For Immediate Release: April 2, 2008
Contact: Karen Clifton
Phone: (559) 445-5532

Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) approved funding yesterday that would build a new team of investigators to crack down on the number of unlicensed contractors working in the Central Valley.

Arambula, who is chair of Assembly Budget Subcommittee-4 on State Administration, stated the funding would allow the Contractor’s State License Board to open an office in Fresno for the Statewide Investigation Fraud Team (SWIFT).  More than $758,000 was allocated to the Board to create seven positions that will enable them to establish and staff a Fresno SWIFT program.

“Complaints of unlicensed contractors have increased by 14 percent since 2003 in Central Valley Counties, while other parts of the state have seen a decrease due to SWIFT,” Arambula said.  “Fresno and the Central Valley is one of the fastest growing areas in the state.  We have to ensure the homes and businesses we build are safe and comply with all state regulations.”

The SWIFT teams were created to conduct special investigations and proactive non-licensee enforcement activities. There are currently SWIFT teams in Sacramento and Norwalk.  In 2006, SWIFT teams conducted 43 undercover sting operations resulting in 311 unlicensed operators, 120 citations and 81 individuals arrested for outstanding warrants.

This action taken by Arambula’s budget committee will ensure the issue will be moved to the budget conference committee for further discussion, or if the Senate takes the same action the issue will then immediately be put into the 2008-09 budget and will be up to the Governor to decide if the office should be funded.