SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Two new Illinois laws are intended to protect homeowners from dishonest contractors. Gov. Quinn signed both measures into law Monday, July 12, and both go into effect immediately. The bills are SB3645 and SB2540.
One measure is specifically meant to help disabled people. It allows people to be charged with aggravated home repair fraud when they rip off the disabled. That can be punished by up to seven years in prison.
Another measure clarifies the law so that anyone defrauded on a home project of $1,000 or more can take legal action.
SB3645: Amends the Home Repair Fraud Act. Provides that a person commits the offense of aggravated home repair fraud when he commits home repair fraud in connection with a home repair project intended to assist a disabled person. Provides that aggravated home repair involving misrepresentation or deception is a Class 3 (instead of Class 4) felony when the amount of the contract or agreement is $500 or less and a Class 2 (instead of Class 3) felony for a second or subsequent offense when the amount of the contract or agreement is $500 or less. Effective immediately.
SB2540: Amends the Home Repair and Remodeling Act. Provides that any person who suffers actual damage as a result of a violation of the Act may bring an action pursuant to the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Eliminates language making it unlawful for any person engaged in the business of home repairs and remodeling to remodel or make repairs or charge for remodeling or repair work before obtaining a signed contract or work order over $1,000 and before notifying and securing the consumer's signed acceptance or rejection of the binding arbitration clause and the jury trial waiver clause as required under the Act. Effective immediately.
More information is available at http://www.ilga.gov
New Illinois Laws Aimed at Dishonest Contractors
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