|
| Date: | February 7, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Sandra Whalen | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5238 | | Contact Email: | sandra.whalen@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
|
| BUILDING CONTRACTOR EXTENSION PASSES SENATE Co-author Senator DeKruif says measure will help Minnesota construction jobs |
(ST. PAUL) – A modification in law requiring building contractors to be certified in lead specialization when remodeling pre-1978 houses passed unanimously in the Senate Monday. Senate co-author Al DeKruif said the measure will help jobs in the residential construction and contracting industry in Minnesota.
The 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 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.
“One of the best ways to create jobs in Minnesota is to get bureaucratic red tape out of the way of hardworking Minnesotans,” DeKruif said. “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, resulting in a loss of business and a loss of jobs. This change remedies that.”
The modification extends the effective date from February 1, 2011 to August 1, 2011.
###
Senator DeKruif welcomes constituents to contact his Capitol office at 24G Capitol, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155, by phone at 651-296-5558, or via email at sen.al.dekruif@senate.mn.
