Here’s hoping Chris Colditz and the HVACR Illinois State Association (HISA) gets its mission accomplished in 2009.

HISA was formed earlier this year to bring all of the independent HVACR contractors within Illinois together into a strong, unified presence to advocate for a state licensure law. They want a uniform code of professional standards that includes protection for the consumer and ensures the quality of services and products of all HVACR contractors. Colditz, who presides over HISA, said the advocacy efforts of HISA are not intended to infringe on existing, licensed trades that do similar work, but to ensure that all HVACR services performed meet the same standards regardless of who is doing the work.

The route to licensure has many important steps, noted Colditz, of LACO Mechanical Services in Elk Grove Village, Ill. First, HISA is currently developing draft language for introduction in the 2009 spring legislative session - with additional changes currently being considered based upon conversations with legislators during its Springfield visit.

Once the draft is finalized, HISA intends to distribute the language to interested parties in an effort to include input from all viewpoints so to ensure that there is little to no opposition to its efforts. Final language, suitable for formal legislative introduction, will be developed in consultation with the various stakeholders.

“The legislative process will take time to unfold as our proposal must go through many stages of legislative review before final passage by both legislative chambers,” said Colditz. “The key to successful passage of HISA’s state licensure initiative is for every Illinois HVACR contractor to join HISA.”

For more information regarding HISA, go to www.hvacrillinois.org. To touch base with Colditz, she can be reached at ccolditz@lacomech.com.