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Indemnification bill signed into law as P.A. 468 of 2012
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Representative Heise and
Governor Snyder
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As the 2011-2012 legislative session came to an end, the legislature passed HB 5466 and the Governor signed the bill in late December. HB 5466 was introduced on March 13, 2012 by Representative Kurt Heise with the goal of making overreaching indemnification clauses void and unenforceable in professional services contracts with public entities.
For years professional engineers have been asked by their public clients to sign contracts that require the design professional to assume liability far beyond any degree of actual fault. House Bill 5466 will render such contract language void and unenforceable and establish greater fairness and equity between contracting parties. The bill will greatly diminish the potential for uninsurable risk to the design professional. The bill is applicable to all public entities including the state, cities, villages, townships, counties, school districts, and community and junior colleges. State institutions of higher education were exempt from the bill.
Passage of an indemnification bill was a key legislative priority for the engineering groups in 2012. Many thanks to our lobbyist Melissa Yutzey of Kelley Cawthorne for all of her efforts and to Craig Thompson of Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton for his legal assistance and testimony at various legislative committees.
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Engineering industry applauds  Governor Snyder for leadership on Transportation Funding
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 ACEC, MSPE and ASCE all applaud the Governor's call for an additional $1.2 billion per year for Transportation funding. You have to go back to 1997 to find the last increase to the gas tax when the Governor was John Engler. Since then, our roads and bridges have continued to deteriorate causing damage to vehicles and increasing safety concerns.
Increasing the investment in our transportation infrastructure will save money, save lives, and create jobs. Several studies have indicated that the longer we wait, the higher the costs to taxpayers to make repairs. The revenue going to transportation has not kept up with inflation and a dollar does not go as far with increasing fuel and material costs.
Taking care of Michigan's infrastructure is becoming critical. Our economy strongly depends on a safe, efficient transportation system to move goods and people. Delaying the investment is irresponsible. Michigan roads are consistently ranked as one of the worst in the nation. We have to change this, just fix the roads.
For more information, visit the Just Fix the Roads website.
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State holding public hearing on Continuing Education for licensed Engineers, Architects, and Surveyors
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affaris (LARA) is making progress on the implementation of new Administrative Rules that will define the Continuing Education requirements for Michigan licensed professional engineers, architects and professional surveyors. As part of the process a Public Hearing as been scheduled as follows:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013
2501 Woodlake Circle, Okemos, Michigan
Conference Room 3, 1st Floor, 9:00 AM
Please click here for a copy of the draft administrative rules and other information.
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Engineers-Architects-Surveyors to hold 'Legislative Day' on March 13
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 Design professionals will travel to Lansing on March 13 to meet with their legislators and communicate issues of importance to the industry. The annual legislative day is co-hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) and the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors (MSPS).
Infrastructure funding and qualifications-based selection are expected to be key issues for the group. A luncheon with legislators at Troppo's in downtown Lansing will be part of the event.
Melissa Yutzey from Kelley Cawthorne will help to organize the event and schedule meetings with legislators.
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ACEC/Michigan set to present awards for top engineering projects on February 23
Event to be held at Fillmore Theatre in Detroit
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 Engineers and owners throughout Michigan will gather at the Fillmore Theatre on Saturday, February 23 to honor the top engineering projects. 39 projects were submitted in this year's Engineering & Surveying Excellence competition hosted by ACEC/Michigan and include projects in many disciplines such as water & wastewater, structural systems, transportation, and energy.
The ACEC Member Firm of the Year will also be announced, as well as over $10,000 in scholarships will be presented to college students pursuing degrees in engineering and surveying.
ACEC/Michigan has been presenting the awards since 1965. Top winners will go on to compete with projects from across the country in the national competition.
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2013 SAVE THE DATES!
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January 31, 2013 - MDOT ACEC Partnering Workshop, Lansing Center February 23, 2013 - Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards, Detroit March 13, 2013 - AESLC Legislative Day, Lansing May 9-10, 2013 - Michigan Engineering Conference, Lansing June 5 - 8, 2013 - MSPE Annual Conference, Grand Traverse Resort |
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| Michigan
Engineering Center | Questions about engineering?
Please contact:
Ron Brenke, PE Executive Director ACEC & ASCE 517-332-2066
Nancy McClain, PE
Executive Director
MSPE 517-487-9388 |
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