Louisiana: Independent Contractor Poster Law. As a result of the recent amendment to Louisiana’s unemployment insurance law, contractors must post in a prominent and accessible location at each office, a poster that describes the responsibilities of independent contractors to pay taxes as required by state and federal laws, the rights of employees to workers’ compensation and unemployment benefits, worker protections against retaliation, and the penalties that can be imposed against the contractor if the for failing to properly classify an individual as an employee. The poster can be obtained at www.napac.net.

Minnesota: Tying Lead Safe Regulations to Permitting. As has been the case for well over a year, when issuing permits under the Minnesota State Building Code to a contractors, Minnesota municipalities are required to verify that the contractor has successfully completed the required training and has received its EPA lead renovator firm certification.

Minnesota: Requirement to Provide Written Performance Standards. Under a recent amendment to state law, prior to entering into a contract, contractors must provide prospective customers with written performance guidelines that describe the work to be performed. Unfortunately, the state has offered little commentary on what the guidelines should cover. NAPAC has amended its Custom Home Remodeling Agreement to best account for this new requirement.

Washington: Too Many Independent Contractors Violates the Law. It is a violation of state law for any remodeler to use more than two (2) independent contractors at a job site if:

• They are both working on the same task involving a similar material;
• The subcontractors are not using workers covered subject to the mandatory coverage under Washington’s industrial insurance (workers’ compensation) law; and
• The subcontractors are not being treated by the remodeler as covered workers under Washington’s industrial insurance law.
  EPA: EPA Fines College Pro Painters. College Pro Painters has agreed to pay a $7,200 penalty and to spend $65,000 on an environmental project at a local school to settle claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that College Pro Painters failed to provide required lead hazard information to home owners in four New England states on 41 occasions.

EPA: EPA Fines College Pro Painters. College Pro Painters has agreed to pay a $7,200 penalty and to spend $65,000 on an environmental project at a local school to settle claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that College Pro Painters failed to provide required lead hazard information to home owners in four New England states on 41 occasions.