Connecticut Automotive Glass Work and Flat Glass Work Examining Board met to adopt a proposal for licensing of windshield repair technicians and business owners

The National Windshield Repair Association has released the following press release with regard to the drafted licenses submitted to the Connecticut State Commissioner of Consumer Protection by the state's Automotive Glass Work and Flat Glass Work Examining Board.

On Friday, April 23, 2004 the Connecticut Automotive Glass Work and Flat Glass Work Examining Board met to adopt a proposal for licensing of windshield repair technicians and business owners. Mr. Glenn Moses, Safelite Auto Glass, Mr. Mike Boyle, Glas-Weld Systems, Mr. Richard Campfield, Ultra Bond, and Mr. David Taylor, past NWRA president represented the NWRA at the proceeding.

After a lengthy and passionate period of input from the public and discussion between the public and the Board, the board voted to forward two very different proposals to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection.

The Examining Board voted unanimously to accept Proposal #1 and to forward it to the Commissioner. This proposal was developed by Mr. Muller, Mr. Steben and Mr. Wisniewski.

Proposal #1- Sub Committee Draft New License Types: Automotive Glass Work

Limited Repair Contractor (AG-3). The holder of this license may perform work only limited to repair damage of not more then 4 total outside of the "acute area" which is defined as "within the area covered by the sweep of the drivers side wiper originally provided by the manufacturers or in the case of one original wiper provided by the manufacturer the driver side half of the windshield". No such repair shall be made within the acute area.

1. The impact point is not larger than 3/8.
2. Individual impact damage (not classified as "Combination Break") is not larger than 1 inch (or just slightly larger than a U.S. quarter).
3. A crack is 6 inches or less in length.
4. A combination break has cracks of less than 6 inches and the entire damage area can be completely covered by a U.S. dollar.
5. Crack damage is not caused by "stress".

The requirement to qualify for this license exam shall be two (2) years as a properly licensed journeyperson or equivalent experience and training as determined by the Board.

Limited Repair Journeyperson (AG-4). The holder of this license may perform limited repair work and only while under the direct employ of a properly licensed Contractor for such work.

The requirements to qualify for this limited license exam shall be the completion 100 hours of on-the-job training and 20 hours of related classroom instruction or equivalent experience and training as determined by the Board.

Limited Repair Helper (AG-5). The holder of this registration may perform limited repair work and only while under the direct employ of a properly licensed Contractor for such work and in the presence of a properly licensed Contractor or journeyperson for such work.

The Examining Board voted unanimously to forward Proposal #2 to the Commissioner.

This proposal was developed Mr. Moses and the NWRA.

Proposal #2- Review Draft NWRA Version, New License Types: Automotive Glass Work

Limited Repair Contractor AG-3). The holder of this license may perform work limited to the repair of damage occurring laminated glass in compliance with the conditions set forth in the Connecticut Automotive Glass Standards of Practice section titled: Windshield Repair. All repairs may be made, but not more than five (5) total, which do not exceed the following conditions:

1. The impact point is not larger than 3/8".
2. Individual impact damage (not classified as "Combination Break) is not larger than 1" (or just slightly larger than a U.S. quarter)
3. A combination break has cracks of less than 6 inches and the entire damage area can be completely covered by a U.S. $1 bill.
4. Crack damage is not caused by "stress".

The requirement to qualify for this license exam shall be two (2) years as a properly licensed journeyperson or equivalent experience and training as determined by the Board.

Limited Repair Journeyperson (AG-4). The holder of this license may perform limited repair work and only while under the direct employ of a properly licensed Contractor for such work.

The requirements to qualify for this license exam shall be the completion of a Department approved training program or equivalent experience and training as determined.

Limited Repair Helper (AG-5). The holder of this registration may perform limited repair work and only while under the direct employ of a properly licensed Contractor for such work and in the presence of a properly licensed Contractor or journeyperson for such work.

****The requirement of two years to qualify for the license exam to become a Limited Repair Contractor is CT state law. It is statutory and not negotiable.****

Prior to this meeting the NWRA wrote a request to Governor John Rowland of CT to ask that three board members be removed from the process. The letter stated in part, " Mr. Muller, Mr. Steben and Mr. Wisniewski represent a directly competing industry, the auto glass replacement industry. There is a clear conflict of interest in allowing them to set Proposals, which if implemented, would limit windshield repairers' ability to remain in business. We are concerned that Mr. Muller, Mr. Steben and Mr. Wisniewski are attempting to use the regulatory process to create competitive advantage for the auto glass replacement industry by restricting Connecticut's citizens opportunity to choose the safer, less costly windshield repair over more costly auto glass replacement. We further propose

1.) The immediate appointment of qualified windshield repair representatives to the Board and its auto glass sub committee

2. ) All deliberations regarding windshield repair be held in abeyance until such time as representatives of the industry are in place."

Mr. Kurt Muller is president of the Independent Glass Association Board (IGA), Mr. Robert Steben, is IGA Board Secretary, and Mr. John Wisniewski, is an IGA member and are not considered by the NWRA to be representative of the repair industry. Despite the NWRA's appeal, Governor Rowland did not see adequate reason to remove these members from the Examining Board.

The Commissioner of Consumer Protection is responsible for developing a proposal for licensing criteria and forwarding it to the legislature. The Commissioner may choose either of the two current proposals or create his own proposal. It is expected that there will be public hearings relating to the commissioner's proposal sometime in the future.

David Taylor, past president of the NWRA, stated at the conclusion of the meeting, "I find it very surprising that this Board would vote for a proposal that would cripple the consumers of Connecticut's ability to choose the safest, least costly method of windshield damage resolution ever devised. During the six months of hearings it became clear that there were no documented safety issues with windshield repair and that there were no facts to support limitations on windshield repair. I find it disappointing and concerning that Governor Rowland allowed the hearings to go forward without proper representation from the repair industry. I assure the citizens of Connecticut and the small businesses, which depend on windshield repair, that all of us at the NWRA will continue to aggressively protect their rights in the market place."