Bill > H4125

This bill, titled "To facilitate and regulate residential selling practices," proposes to amend Chapter 159 of the General Laws by adding a new Chapter 159D, which would allow municipalities to regulate door-to-door sales of goods or services without an appointment, referred to as "residential selling." Under this new chapter, individuals who are not residents of the Commonwealth and wish to engage in residential selling must obtain a one-year residential seller license from the municipal clerk, costing $50.00, which requires applicants to provide personal information, attest to the absence of felony or sex offense convictions in the past ten years, present proof of age and social security number, potentially submit fingerprints, and post a $10,000 bond to ensure compliance with local ordinances and state laws. Non-residents without a license must be able to prove their current Commonwealth residency when requested. Failure to present either a license or proof of residency can result in a misdemeanor charge with a fine of up to $250.00 or up to ten days in jail. Municipal clerks must process license applications within five business days. Alternatively, non-residents selling in multiple municipalities can obtain a Commonwealth-wide license from the Deputy Director of Standards for the same fee. Existing licenses for selling goods or services, such as insurance or stock brokerage, will also serve as a residential seller license, with exceptions for real estate and mortgage financing licenses. The bill also allows residents to prohibit commercial selling on their property by posting a "Commercial selling forbidden" sign, and police chiefs will be able to provide these signs.