LANSING – March 27, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has issued a formal Attorney General Opinion stating that the fees listed in the Building Officials and Inspectors Registration Act usually applicable to building officials, plan reviewers, and inspectors, should be waived for honorably discharged veterans.
“Our brave veterans have risked their lives to fight for our freedoms,” said Schuette. “When they come home, we want them to know that government is working for them, not against them.”
The Building Officials and Inspectors Registration Act imposes registration and examination fees on persons seeking to become registered building officials, plan reviewers, and inspectors. In 2012, the Legislature enacted Public Act 314 of 2012, which amended the Act to waive these fees for honorably discharged veterans. Because the Building Officials and Inspectors Registration Act uses only the terms “building officials, plan reviewers, and inspectors,” Schuette was asked if the fee waiver would not apply to veterans who are “building inspectors.” Formal Attorney General Opinion 7277 confirms that building inspectors are “inspectors” for purposes of the Act, and honorably discharged veterans seeking to become registered building inspectors are entitled to the fee waiver.
It is the Attorney General’s duty “to give his opinion upon all questions of law submitted to him by the legislature or either branch thereof, or by the governor . . . or any other state officer” (MCL 14.32). To fulfill that duty, Attorney General Schuette issues informational letters as well as formal Attorney General Opinions in response to requests from the legislature, state agencies, and the governor.
Attorney General Opinion 7277 was issued at the request of State Representative George T. Darany.
Formal opinions are available for review on the Attorney General’s website, www.michigan.gov/agopinions.
Contact: Joy Yearout 517-373-8060
