Chuck
March 1st, 2005, 10:01 AM
FRANKFORT -- Legislation requiring residential contractors to be
state certified narrowly passed the House today after debate on the
bill's cost to contractors and consumers.
Rep. Mike Weaver, D-Elizabethtown, a builder and sponsor of House
Bill 61, said his bill would require that housing contractors of
projects over $2,500 be state certified as of Jan. 1, 2007.
Certification would not be required for a homeowner doing his or her
own work, government workers, certain licensed tradespeople and a few
others.
To remain in good standing, certified contractors would have to
maintain liability and property damage insurance of no less than
$250,000 and worker's compensation insurance, complete--or designate
someone to complete--at least six hours of continuing education per
year and pay required costs, including an annual $100 certification
fee.
HB 61 passed 44-38 and goes to the Senate for its consideration.
Weaver said the proposed insurance requirements would protect
homeowners, who he said are liable if a contract employee without
worker's comp insurance gets hurt on their property.
"Anyone who works on a residential home should have worker's
compensation insurance," said Weaver.
But other lawmakers said the bill would be burdensome to small
contractors. Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence, said those who do odd jobs
may have to spend thousands of dollars to buy worker's comp and
personal liability insurance under the bill.
"It's not the $100 that's going to cost them," said Gooch. He also
said that since most insurance does not cover faulty workmanship, HB
61 would not ensure that homeowners would be compensated for a bad
job.
Rep. Danny Ford, R-Mt. Vernon, questioned the need for the bill. He
said word-of-mouth already protects homeowners from poor workmanship.
"If you've got a builder whose not doing a property job, it won't
take long for it to catch up with them," he said.
But Rep. Tommy Thompson, D-Owensboro, a co-sponsor of the bill who is
also a builder, said HB 61--which would require that each job carry a
one-year warranty, a thorough description of the job and a means of
alternative dispute resolution--would give homeowners added
assurance.
"It will minimize the (need) to have to go to court to seek remedy,"
said Thompson
state certified narrowly passed the House today after debate on the
bill's cost to contractors and consumers.
Rep. Mike Weaver, D-Elizabethtown, a builder and sponsor of House
Bill 61, said his bill would require that housing contractors of
projects over $2,500 be state certified as of Jan. 1, 2007.
Certification would not be required for a homeowner doing his or her
own work, government workers, certain licensed tradespeople and a few
others.
To remain in good standing, certified contractors would have to
maintain liability and property damage insurance of no less than
$250,000 and worker's compensation insurance, complete--or designate
someone to complete--at least six hours of continuing education per
year and pay required costs, including an annual $100 certification
fee.
HB 61 passed 44-38 and goes to the Senate for its consideration.
Weaver said the proposed insurance requirements would protect
homeowners, who he said are liable if a contract employee without
worker's comp insurance gets hurt on their property.
"Anyone who works on a residential home should have worker's
compensation insurance," said Weaver.
But other lawmakers said the bill would be burdensome to small
contractors. Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence, said those who do odd jobs
may have to spend thousands of dollars to buy worker's comp and
personal liability insurance under the bill.
"It's not the $100 that's going to cost them," said Gooch. He also
said that since most insurance does not cover faulty workmanship, HB
61 would not ensure that homeowners would be compensated for a bad
job.
Rep. Danny Ford, R-Mt. Vernon, questioned the need for the bill. He
said word-of-mouth already protects homeowners from poor workmanship.
"If you've got a builder whose not doing a property job, it won't
take long for it to catch up with them," he said.
But Rep. Tommy Thompson, D-Owensboro, a co-sponsor of the bill who is
also a builder, said HB 61--which would require that each job carry a
one-year warranty, a thorough description of the job and a means of
alternative dispute resolution--would give homeowners added
assurance.
"It will minimize the (need) to have to go to court to seek remedy,"
said Thompson