(1) A public entity shall not enter into an asbestos abatement project with an asbestos abatement contractor, or a general contractor that contracts with an asbestos abatement contractor, for the abatement of asbestos unless the public entity conducts a background investigation, as determined by the public entity and subject to subsection (2), of the asbestos abatement contractor seeking to bid on the asbestos abatement project.

    (2) At a minimum, the background investigation required under subsection (1) must consist of the public entity consulting the department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy's webpage to determine if the asbestos abatement contractor or a general contractor that contracts with the asbestos abatement contractor has received notices of violation of environmental regulations, or has been subject to an administrative consent order or a consent judgment involving environmental regulations, and the United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration's webpage to determine if the asbestos abatement contractor or a general contractor that contracts with the asbestos abatement contractor has received notices of violation of asbestos regulations.

    (3) If the asbestos abatement contractor has been issued 5 or more notices of violation of environmental regulations, or has been subject to an administrative consent order or a consent judgment involving environmental regulations, within the immediately preceding 5 years, the public entity may not enter into a contract with that asbestos abatement contractor unless the public entity investigates each of the violation notices, or the administrative consent order or consent judgment, and determines that the asbestos abatement contractor is able to adhere to the proposed contract based on the public entity's observations of improvements in performance, improvements in operations to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, or other demonstrated ability to comply with environmental regulations. The public entity shall make the determination described in this subsection in writing and shall make that determination publicly available.

    (4) If an asbestos abatement contractor enters into a contract with a public entity for an asbestos abatement project, the asbestos abatement contractor shall not enter into a contract with another asbestos abatement contractor unless the public entity has conducted a background investigation of that asbestos abatement contractor in the same manner as utilized by the public entity under subsection (1).

    (5) Before entering into a contract for an asbestos abatement project with an asbestos abatement contractor, or a general contractor that contracts with an asbestos abatement contractor, that has been issued 5 or more notices of violation of environmental regulations, or has been subject to an administrative consent order or a consent judgment involving environmental regulations, within the immediately preceding 5 years, as determined by the background investigation required under subsection (1), the public entity shall conduct with not less than 30 days' notice a public hearing for public input.