The Board shall exercise the following powers and duties, and such others as may be provided by law:

1. Provide a means of citizen access to the Department.

2. Provide a means of publicizing the policies and programs of the Department in order to educate the public and elicit public support for Department activities.

3. Monitor the policies and activities of the Department and have the right of access to departmental information.

4. Advise the Governor and the Director on matters relating to housing and community development.

5. Make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out its responsibilities and repeal or amend such rules when necessary.

6. Issue a certificate of competence concerning the content, application, and intent of specified subject areas of the building and fire prevention regulations promulgated by the Board to present or prospective personnel of local governments and to any other persons seeking to become qualified to perform inspections pursuant to Chapter 6 of Title 27, and any regulations adopted thereunder, who have completed training programs or in other ways demonstrated adequate knowledge.

7. Levy by regulation up to two percent of permit fees authorized pursuant to §§ 36-98.3 and 36-105 to support training programs of the Building Code Academy established pursuant to § 36-139. Local building departments shall collect such levy and transmit it quarterly to the Department of Housing and Community Development. Localities that maintain, individual or regional, training academies accredited by the Department of Housing and Community Development shall retain such levy. However, such localities may send employees to training programs of the Building Code Academy upon payment of a fee calculated to cover the cost of such training. Any unspent balance shall be reappropriated each year for the continued operation of the Building Code Academy.

The Board shall appoint a Building Code Academy Advisory Committee (the Committee) comprised of representatives of code enforcement personnel and construction industry professions affected by the provisions of the building and fire prevention regulations promulgated by the Board. Members of the Committee shall receive no compensation but shall be entitled to be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with § 2.2-2813. The Committee shall advise the Board and the Director on policies, procedures, operations, and other matters pertinent to enhancing the delivery of training services provided by the Building Code Academy.

8. Establish general policies, procedures, and programs for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund established in Chapter 9 of Title 15.2.

1977, c. 613; 1978, c. 751; 1980, c. 107; 1981, c. 309; 1984, c. 720; 1986, c. 427; 1988, c. 687; 1989, c. 279; 1992, c. 754; 1993, c. 814; 2002, cc. 245, 461, 555; 2008, c. 445; 2010, c. 66; 2013, c. 754.