HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1381        FILED ON: 2/4/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 942

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Steven S. Howitt

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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 enhancing the sewage disposal system inspection process.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1381        FILED ON: 2/4/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 942

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 803 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act enhancing the sewage disposal system inspection process.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 13A, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following:-

Section 13A. No individual shall be approved by the department of environmental protection as a system inspector of on-site sewage disposal systems who is also approved as a disposal system installer or has a financial interest in the work of any other approved disposal system installer, including but not limited to a partner, employer, employee or co-worker of said system inspector.

A system inspector who performs an on-site inspection of a sewage disposal system pursuant to the state environmental code, shall not recommend a specific disposal system installer to perform any work related to the replacement, repair, alteration or design of said system; provided, however, that all system inspectors shall, at the time of inspection, provide to the property owner a list prepared by the local board of health of local disposal system installers who are approved to perform such work; provided, however, that no disposal system installer may be approved as such if the installer is also approved by the department of environmental protection as a system inspector of on-site sewage. Each board of health shall prepare and make available a list containing the name, address, and phone number for at least 5 such installers who request to be included on such list.

A violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000.