Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Noelia Corzo, District 2
Subject: Resolution Supporting California Senate Bill 456 (Ashby), Relating to Contractors: Exemptions for Muralists
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution supporting California Senate Bill 456 (Ashby), relating to contractors: exemptions for muralists.
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BACKGROUND:
Under existing California law, individuals performing work on buildings valued over $500 must hold a contractor's license issued by the Contractors State License Board. While this requirement serves to protect consumers and ensure quality in construction, it does not appropriately reflect the nature of artistic work such as murals, which are fundamentally creative rather than structural in scope.
Senate Bill 456, introduced by Senator Angelique Ashby, proposes to amend Section 7044 of the Business and Professions Code to add an exemption for muralists. The bill defines muralists as visual artists who paint or affix original art directly to walls or structures under an agreement with an authorized entity. This clarification would allow muralists to work independently without needing licensure as a construction contractor.
DISCUSSION:
In 2023, public notices began being issued to municipalities indicating that muralists fall within the definition of a "contractor" under Business and Professions Code section 7026. As a result, muralists must carry a contractor's license if they undertake a mural on a building for more than $500. Additionally, per Business and Professions Code section 7028.15 (e), city staff may be fined for knowingly hiring an unlicensed muralist. Due to these licensure requirements, cities across California have had to cease or stall the implementation of mural projects.
To qualify for these commercial licenses, muralists must accumulate four years of specialized experience under a licensed contractor, pass the Law an...
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