SB39 Summary

• Creates the Alabama State of Emergency Consumer Protection Act by adding Section 13A-9-111.1 to establish the crime of aggravated home repair fraud as a Class C felony.

• Aggravated home repair fraud applies to home repair contracts related to properties damaged by events triggering a gubernatorial state of emergency declaration, including misrepresentation of facts, deception, false promises, identity concealment, and use of coercion.

• Prohibits intentional property damage to solicit home repair contracts, impersonation of government or utility employees to solicit repairs on others' property, and violations of occupational licensing requirements by previously convicted offenders.

• Amends existing criminal penalty provisions in Sections 13A-9-114, 34-14A-14, 34-31-32, 34-36-16, and 34-37-17 to carve out exceptions for aggravated home repair fraud violations, which carry enhanced felony penalties.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.