HBAA Executive Vice-President Russell Davis, the appointed negotiator for a group of business associations with their own self-insured workers comp programs, is set to meet with Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) and representatives of the trial bar and medical industries to discuss SB 453. The HBAA has worked on behalf of the business community to craft meaningful workers comp reform. The HBAA hopes that the meeting will result in a compromise bill that it can support and help move forward.

HBAA-backed HB 585, sponsored by Representative Jack Williams (R-Vestavia Hills) received a favorable report in the House Boards, Agencies, and Commissions Committee on Wednesday. The measure, which will establish qualifications for duct testing and provide some basic changes to the board's administrative structure, received a unanimous vote of the committee members. Speaking directly to language in the bill that would capture money in excess of the board's operating expenses and direct them to the Alabama Home Builders Foundation to be used in support of heating and air conditioning training programs, Representative Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City) said that this was the exact type of legislation the Legislature should be promoting. The Foundation has committed to send every dollar collected directly to the training programs without charging an administrative fee. Further, if the Foundation is able to coordinate a "bulk-buy" of equipment at a discounted cost, then the savings can actually provide a greater return on the money.

The Senate companion, SB 427 sponsored by Senator Gerald Allen (R- Tuscaloosa), is on the Senate's Small Business Committee on Thursday. The HBAA is working hard to get the bills in a position for passage before the Legislature adjourns its 2013 session.

The HBAA would like to thank Rep. Williams for all his efforts, along with Rep. Howard Sanderford (Chair) and the entire Boards, Agencies, and Commissions Committee for their support.

Despite efforts to get the bill onto the Senate calendar this week, SB 217, sponsored by Senator Vivian Figures (D-Mobile), still awaits consideration by the full Senate. The measure, designed to prohibit local governments from requiring multi-family residential owners to pay a business license fee on every unit they own, has broad industry support including the Alabama Realtors and the Alabama Apartment Association in addition to the HBAA.   The HBAA is working closely with the Realtors to address any remaining issues that Senators may have. Opponents argue that local governments should be allowed to charge any fee they see fit regardless of how it might impact small businesses. The HBAA opposes such notions and prefers to work with local governments to find ways to incentivize small businesses rather than penalizing them.