(a) A person may not employ or contract with a professional painter to perform hazardous painting for compensation unless the painter holds a current valid hazardous painting certificate issued by the department. As a condition of employment, an employer may require a professional painter to provide a copy of the certificate. It is a defense to a violation of this subsection by an employer if the employer produces a copy of the painter’s certificate and the employer reasonably believed the certificate was not falsified.
(b) A professional painter may not provide a falsified hazardous painting certificate to an employer or make a false statement to an employer regarding the painter’s certification.