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Bill Stripping Homeowners' Protection Against Contracting Scams On Fast Track

A bill moving swiftly through the state legislature could strip homeowners’ ability to hold contractors accountable.

Senate Bill 1116 has the support of Gov. Doug Ducey, who promised to reduce small business barriers.

If it becomes law it would strip back two consumer protection laws.

The first, requiring contractor’s carry worker’s compensation insurance, and the second, publishing contractors’ personal contact information.

Former Arizona Senator Barbara Leff said she authored the bills back in 2002 and 2008 on the urging of homeowners and legitimate contractors who were impacted by a string of valley wide pool construction scams.

At the time, schemers posed as pool contractors demanded tens of thousands of dollars up front to build a pool, and then disappear after payment was made without lifting a shovel of dirt.

"The good companies weren't doing it,” said Senator Jeff Leff, “The main companies were the ones that wanted this done because they were getting a bad name from the fly-by-night companies that came in and then just walked out.”

But, over the decade, the restrictions have made it difficult for new contractors to enter the field.

State senators unanimously passed SB1116 and sent it to the House for its approval.

Holliday Moore was a reporter at KJZZ from 2017 to 2020.