Legislators considering background checks for home inspectors

background checks for home inspectors assessing property values for municipalities is being proposed out of New Jersey’s 12th District. Though the bill has yet to be presented, Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer seeks to have the state put the practice into law in the wake of an incident in Palmyra in which a man stole prescription medication . “Personal homes and property deserve respect and we must minimize the risk of theft during revaluations,” Dancer said in a statement. “When a town sends a contractor into homes, there should be a basic level of precaution to prevent incidents like this.” The call for background checks stems from a theft of prescription drugs when homes were inspected for appraisals as part of a town-wide revaluation over the summer. Professional Property Appraisers Vice President Brian Schneider said what happened with the former employee was an isolated incident. He said he hadn’t seen an incident of this nature in his two decades in the business up until that point. “We always do background checks on all of our employees,” he said. “Most municipalities already do background checks. Usually it’s part of the process. In my 20-some years of doing this, I’ve never seen anything like this happen.” 12th District Assemblyman Dancer said: “This episode should serve as a reminder that in our homes, we all have to take precautions to prevent against the theft and abuse of prescription drugs, whether by strangers, family members or guests.” What do you think? Would such legislation make sense?]]>