Recognizing
that many homes will need to be raised higher along the coast to protect
against losses in future storms like Hurricane Sandy, the New Jersey State
Legislature’s Senate Environment and Energy Committee today released a bill
that imposes new requirements on contractors offering home elevation services.
S-2976, was one of several bills released by the committee this
morning in Trenton. Committee chairman Bob Smith said that all of the bills
address needs identified during a series of public hearings that focused on the state’s response to Sandy recovery efforts. Smith said that more
Sandy-inspired bills will be taken up at future committee meetings.
morning in Trenton. Committee chairman Bob Smith said that all of the bills
address needs identified during a series of public hearings that focused on the state’s response to Sandy recovery efforts. Smith said that more
Sandy-inspired bills will be taken up at future committee meetings.
At the hearing held in Atlantic City, an industry representative warned that the demand for home elevations after Sandy might attract inexperienced contractors who use equipment that raises the risk of accidents.
The home-raising legislation released today would require contractors to
use unified jacking machine for any home
elevation and mandates that the contractor have at least two years of experience in the using the
machine. The bill also requires home-elevation contractors to carry liability
insurance in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence plus an additional
$500,000 in insurance to cover the contents of the premises for any potential
peril not covered in the homeowner’s insurance policy. The Division of Consumer
Affairs would be required to promulgate rules and regulations for enforcement.
The home-raising legislation released today would require contractors to
use unified jacking machine for any home
elevation and mandates that the contractor have at least two years of experience in the using the
machine. The bill also requires home-elevation contractors to carry liability
insurance in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence plus an additional
$500,000 in insurance to cover the contents of the premises for any potential
peril not covered in the homeowner’s insurance policy. The Division of Consumer
Affairs would be required to promulgate rules and regulations for enforcement.
Other Sandy-related bills
released by the committee today:
released by the committee today:
S-2632 (Smith/Greenstein) Provides
low-interest financing to homeowners who want to undertake construction
projects to make their homes more storm and hurricane resistant.
The legislation authorizes municipalities to offer the loans and to collect
repayments via quarterly tax assessments over 10 years.
low-interest financing to homeowners who want to undertake construction
projects to make their homes more storm and hurricane resistant.
The legislation authorizes municipalities to offer the loans and to collect
repayments via quarterly tax assessments over 10 years.
SR 125 (Smith/Bateman)
Urges Congress to exempt from early withdrawal penalties, money taken from an
individual’s 401K retirement plan for Sandy rebuilding purposes.
Urges Congress to exempt from early withdrawal penalties, money taken from an
individual’s 401K retirement plan for Sandy rebuilding purposes.
A-1588 (Benson/Reilly) and S-2081 (Singer/Greenstein)
Establish standards concerning exposure to and the abatement of mold hazards in
residential buildings, and also creates programs to certify mold inspectors and
mold hazard abatement workers.
Establish standards concerning exposure to and the abatement of mold hazards in
residential buildings, and also creates programs to certify mold inspectors and
mold hazard abatement workers.
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