SECTION 1.  Section 9 of chapter 142A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (c) the following subsection:-

(d)  Each applicant for registration as a home improvement contractor or subcontractor shall submit a completed copy of an application form supplied by the director and necessary supporting documents to the director, along with such fees as required by section 11; provided that applicants shall be given the option to pay any registration fee or guarantee fund fee using a major credit card.

SECTION 2.  Subsection (a) of section 11 of said chapter 142A is hereby amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Every contractor or subcontractor as defined in this chapter shall pay a registration fee in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the fee paid by construction supervisors pursuant to section ninety-four of chapter one hundred and forty-three and (ii) an amount necessary to recover the aggregate cost to the commonwealth associated with the use of credit cards to pay fees charged pursuant to this chapter.  The registration fee required under this paragraph shall be payable upon application for registration and renewal.

SECTION 3.  Section 14 of said chapter 142A is hereby amended by striking out, in line 37, the words “telecommunications and energy” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-

public utilities

SECTION 4.   Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2015.