Bill > H1233

This bill proposes to amend Massachusetts General Laws to impose felony penalties on home improvement contractors, defined as individuals or entities engaged in home improvement work, for specific actions. A contractor would be guilty of a felony if they leave the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without making adequate arrangements to finish contracted work, or if they willfully fail to comply with a court judgment related to their work, despite having the financial means to do so. Penalties for these offenses could include imprisonment for up to five years in state prison or two and a half years in jail, a fine of up to $20,000, or both. Additionally, if a contractor charged with these crimes flees the Commonwealth, the governor is authorized to issue a warrant for their arrest and demand their extradition from another state, provided certain conditions regarding their presence in Massachusetts at the time of the alleged crime and any bail or recognizance violations are met.