The Legislature begins the 11th week of its regular session today with a House committee hearing on contractor legislation that has drawn fire from carpenters and homeowners hiring outside help.
The American Press reports the House Commerce Committee today will debate Senate Bill 336 by Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Metairie. It would require all subcontractors to be licensed by the Louisiana State Licensing Board of Contractors in order to perform work costing over $7,500.
One contractor who has done work in Beauregard and Calcasieu parishes says the new requirement would force him to increase his rates to a nearly unaffordable amount for typical homeowners. He says the licensing board rules increase the cost of doing business.
Mike McDuff, executive director of the licensing board, contends the bill is designed to protect consumers who “are getting scammed all the time.” The bill cleared the Senate 32-3, but the controversy grew once the issue was publicized.
Other bills up for debate this week include: changes made to bills dealing with public records, smoking, state contracts and tax exemptions, executive department and Department of Health and Hospital and other salaries, the TOPS scholarship program, charter schools and Real ID compliant driver’s licenses.
Also today, the House Appropriations Committee today will hold hearings on House Bill 733, which calls for a limited constitutional convention for fiscal purposes. It will also debate Senate Bill 201, a constitutional amendment that would allow the reduction of constitutionally protected expenditures and dedications in order to eliminate a projected deficit in an ensuing fiscal year.
