Budget issues dominated the 2002 Maryland General Assembly Session. It appears that budget issues and the need for revenue are likely to dominate the 2003 Maryland General Assembly as well.

Below is a brief summary of the bills pertinent to MICA for the 2002 Session:

SB 595 - Home Improvement Contractors - Required General Liability Insurance
MICA Position: OPPOSE - unless amended

The bill passed during the 2002 General Assembly. The bill requires a licensed home improvement contractor to maintain at least $50,000 of general liability insurance. Currently, the law requires an applicant for a contractor license to maintain this level of insurance. If a contractor intends to cancel the required general liability insurance, the contractor must notify the Maryland Home Improvement Commission at least ten days prior to the effective date of the cancellation.

SB 674 - Telecommunications - Telephone Solicitations - Regulations
MICA Position: OPPOSE

The bill received an unfavorable report from Senate Finance. The bill requires the Public Service Commission to establish and maintain a database of residential telephone subscribers in the State who choose not to receive telephone solicitations. The bill requires telephone solicitors to purchase the latest updated version of the database and to refrain from soliciting telephone numbers listed in the database. The state fiscal effect could result in a potential annual increase in general fund expenditures by $200,000 to $300,000.

HB 168 - Home Improvement - Condominiums - Commonly Owned Areas
MICA Position: OPPOSE

The bill received an unfavorable report from the House Economic Matters Committee. The bill alters the definition of "home improvement." The new definition, defines work done to commonly owned areas of condominiums as "home improvement" and thus subjects the work to provisions of law relating to the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. The new definition would require many commercial contractors on condominiums to apply for a home improvement contractor's license. The license fee is $225 initially and $225 for each biennial renewal. If there were 300 licenses in fiscal year 2003 it would generate $67,500 in general fund revenue.

HB 1200 - Home Improvements Contractors and Subcontractors Licenses - Lead Abatement Accreditation Violations
MICA Position: Support with Amendments

The bill failed during the 2002 General Assembly. The legislation prohibits a home improvement contractor licensed by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation from violating the lead paint abatement accreditation requirement administered under the MDE program.

-- Laurence Levitan