SENATE DOCKET, NO. 748        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 163

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Nine

_______________

An Act establishing the home improvement contractor council..

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. Section 1 of chapter 143 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 3 and 4, the word "one hundred" and inserting in place thereof the following word:— one hundred and one.

SECTION 2. Chapter 143 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following section:—    Section 101.     There shall be an advisory board to be known as the home improvement contractor council, to assist in and make recommendations to the board relative to the registration of any contractor or subcontractor who undertakes, agrees to undertake, or agrees to perform residential contracting services.  The council shall consist of seven members: the chief of inspections of the division of inspection of the department of public safety or his designee; the fund administrator of the residential contractor’s guaranty fund established by chapter 142A; a representative of the attorney general; a representative of a consumer group appointed by the director of the office of consumer affairs and business regulation; and three members to be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be a representative of the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts who is a registered home improvement contractor or subcontractor, one of who shall be an owner and principal resident of a one or two-family residence, and one of who shall be a representative of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry who is a registered home improvement contractor or subcontractor.  The governor shall from time to time designate one member as chairman.  The council shall be convened regularly by the chairman and shall establish it s own rules for the conduct of its business.  The members of the council shall not be compensated for their services, but they shall be reimbursed for travel and other expenses necessary for the performance of their duties.  The board may provide technical and clerical assistance to the council.