Kansas AG Office Says New Roofer Law Requires Outreach

The state Attorney General’s office plans to do more outreach before pursuing fines under a new Kansas law aimed at cutting down on roofing fraud.

The law, which requires roofers to register, took effect July 1, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.

But Adrian Serene, an assistant attorney general in the Consumer Protection Division, said the agency has received only about 380 applications out of an estimated 700 roofing contractors in Kansas. No fines have been issued.

Serene said it appears most of the roofers who haven’t yet applied are unaware of the new law and not trying to evade it. Serene said the office will continue contacting roofers to educate them about the new law.

“We intend to continue our outreach, in the hopes of expanding our base of people applying,” Serene said.

The state is relying on the $250 registration fees to fund the staff needed to oversee the new program, which is intended in part to crack down on out-of-state con artists who prey on vulnerable homeowners after destructive storms.

Serene said the new registration fee is necessary in part because his office does a criminal background check on each applicant.