Q&A with ASHI Legislative Committee Co-chairs

Questions and answers with Andrew Kasznay, co-chair (state affairs) and Joe Corsetto, co-chair (federal affairs)

Q: How did you get your start in the home inspection profession? When did you become an ASHI Member? What is your current role—national and local—with ASHI?

Andrew Kasznay (AK): After 15 months on active duty in Operation Desert Storm, I found it difficult to pick up where I left off as a licensed electrical, plumbing and heating contractor in Connecticut. So, I took a course on home inspections and immediately became an ASHI Candidate and have been affiliated ever since. I wish I had done it 10 years earlier.

Nationally, I am chairperson of the Legislative Committee and on the chapter level, I am on the Board of Directors and the chapter rep to the Council of Representatives.

Joe Corsetto (JC): I started my inspection career working in the public sector as a state-licensed environmental health specialist. Then, in the early 80s, a local independent home inspection company lured me to the private side of residential inspections, where I’ve worked ever since. I became a full ASHI Member in 1986, the same year I incorporated my business in New Jersey.

My current role is to represent the interests, goals and professionalism
synonymous with ASHI to the best of my ability. This includes taking the small local voice of our inspector members and amplifying it on a national level. This is one of the most significant reasons motivating me to write a membership renewal check all these years to support the ideals I hold in this profession through our Association.

Q: What are your responsibilities in your current role? What are your goals as co-chair?

AK: As chair of the Legislative Committee, I work with the staff liaison and other co-chairs collecting data on legislative activities in the fifty states. We then advise the Board of Directors on trends and current events in the legislative arena.
My goal is to advise the membership on legislative activities and to promote ASHI’s Position Statement to decision-makers in the 50 states.

JC: My current role as the Legislative Committee co-chair, federal issues, is
to promote ASHI’s Position Statement document and policies on legislation, and carry the Society’s banner on the many issues generated by federal agencies, frequently asking for comment on issues affecting this profession.

My personal goal as co-chair is to oppose weak legislation and support meaningful legislation in those states looking to establish a true professional licensing law. One day, I would like to see a single voice unifying the home inspection profession under one association tent—a tall order.

Q: What’s going on right now with this committee? Any recent successes you would like to share?

JC: The Legislative Committee recently attended the 2005 National Conference for State Legislators (NCSL) in Seattle, Wash., where we educated legislators and policymakers about shortcomings in their particular state’s law, pointed to trends across the nation, and discussed ASHI’s position statement on minimal components of professional licensing. ASHI’s participation in this conference was an excellent opportunity to connect with the people directly responsible for drafting laws. It is our goal to create a positive experience for the lawmakers visiting the ASHI booth; the professional contact may open doors that are positive and complimentary for our local ASHI chapters.

AK: Seattle was a great place to make some good contacts across the nation. However, the activities of the committee are winding down as the various
legislatures adjourn for the year. We report on the year’s activities and trends at Chapter Leadership Days in October. Shortly thereafter, we will be forming the committees for 2006.

Q: Give us a synopsis of what you believe are the most important components of ASHI’s 2005 Position Statement on Regulation of Home Inspectors. Does this year’s “white paper” reflect the efforts of the ASHI Legislative Committee?

JC: The fundamental elements of a professional home inspector law are included in our position statement: valid testing and adherence to professional standards of practice and code of ethics. Every year, the Legislative Committee ranks each of the 30 curently regulated states based on criteria included in the respective state law. It is this home inspector regulation map of the nation and ASHI’s grading system that opens eyes during discussion of state laws, and is a powerful visual tool (color chart) used in the recent NCSL Conference. Over the years, the Legislative Committee has fine-tuned this message in response to national trends and created the document in use today.

AK: The Position Statement reflects the feelings of the Legislative Committee as they wrote it. This document is ASHI’s position on regulation in the 50 states. We would like to see the tenets adopted in every state.

Q: Currently, 30 of the 50 states have some form of licensing or regulation in regard to home inspections. For the remaining 20 states, what can ASHI chapter leaders and/or members do to support the process if licensing is becoming an issue in their state? How can ASHI national provide on-going support for efforts already under way?

AK: ASHI’s position is not to promote licensing in the remaining states but, where deemed necessary by the states, we help word legislation that protects the rights and interests of both the inspector and client. At the National level, ASHI provides information to legislators when requested; however, we seek to empower the local chapters to attain legislation that serves the interest of the states, not necessarily the thoughts at the national level.

JC: On a local level, it is mission-critical to…

• Maintain a strong local state chapter that is inviting to all, from the veteran inspector, to the person at the back of the room sitting quietly taking it all in.
• Maintain a strong, unified public voice.
• Be diligent and aware of poor legislation.
• Adopt your own position statement, modeled on the existing one, which reflects the needs of your particular state.
• Hire a lobbyist or consultant to guide your chapter through the process.

It is important to maintain a consistent political message by adhering to the tenets of responsible legislation. Even an unpopular, but lofty, position can garner respect and may open doors. Use ASHI’s Legislative Committee and supporting documents as powerful tools to guide your efforts over the many pitfalls experienced by others across the nation faced with the same industry concerns. Finally, realize that included in your membership fee and at no additional cost, there is a professional staff and a committee of peers eager to offer guidance, documents and legislator contact tools to promote your position.

Get started. Get organized. There is much to do.