For Immediate Release
March 14, 2007
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Committee Approves Tomlinson Bill to Crack Down on Home Repair Con Artists

Harrisburg -- Legislation sponsored by Senator Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) that would help protect state residents from home improvement scam artists has been approved by the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.

The committee approved the bill Tuesday. It will next be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee and sent to the full Senate for consideration.

Senate Bill 100 would give local law enforcement officials the tools they need to crack down on disreputable contractors, said Tomlinson, who chairs the committee. It also sets down strict criminal penalties and even tougher sanctions if the victim is a senior citizen.

"Whether it's a case of an operator promising to make repairs and then leaving town after receiving a deposit, or a shoddy job that a contractor refuses to fix, home repair scams hurt too many Pennsylvania citizens. And the story is especially heart-wrenching when the victim is a senior citizen," said Tomlinson.

Tomlinson's legislation would require home improvement contractors to register with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.  The Bureau would also maintain a toll-free number under which consumers could check on the registration status of a contractor.

The bill would also require home improvement contracts for all work that exceeds $500. And it would set down specific criteria for home improvement contracts to ensure that all parties understand the work to be completed, the time frame for completion and the total costs involved.

Senate Bill 100 gives District Attorneys and the Attorney General strong enforcement authority for investigating and prosecuting home improvement scams. Those who violate the law could face a felony conviction, and the revocation or suspension of their registration. The bill also includes tougher penalties if the victim is 60 or older, since many scam artists target older homeowners.

"The vast majority of contractors are honorable and fair, but their industry is tainted by the few con artists who can cause so much pain," said Tomlinson. "We worked hard to gain Senate passage of this bill in the last session, only to see it become stuck in the House of Representatives. With the committee's action this week, we've again taken a step forward in the effort to enact this important legislation." 

CONTACT:

Fran Cleaver
(717) 787-5072