HBAA Legislative Alert

Second Week of Session: Medicaid and Lottery Take Center Stage

Governor Bentley and leadership of the Alabama Legislature joined together to announce that the federal government had approved the Medicaid waiver allowing the state to proceed with efforts to create Regional Care Organizations (RCOs) as part of its Medicaid reform efforts. The waiver means the feds will provide nearly $750 million for Medicaid in Alabama and help avoid expanding an already significant shortfall in funding for the agency.

In other developments, House and Senate committees held public hearings on a proposed clean lottery bill. Both committees will hold votes on the bill this coming week. House members also took up the Right to Work constitutional amendment. After a prolonged floor debate, the measure failed three votes shy of the required 63. The speaker intends to bring the measure back before the House as early as Tuesday when absent members are expected to return.

Tuesday is likely to also see the House consider a ban on municipalities setting a minimum wage other than that of the state. An effort in Birmingham to increase the city's minimum wage is the driving motivation behind the measure.

Apprenticeship Tax Credit Act of 2016

Representative Alan Baker introduced HB 217 on Thursday at the request of the Associated Builders and Contractors. The bill seeks to stimulate employment of apprentices by establishing a $1,000 tax credit for employers who hire apprentices. Though supportive of the concept, the HBAA feels that the bill falls short in achieving its goal by restricting participation to apprentices as defined by 29 C.F.R. Part 29.4. By narrowly defining the term "apprentice" to those defined by the Code of Federal Regulations, the bill ignores existing state recognized apprenticeship programs and provides no incentive for the development of additional programs.

A long-time friend to the HBAA, Rep. Baker has agreed to work to address the changes that need to be made to the draft. The HBAA, working in concert with Rep. Ritchie Whorton (R-New Hope), is drafting language to expand the definition to trade-specific apprenticeship programs recognized by the various regulatory boards having authority over the trade. By doing so, this will expand the scope of the act and allow for more employers to take advantage of this incentive program.

The HBAA is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Associated Builders and Contractors on Tuesday to work through the issues so that we can move forward in a unified direction.

Regulatory Oversight Legislation Fast-Tracked Through Senate

The Senate on Thursday passed SB 80 that creates a regulatory oversight process within the Legislative Reference Service. The bill now heads to the House for consideration.

This legislation seeks to provide active state oversight of various rules and actions taken by state licensing boards as a result of a Supreme Court ruling against the North Carolina Dental Board. In that case, the Court ruled that regulatory actions taken by boards comprised of a majority of active market participants must be reviewed and, if necessary, vetoed by a state oversight entity. The case centered around the North Carolina Dental Board overreaching the confines of its law and attempting to regulate teeth whitening. North Carolina law did not specifically grant the board that authority.

The HBAA worked closely with the Alabama Association of Regulatory Boards, the Alabama Medical Association, Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and others to craft language to cover the boards when they submit rules and board actions, including actions against unlicensed contractors. Failure to address this issue would have stripped state immunity from members of various boards and commissions and opened them up to individual legal action.

LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION SET FOR TUESDAY NIGHT

All HBAA members are invited to attend the Legislative Reception on Tuesday, February 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Alabama Department of Archives and History (624 Washington Street in downtown Montgomery). The HBAA's Legislative Reception is always one of the most anticipated events of the legislative session, and we expect a large turnout of legislators and other leaders. This is a great opportunity for members to speak face-to-face with their legislators and share their concerns and issues from their community.

The Legislative Reception is taking place in conjunction with the HBAA's Winter Meeting, February 16-17 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel. For more information or to register for the Winter Meeting, contact the HBAA at 1-800-745-4222.

HBAA Winter Meeting Provides
Unique Opportunities For Attendees

Next week's Winter Meeting (February 16-17) will be filled with committee and council meetings. If you haven't registered yet, do it today! You don't want to miss out on the unique opportunities to expand your knowledge of the issues affecting the industry and ways to improve your business the HBAA has planned for next week's meeting. Here are a few of those opportunities:

Home Buyer / Realtor Panel

As an expanded focus group, this seminar will allow you to interact with home buyers and realtors to see what the buyers are looking and asking for in today's housing market. Here you will be able to not only listen, but ask questions of the panelists in an open forum.

ADEM Budget/Permit Issues

Whether you are a builder or a developer, you will want to attend the Land Developers meeting on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 pm. Alabama Department of Environmental Management Director Lance LeFleur and members of his permitting staff will be on hand to discuss permit fee increases, budget issues, and proposed changes to Alabama's general permit. Builders will want to pay particular attention as a shift to small site permitting is taking place and developers are closing out permit coverage at the point of stabilization. Join us and learn what you need to do to avoid fines and penalties!

Governmental Affairs Committee

Get an insider's view of the legislative session and an overview of the HBAA's legislative efforts. HBAA staff and guests will provide attendees with a complete background of the issues currently being worked on and the opportunities that may help provide a boost to Alabama's housing industry.

Public Relations

Builders and remodelers are encouraged to come to the PR meeting and get a step-by-step walk-through for claiming and customizing your FREE company listing on the newly revamped Bama's Best Builders website.

HVAC Education (FREE Continuing Education)

The HBAA is hosting sessions for HVAC contractors worth a total of four hours of free continuing education on Tuesday.

Duct Installation and HVAC Board Update session 1:00 pm

Air Exchange and Mechanical Ventilation 1:00 pm

Duct Installation and HVAC Board Update session 3:00 pm

Air Exchange and Mechanical Ventilation 3:00 pm

HVAC contractors interested in attending these trainings should call Suzanne Hager at 800-745-4222 or email her at suzannehager@hbaa.org to reserve their spot.

You have been subscribed to the HBAA Legislative Alert because you are a member of the Home Builders Association of Alabama. The Alert is published every Friday following a legislative week. If you have any questions regarding this email please contact Jason Reid at (800) 745-4222.

HBAA | Jason Reid | (800) 745-4222 | Email | Website