Bill Text: NJ S2363 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires home improvement contractors to display State-issued identification badge; requires surrender in certain circumstances; imposes penalty for improper display of badge.*
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)
Status: (Passed) 2013-08-19 - Approved P.L.2013, c.144. [S2363 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S2363-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Requires home improvement contractors to display State-issued identification badge.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning home improvement contractors and supplementing P.L.2004, c.16 (C.56:8-136 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Every contractor required to register under the "Contractors' Registration Act" P.L.2004, c.16 (C.56:8-136 et seq.) shall wear an identification badge, issued pursuant to subsection b. of this section, whenever the contractor is performing, or engaging, or attempting to engage, in the business of making or selling home improvements. The identification badge shall be plainly visible and worn on the upper left corner of his torso.
b. Upon the application of a registered contractor, the director shall issue a personalized identification badge to the contractor. The identification badge shall include a color photograph of the contractor's face, the contractor's name, the contractor's registration number, and the name of the contractor's business, displayed in a manner that will be plainly visible and permit recognition when worn by the contractor. The identification badge shall be made in such a way and of such material that any attempt to alter the badge will result in it being immediately, permanently and obviously ruined. The photograph included on the identification badge shall be taken no more than four weeks before the date upon which the identification badge is issued. A contractor shall apply for and obtain a new identification badge at least once every six years.
c. The director may charge the contractor a reasonable fee to cover the costs of the identification badge issued pursuant to this section.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill supplements the "Contractors' Registration Act" to require home improvement contractors to wear a State-issued identification badge whenever the contractor is performing, or engaging, or attempting to engage, in the business of making or selling home improvements.
The bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to issue an identification badge upon application by the registered home improvement contractor. The identification badge must include a color photograph of the contractor's face, the contractor's name, the contractor's registration number, and the name of the contractor's business, displayed in a manner that will be plainly visible and permit recognition when worn by the contractor. The bill permits the director to charge the home improvement contractor a fee to cover the costs of the identification badge.
This bill is intended to protect consumers from individuals fraudulently representing themselves as home improvement contractors when they are not properly registered under the "Contractors' Registration Act."
