Legislative Leaders Pleased with Committee’s Decision on Crumbling Foundations Bill

HARTFORD- Homeowners whose foundations have been compromised by faulty concrete received some additional good news Friday, as House and Senate members from both sides of the aisle held a joint press conference to discuss recent legislation centered on crumbling foundations.

Per the legislation, SB-806, An Act Allowing Municipalities to Establish a Grant Program to Replace or Repair Concrete Foundations, would establish a grant program to those homeowners of residential buildings for the repairs or replacement of faulty foundations. Additionally, a written evaluation from a professional engineer must be obtained and submitted to the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP).

“This bill is a collaborative effort to move us towards a resolution on this issue. It’s also an important bill because it is aimed at helping these homeowners fix their foundations and it is a huge start in the right direction,” said Rep. Tim Ackert (R-8).

Earlier this week members of the Public Safety and Security Committee voted in favor of moving SB-806 out of committee in order for a full debate among the membership to take place.

Representative Ackert applauded the decision to move the proposal out of the committee process and onto future discussions.

“This is a first step in a solution to fixing those homes that have been affected by defective concrete in their foundations,” Rep. Ackert said. “I will continue to work on behalf of those residents to get this bill passed and signed by the governor. I will not leave this session without providing these residents with some piece of legislation that helps fix this situation.”

Some provisions to the current bill include the following:

• Requires insurance companies to pay the Insurance Commissioner $12 per year for each homeowner and renter insurance policies to then be deposited into the Crumbling Foundations Assistance Fund. The funds collected will be used to assist with the remediation process. This fee is scheduled to sunset in 2025.
• Enables CRCOG to enter into a contract with the CT Housing Finance Authority to develop and implement a long-term low interest loan program.
• Enables municipalities to bond funds for remediation and abatement of crumbling foundations.
• Requires the State Building Inspector to waive education fees for any municipality that waives its application fee for a building permit to repair or replace a concrete foundation that has deteriorated due to pyrrhotite.

Many homes within these communities have been built using pyrrhotite, an iron sulfide material which has led to foundations falling apart. It is estimated that there are more than 30 municipalities in Connecticut which have been directly affected as a result of crumbling foundations.

“Homeowners living with a crumbling foundation are one step closer to receiving real relief,” said Rep. Sam Belsito (R-53). “The state can no longer kick this issue down the road. We need to act this session to pass a bill that provides relief and this bill will help accomplish that.”

“This is the first piece of legislation that actually deals with remediation, despite the fact it is coming about a year late. I look forward to rolling my sleeves up, and getting to work with my legislative colleagues to create a better solution for this issue,” said Rep. Kurt Vail (R-52).

“I am delighted to see that there is bipartisan support to help the people affected by the crumbling foundations problem,” said State Representative Tom Delnicki (R-14). “Senate Bill 806 that passed from the legislature’s Public Safety and Security Committee is a good first step to help resolve this very critical issue, and I am glad that we are having this conversation and taking some action.”

“I am glad that something is being done legislatively to combat this issue,” said Rep. Prasad Srinivasan (R-31). “We need to engage all stakeholders from individuals to municipalities, insurance companies, banks, and the federal government. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has turned down our pleas for help twice, but we will continue to reach out. This problem is a slow moving hurricane that needs better help to implement a solution. We pay our federal taxes; I strongly believe it’s time our state gets our due aid.”

It is estimated that the cost for remediation can vary anywhere between $150,000 and $250,000 with the only known fix, to date, is to re-pour the foundation.

The bill will now move onto the State Senate for further debate.