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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Frank Andrews Shimkus |
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Shimkus hosts hearing on regulating home builders
Testimony includes stories of how people lost thousands seeking the 'American Dream'
SCRANTON, March 13 – State Rep. Frank Andrews Shimkus, D-Lackawanna, today hosted a House Consumer Affairs Committee hearing in Scranton on his legislation that would regulate new home builders in Pennsylvania.
Shimkus crafted H.B.1821 after learning of a home builder with a criminal record who is under investigation in Lackawanna County.
"The district attorney has said hundreds of thousands of people lost up to a million dollars due to this unscrupulous home builder. When you work practically your whole life to purchase a home, you shouldn't end up with little more than a pocket of sawdust and pile of legal bills. But that's what is happening to many potential homeowners across the Commonwealth," Shimkus said.
House Bill 1821 would require home builders, including industrialized and mobile home builders, to register with the Bureau of Consumer Protection within the state Attorney General's Office. They would be required to provide a driver's license number, partnership/corporation and liability information. All applicants would be required to provide a statement disclosing any fraudulent activity or Commonwealth Court action, including any revocation or suspension of right to work.
Among those testifying was Lackawanna County District Attorney Andrew Jarbola III who said he supports Shimkus' bill, and Norman DeGennaro of Virginia who had dreams of building a retirement home in Mercer County.
"Mr. DeGennaro grew up in Mercer County and wanted to spend his retirement years back home," Shimkus said. "He bought land and researched a contractor on the Internet. Unfortunately, the contractor was fraudulent, and Mr. DeGennaro lost his $50,000 down payment, has paid another $50,000 in legal fees and still doesn't have a home."
Under Shimkus' bill home builders would pay a biannual fee to register. The money would be put into a fund to reimburse a consumer if a builder has been deemed fraudulent after an investigation by the Bureau of Consumer Affairs or the state Attorney General’s Office.
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Attention Radio News Directors: an actuality from Rep. Shimkus is available by calling 1-800-452-3001. Enter PA113 (7-2-1-1-3) and the pound sign (#) at the menu prompt to get today’s sound. You can also download the sound in .mp3 format by visiting www.pahouse.com/mediacenter.
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