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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Lauren Rooney |
State Rep. Frank Andrews
Shimkus |
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Shimkus working to keep ‘American Dream’ of home ownership from becoming a nightmare
HARRISBURG, Sept. 7 – Spurred by the example of a home builder with a criminal record who's under investigation in Lackawanna County, state Rep. Frank Andrews Shimkus is working to prevent fraudulent home builders from victimizing Pennsylvanians.
Shimkus, D-Lackawanna, has introduced the New Home Construction Consumer Protection bill (H.B. 1821), which would require all home builders to register with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Shimkus explained that registering with the bureau would require builders to supply such important information as a drivers’ 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.
“Should a new home builder have any judgments against him, he would not be able to register,” Shimkus said. “The bureau would be required to operate a toll-free number and Internet Web site so consumers could check to see if builders are registered.”
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 or the state Attorney General’s Office, Shimkus said.
“Some may argue that my bill would punish good home builders for the deeds of disreputable ones,” Shimkus said. “But the small fee would come back to registered and legitimate builders ten-fold because, in essence, this legislation would weed out fraudulent builders and provide more work for legitimate businessmen and women.”
Shimkus’ legislation has received bipartisan support in the House.
Local residents, wishing to share their experiences with home builders are invited to visit Shimkus’ Web site at www.pahouse.com/Shimkus and click on the New Home Construction Consumer Protection link.
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