Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 417 into law on Aug. 4, 2020 regulating the crime, trauma and death scene cleaning industry. State leaders took decisive action following numerous complaints and findings of unethical practices, illegal dumping of human remains and countless acts of theft in homes. Some companies were revictimizing families. “I’m glad to sign HB 417 to create a level playing field in the crime scene clean- up industry and protect Georgians from bad actors,” Governor Kemp said.
Georgia Legislators drafted HB 417 to protect families and business from predatory service providers who were slipping through the cracks. Industry leaders Gordy Powell and Doug Cunningham of Georgia Clean worked tirelessly with state legislators for more than 4 years to see this law come to fruition. “The genesis of this protection came from a national association of professional trauma scene cleanup businesses and many from Georgia including Gordy Powell and Doug Cunningham as well as those concerned with proper remediation and humane disposal,” Georgia Representative Alan Powell said. “We have corrected a situation of citizens being victimized while they are vulnerable.”
As of Jan. 1, 2021, this new law will require business owners to undergo fingerprinting, background checks, drug screenings and provide proof of general liability insurance. The law also establishes a statewide database available to the public listing all approved and registered service providers in Georgia. Qualified and vetted services providers can be found statewide by zip code or county where services are required by the new State Directory at Cleaner911.org.
“This is a huge game changer for the betterment of the Trauma Cleanup industry. The new law will not only protect victims from being re-victimized, but Georgia will lead the country for the betterment of the industry and victims,” Georgia Clean Owner and Georgia Bio Recovery Association President Gordy Powell said.
This new law has been endorsed by heavy hitting trade industries:
AIR / Alliance of Independent Restorers
ABRA / American Bio-Recovery Association
IICRC / Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification
NFIB / National Federation of Independent Business
RIA / Restoration Industry Association
