. Got a question? Contact your state inspector or the Department of Labor and Licensing. 1. Got a licensing question and need to talk to the State Office of the HVACR Program, call 501-682-9201 2. Got a complaint about botched jobs? Use this link and scroll down to Code Enforcement Complaint form HVAC-R » Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing 3. Every licensee is important and your State and District State Inspector and local inspectors are ready to serve you. The 990 form follows on the next page.

Hiring Someone with a Criminal Background?? Not before you complete a 990. You need help and a good ole’ boy applies for a job. Before or after you apply for their Registrant card, you find out that they have a felony background. Oops! The Board cannot issue the Registrant card until you fill out a 990 and apply to the Board for approval. A copy of the 990 follows. So you already hired the person so what do you do? Technically, you cannot keep the person employed. No, you can’t keep the person employed. You have to fill out the paperwork, apply to the Board and get their approval. That can take a couple of months. The Board meets monthly and the Director can’t do anything to speed up the process. I know, I know, I know. It sucks. You need help, they need a job, and you are stuck in a bureaucratic maze. Not forever, only a couple of months. Here’s the deal, you broke the law by hiring the felon without 990 approval. Truth is, the Board usually looks over the mistake and there is no kick back on you; however, there could be. The Board just wants to help everyone accomplish the goal of providing a good job, serve your community, and maybe giving a good guy a second chance. Remember this. This is the result of your legislature who passed the law. Don’t like it ? Talk to them. They have the authority. So why did they do T he Director can’t do anything to speed up the process