HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4521 FILED ON: 1/24/2018
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to housing information.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr. | 28th Middlesex | 1/24/2018 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4521 FILED ON: 1/24/2018
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
By Mr. McGonagle of Everett, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr., relative to home energy audits and labeling by home inspectors. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)
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An Act relative to housing information.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Section 1: Chapter 13 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 97 the following section:
Section 97A. The board of registration of home inspectors, in consultation with the state board of building regulations and standards, the executive office of energy and environmental affairs and the energy efficiency advisory council, shall develop requirements and adopt regulations to require home inspectors to be certified in home energy audits and labeling, and such audits and labeling will be included as part of standard home inspections as requested by home buyers. This energy audit and label information shall be made available to both the buyer and seller prior to the closing date on any home sale transaction. This audit and label shall also be made available to the department of energy resources and for listing on the MLS. MassSave or related utility programs conducting home energy audits shall include the same audit and labeling standards. This procedure shall be in effect within one year of enactment of this legislation.
Within thirty days of enactment, the office of consumer affairs and business regulation, the board of registration for home inspectors and the department of energy resources will convene a stakeholder group including home inspectors, realtors, home builders and energy efficiency advocates to determine the criteria for certification of home inspectors on energy efficiency audits and labels. this stakeholder group will also be responsible for developing the elements of a home energy audit and a universal labeling protocol.