HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2976        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1322

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Theodore C. Speliotis

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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 modular home construction.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2976        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1322

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to modular home construction.

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 143 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end of section 3A the following:

“The local enforcement agency shall be charged with the inspections and primary enforcement of the Massachusetts building regulations and standards for modular homes in their respective municipality.“

SECTION 2. Chapter 143 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 9 the following new section:-

Section 9A

(A)For the purposes of this section the following terms shall be defined as:

Box: a section of a modular home transported to the parcel to be set as part of a larger structure 

Local enforcement agency: A department or agency in a municipality charged with the enforcement of state building codes and regulations

Modular Home: a single or multiple, single family residential manufactured building

Modular Homes Dealer: Any individual, organization or firm engaged in the retail selling, or offering for sale, brokering, or distribution of modular homes, primarily to a person who in good faith, purchases or leases such home for purposes other than resale. Such individual, organization or firm shall be registered with the Board of Building Regulations and Standards in accordance with policies established therefore

(B)Each box shall have a label affixed in a conspicuous location stating the modular home is in compliance with all Massachusetts state building codes

(C)Photographs shall be taken of all plumbing and electrical work during the manufacturing process showing that the box is built to Massachusetts code and acceptable to the local enforcement authority.  These photographs shall be displayed in the home and made available for inspection prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the local enforcement agency.

(D)If a certificate of occupancy is not granted after 30 days, the modular home shall be considered property of the modular homes dealer for tax assessment purposes. 

(E)The Board of Building Regulations and Standards shall promulgate regulations pursuant to this section             

SECTION 3. Section 96 of Chapter 143 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended in line 3 by adding after the word "construction," the following words: "modular homes,".: