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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Bill Kortz |
  
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Kortz votes for Home Improvement Consumer Protection bill
HARRISBURG, Oct. 8 – State Rep. Bill Kortz, D-Allegheny, voted today in favor of a bill that would create the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. The bill passed the House 169-30.
The legislation, S.B. 100, would require all home improvement contractors who do more than $5,000 in business a year to be registered with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
"Senate Bill 100 is long overdue," Kortz said. "Fraudulent contractors have preyed upon my constituents and the constituents of other representatives across this state for far too long. With this act, they won't be able to get away with stealing people's hard-earned money any longer."
The bill also would require qualifying contractors to put home improvement contracts in writing, including the toll-free Consumer Bureau hotline and the owner's right of rescission, and accept no more than one third of a deposit for contracts over $1,000.
Contractors would not be able to change their business name, address, liability insurance information or any other identifying information in a deceptive manner without advising the owner in writing within 10 days.
"These regulations will tighten up the home improvement business," Kortz said. "It would better prevent home repair rip-offs and hold accountable the contractors who fraudulently take people's money."
The bill would not be retroactive. It would take effect 180 days from the day it is signed into law. The bill now heads back to the Senate for concurrence.
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