Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on June 22, 2005, to authorize criminal penalties of up to one year in jail, plus both criminal and civil fines of $5,000 to $25,000, for residential building, maintenance or alteration contractors who are unlicensed; impose a 60 hour pre-licensure class on new contractors; raise contractor license fees; impose continuing education requirements; and more. Also, to require the state to keep more detailed records of complaints against contractors and their disposition, and to post certain complaint dispositions on the internet

The vote was 36 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 not voting

(Senate Roll Call 495 at Senate Journal 57)

Click here to view bill details.

it is about time that contractors are held responsible for their work. It takes less time to be a builder than it does to be a plumber. the time is NOW for the State of Michigan to protect the citizens by contractor education, licensing, and accountability.

This won't do anything but put more $$$$$$$$$$ into the toilet bowl we call Lansing. Once more for you slow ones...It's All About The Money. They Don't Give A Rats Patoot About You Or Your Family. If they did they would let you spend your money. They would lower taxes/fees/fine, etc. to bring more jobs to this state. Instead they are addicted to YOUR MONEY. WAKE UP SHEEPLE When these folks go to Lansing they get gobbled up by the money eating blob. All they do is try to find new and creative ways to separate you from your cash.

Continuing education for builders may be discriminatory , I am a sole proprietor , who's time is limited as such . To be in classes , the extra costs etc in time and dollars may put me in a bad position compared to a larger comapny that has employees who can be in classes and owners that are free to do so .

I work in specialized construction in MI, OH, IL, IN and some in FL. Of all the states I work in, MI has the lowest standard for holding a builders/contractors license. We not only need more education, but we also should license General Contractors. Raise the bar.

Would harder licensing tests and education make you a better builder that you are right now? Would no licensing make you a worse builder than you are right now? No, you are just as skilled as you are right now, and licensing means nothing to making your quality of work any better or worse than your integrity would otherwise allow. Licensing is not an insurance policy either. If you build me a house poorly I have no more recourse than if you were licensed. All licensing does is raise revenue for the state, restrict trade, and give a false sense of security to those consumers who think that being licensed by the state is an assurance of quality.

I hate scabs that steal work from our legimate company.I am a licensed plumber I don't know how many houses or jobs I lost to unlicensed scabs.I try to play by the rules keep a journeyman on my jobs pay all my comp and insurances.The problem is these guys that are popping up out of the woodwork a couple plumbing dropouts with a pick up truck and they're stealing away work from legimate legal guys.I say hang these guy nail them to the wall make them pay so big that these scabs start to tremble in fear at very thought of working without a license.

Education is good. Just look at the real estate agents before and after they had to do some continuing education and compare the number of violations commited by them in comparison to builders. A lot less. So it must be working. Sorry the governor vetod it.

them better at skirting the law. Less Government + Less Taxes = More Prosperity This is another stupid money grab. Listen up sheeple, the government doesn't care about you, jenny on the block doesn't care about you. It is all about trying to get your money in their pocket!

I've been liscensed for 30 years. The only thing a liscense tells me is that you know how to pass a test. It doesn't make you do work any better. I seen guys who are liscensed who are some real hacks, and I seen guys who aren't are very good at what they do. All those organizations tied to builders are nothing but glorified pat my self on the back people. I've never advertised a day in my life and I get more work than I know what to do with.

 I agree with the new laws regarding licensing for contractor's. The educational requirements could only be an asset to the contractor. Knowledge is key. I understand when contractor's feel that hand's on experience is superior to educational requirements. Hand's on experience is vital, we all can learn by doing. But, equally important is: Education. Without argument, these requirements are now law. Those who refuse to follow the law, deserves and should be held accountable by the law.

Licensing also helps the homeowner in case of a problem. Without the required license, a homeowner is on their own if there is a problem, with no support or assistance from the state.

What really upsets me, is all the talk about the new laws, cracking down on violators, etc., is only as good as one's Proscecutor. We were recently confronted with a situation regarding a M & A Contractor.The shoddy work (tile work) that was done was evidence of his lack of knowledge and experience. We had to pay another contractor to re-do the work that was improperly done.We attempted resolution and compensation through our local small claims, and the Magistrate ruled in favor of the contractor. The contractor even states in his ad in the local phone directory: Satisfaction Guaranteed! Unfortunately, for us-it meant nothing in the court of law! We also attempted to hold him accountable in court for being unlicensed. Again, the courts decided to rule without prejudice. So-even though these new laws are valuable to the homeowner, they are only as good as our Prosecutor. In my county, St. Clair County-the courts are not making the violator's be accountable! This is not right-the law is the law, whether it's a horrendous crime, or a small,harmless violation-citizen's need to know that the law will be enforced!