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| Date: | February 7, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5712 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SEN. TED LILLIE CHIEF AUTHORS BILL THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY IN SENATE |
(ST. PAUL) -- In an effort to help grow jobs in the residential construction and contracting industry in Minnesota, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of extending the effective date for certification in lead specialization. Senator Ted Lillie chief authored the bill that modifies a law requiring contractors to be certified in lead specialization when remodeling pre-1978 houses. Senator Lillie’s modification extends the effective date from February 1, 2011 to August 1, 2011.
This extension was requested by Builders Association of Minnesota due to a glitch in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) instructions to the contractor, which has prevented builders from being added to their website for required verification by February 1, 2011. Builders/contractors who try to pull a permit after February 1 will not be listed on the website, and will thus be turned down for the permit and be unable to perform any remodeling work. The extension would provide more time to get all certified builders/contractors listed on the website properly.
“We must support hardworking Minnesotans who are striving to abide by the law and complete construction projects responsibly. As it stands now, the law requiring contractors to be certified in lead specialization doesn’t allow enough time for builders and contractors to acquire a permit and have it listed on the EPA website. This will result in a loss of business and a loss of jobs. The modification we propose in this bill extends the effective date by 6 months,” said Sen. Lillie. “I am one hundred percent committed to growing jobs in the private sector to once again make Minnesota the economic engine of the upper Midwest. We can achieve that by reducing the regulatory burden on job creators and by helping builders meet the requirements set by the EPA. I am thrilled that my colleagues in the Senate stood unanimously with me today in favor of this crucial reform.”
Senator Lillie is joined by co-authors Senator Ted Daley (R-Eagan), Senator Al DeKruif (R-Madison Lake), Senator Jim Metzen (DFL- South St. Paul) and Senator Kenneth Kelash (DFL-Minneapolis).
Senator Lillie was elected to his first term in November 2010. Senator Lillie can be reached at: 651-296-4166 (office) or sen.ted.lillie@senate.mn.
