HARRISBURG, Pa. -- June 9, 2009 -- Attorney General Tom Corbett is reminding contractors to register with the Attorney General's Office, in order to comply with a new law that goes into effect July 1.

In 2008, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. The law requires that all contractors who perform $5,000 or more in home improvements in a year must register with the Attorney General's Office.

Corbett said the new law requires home improvement contractors to register with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection, maintain minimum insurance coverage and use contracts that contain important information about home projects, including the start date and completion date, a description of work being performed and consumers' rights under the law. The registration is valid for two years and costs $50.

Corbett said that the law is intended to protect consumers from unscrupulous contractors, provide new protection for consumers who hire home improvement contractors and authorize criminal penalties for home improvement fraud.