Arizona Registrar of ContractorsNewsletterMay 2019

roc.az.gov

BLUEprint 2 Table of Contents

3 Phoenix Police Department Arrests Most Wanted Unlicensed Entity

4 Universal Licensing Recognition Facts

6 Queen Creek Company's License Revoked AfterAiding and Abetting

7 AZ ROC Prepared for Monsoon and Wildfire Season

8 Get to Know Our Team

9 Licensed Contractor Forum

2roc.az.gov

Phoenix Police Department ArrestsMost Wanted Unlicensed Entity

On Mon., May 13, 2019, at approximately 8:30 AM, Victor Omar Covarrubias, Jr., 46 of Scottsdale and one of AZ ROC’s Most Wanted Unlicensed Entities, was arrested by one of Phoenix Police Department’s Neighborhood Enforcement Teams (NET) at a Phoenix Walgreens (5125 W. Northern Ave.).

Covarrubias, Jr. faces multiple charges filed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in 2018 including:

• Theft, a Class 5 Felony • Taking Identity of Another, a Class

4 Felony• Contracting Without a License, a

Class 1 Misdemeanor

The charges stemmed from an AZ ROC investigation which found Covarrubias took $2,000 from a 72 and 90 year old couple in Buckeye for a landscaping project that was never started.

Covarrubias, Jr. was also wanted on several (3) Failures to Appear warrants after he failed to appear in the San Marcos Justice Court on Oct. 3, 2017 for a restitution hearing and in the North Valley Justice Court and the Arcadia Biltmore Justice Court in March 2018 on orders to show cause. All three cases stemmed from AZ ROC investigations.

An Initial Appearance for the 2018 case and the three prior cases was held on May 13, 2019 in the Maricopa County Justice Courts and the Maricopa County Superior Court.

His next court appearance is a status conference for the 2018 case is scheduled for May 20, 2019 at 8:30 AM in the Maricopa County Superior Court.

Background:Since 2014, AZ ROC investigated 15 unlicensed complaints against Covarrubias, Jr. He is known to have operated under the business names of: Abrasive Pool Industries, Agua Azul Pool Service, Covarrs Pools LLC, Aqua Marina Pools LLC, Aqua Marina Pools & Landscaping LLC, AZ Finest Pools.

AZ ROC’s investigations found Covarrubias, Jr. took a combined total of $97,665 from homeowners in Buckeye, Cave Creek, Chandler, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix and Waddell. After paying for landscaping, pool repairs or pool builds the homeowners received little or no work.

Of the 15 investigations, 12 were submitted for prosecution and three resulted in civil citations; including a total of $7,000 in civil penalties.

To see the full list of individuals on the AZ ROC’s Most Wanted Unlicensed Entity List and all Unlicensed Violations click here.

Photo Source: Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Department

Correcting MisconceptionsUniversal Licensing Recognition

There is some confusion about what the new Universal Licensing Recognition law means for occupations requiring a license in Arizona.

To be clear, the Universal Licensing Recognition law:1. DOES NOT automatically allow entities from other states to

begin operating in Arizona.2. DOES NOT automatically recognize other states’

occupational licenses.3. DOES NOT allow someone from another state to come into

Arizona and begin working without obtaining an Arizona contractor's license.

Once effective, the new law will make it easier for people who are already licensed in another state to get the same license in Arizona.

Entities licensed in other states who move to Arizona must still apply for a license before working. Under the new law, AZ ROC will recognize out-of-state occupational licenses during the application process for people who:

• have established residency.• possess a comparable license to that of the one for which

they are applying and have held it for at least one year.• pass the statute and rules examination.• meet all bond, recovery fund assessment and application fee

obligations.• meet all background check requirements.

Queen Creek Company's LicenseRevoked After Aiding and Abetting

A Seamless Floor Company, LLC (ROC 296849), a Queen Creek based flooring company, will no longer be licensed in Arizona after the AZ ROC signed a Final Administrative Decision ordering the revocation of the license on Tues., May 14, 2019. The revocation will take effect on June 13, 2019 and the company has until then to appeal the decision.

The decision to revoke the license resulted from the Agency investigating a complaint of poor workmanship after a Phoenix homeowner hired the company to seal a 4,600 square foot patio and fire pit area.

An AZ ROC investigator found poor work and issued a directive for it to be corrected. However, the company made no attempts to correct the work.

At the administrative hearing, Bryan Erik Mercado, the Qualifying Party for A Seamless Floor Company LLC, also admitted the company subcontracted work out to an unlicensed individual, paying him cash under the table. This, the lack of a written contract (a violation of A.R.S. § 32-1158) and his nonchalance committing these violations were particularly concerning to the Administrative Law Judge assigned to the case.

The Registrar received the Administrative Law Judge’s decision recommending to revoke the license on April 23, 2019 and signed the Final Administrative Decision to accept the recommendation on May 14, 2019. The company was also issued a $500 civil penalty.

Since 2015, AZ ROC investigators have patrolled areas affected by natural disasters to warn damaged homeowners against the potential of a second disaster by choosing to hire unlicensed individuals, attempting to take advantage of those looking to quickly hire someone to make repairs to their damaged property.

While patrolling, investigators will attempt to make contact with residents to educate them about potential property repairs scams and the importance of working with licensed contracting professionals when hiring for repairs.

Investigators will also be issuing cease and desist orders and opening investigations against individuals and entities found to be advertising or contracting without a license.

AZ ROC Preparing for Monsoon and Wildfire Season

Arizona Registrar of Contractors Investigators are ramping up preparations to patrol areas affected by natural disasters to warn homeowners against home repair scams and to increase efforts to curb unlicensed activity in impacted areas.

Arizona’s monsoon season officially begins on June 15, and ends on Sept. 30. The storms peak between mid-July and mid-August and, on average, about half of Arizona receives nearly fifty percent of its annual rainfall during the monsoon season. These storms can be violent and cause damage to residential and commercial property.

In addition to monsoon storms, wildfires pose another threat to some homeowners. The risk for fires is highest during the early summer but, due to Arizona’s dry climate, the threat remains year round.

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Get to Know Our Team

JessiePublic Information Liaison

Jessie began her new role as a Public Information Liaison on April 1, 2019. She first joined the AZ ROC's as a licensing representative in November 2016.

What do you love about working at the AZ ROC?

"I love the opportunities I am provided each day to empower people with the information they need to achieve their dreams and goals."

Judy Tucson Office Manager &

Customer Service Representative

In March, Judy celebrated her fifth year with the AZ ROC. Before joining the team she spent 14 years working as an office manager for the Tucson Unified School District. Judy also spent eight years as an office manager and partner in the home inspection business.

What do you love about working at the AZ ROC?

"I enjoy helping people with their concerns whether homeowner or contractor. I also appreciate working with a great team both here in Tucson and in the Phoenix office."

JimLicensed Investigator

Jim joined the AZ ROC team as a construction investigator in 2005. He has a background in heavy industrial structural concrete construction.

What do you love about working at the AZ ROC?

“I love getting the appropriate outcome for the parties.”

AZ ROC is holding regional meetings every other month. The meetings, known as “AZ ROC Licensed Contractor Forums,” provide contractors and contracting associations an opportunity to voice concerns, raise questions and receive updates from the Agency.

These agenda-driven forums begin with an update from AZ ROC's leadership team and allow for general questions and feedback from contractors and associations related to potential issues within the industry or their area of specialty.

If you're a consumer group or homeowners association wishing to have an investigator or other Agency staff speak to your group regarding the Agency or are a contractor with a specific question related to your license, please contact us at 877.692.9762 (in Arizona).

Due to limited space, you must register for the event on Eventbrite.

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City Date Time (MST) Address RegisterTucson Wed., May 22, 2019 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM Santa Rosa Library, RM 109

1075 S 10th AveTucson, AZ 85701

Phoenix Tues., June 25, 2019 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM AZ ROC Phoenix Office1700 W. Washington, STE. 105Phoenix, AZ 85007

AZ ROC Licensed Contractor Forum

PHOENIX1700 W. Washington St., Ste. 105 Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2812 Telephone: (602) 542-1525 Fax: (602) 542-1599 Free public parking is located west of the building off 19th Avenue and Jefferson. Visitors may also park in any of the unmarked spaces. Enter the building through the west-facing doors of the State Capitol Executive Tower.

TUCSON400 W. Congress St., Ste. 212 Tucson, Arizona 85701-1353 Telephone: 1-877-692-9762 Fax: (602) 542-1599 Directions: Northwest corner of West Congress and Granada.

FLAGSTAFF2501 N. 4th St., Ste. 22 Flagstaff, Arizona 86004-3701 The Flagstaff Office is open by appointment only. Please contact us at 1-877-692-9762 (1-877-MY-AZROC) for additional information or to schedule an appointment.

We’re here.How can we help?

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