Amendment #15 to H4165

Enhancing the Sewage Disposal System Inspection Process

Mr. Howitt of Seekonk moves to amend the bill by adding the following sections:

"SECTION XX: Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 13A, as appearing in the 2012 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."