Issues & AdvocacyState

Welcome to this week’s edition of Close Relations. The 2011 NCSL State Budget Update is now available; click here and then SGN Resources.

HOT ISSUES:

• The Alabama Senate passed SB 59 (the companion bill to HB 132, on which we reported last week); the bill lowers Alabama’s statute of repose from 13 years to four seven years. For more information, contact Pat Davis, FAIA at pdavis@cmharch.com (Editor’s note: The original version of Close Relations stated that Alabama’s new Statute of Repose is four years; it is actually seven years. Our apologies for the error.)
• There is an effort in Maine to repeal the state’s Uniform Building and Energy Code, but that effort is attracting significant pushback, writes George Terrien, AIA.
• AIA Washington is closely monitoring several issues in the statehouse: The first would protect capital funding for design and construction projects, which has been cut by about $1 billion over the past two years. Second, a group of lawmakers in both legislative houses are withholding votes for a bill that authorizes the sale of bonds to fund public construction projects. Third, a constitutional amendment has been introduced which would lower the state’s borrowing limit for construction projects from 9% to 7% of general fund revenues. Read a Seattle Times op-ed on the latter issue here.
• Also in Washington State, HB 1708 died in the Senate; the bill would have allowed corporate representatives, attorneys, and other authorized agents to sign lien claims on behalf of claimants. Please contact Stan Bowman, Hon. AIA|WA, at bowman@aiawa.org for more information on Washington State’s legislative happenings.
• AIA Indiana is asking its members to contact their state senators and representatives and urge them to oppose language in the budget which bans the construction of private pay and Medicare nursing homes in the state. Contact Jason Shelley at jshelley@aiaindiana.org for more information.

AROUND THE HORN:

• The AIA Board Advocacy Committee and SGN will meet at the AIA National Convention in New Orleans for the annual review of AIA Policy Statements. The meeting will take place on May 11 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. (CDT). More information will be available soon.
• AIA New York will hold its 2011 Architects in Albany Lobby Day on Tuesday, May 3rd for members to engage their state representatives face to face. Some of the top priorities for this year’s Lobby Day are reinstatement of the Historic Preservation Tax Credit, QBS, and opposing the prohibition of professional certification.
• Attendees of the 2011 AIA National Convention in New Orleans are invited to attend the Codes and Standards free networking lunch on Friday, May 13 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Topics of discussion will include how to get more involved in the building code development process and the AIA’s continuing work on the world’s first comprehensive green construction code. To RSVP, send an email to Mark Wills, markwills@aia.org by 5:00 PM (EDT) on Friday, April 29.
• AIA National Government and Community Relations staffers Vanessa Leon, Cooper Martin, and Chris Merriam met with Eric White and Ann Fienman of the Boston Society of Architects while in Boston for the American Planning Association’s national conference. The Boston Society of Architects also recently hired a new executive director in Margaret Wigglesworth, a former CEO of Collier’s International.
• Kurt Cooknick, director of regulation for AIA California Council, blames the failure of thousands of schools to be built to the state’s safety requirements on the Schwarzenegger administration’s work restrictions and budget raids on the Division of the State Architect.

SGN MONTHLY OPEN CALL:

The next Open Call will take place on April 27 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. (EDT) (GMT-04:00).

AIA Vice President and General Counsel Jay Stephens will lead a discussion titled “AIA Public Policies & Position Statements: Avoiding Legal Pitfalls.” Discussion topics will include:

• The AIA Office of General Counsel: What we do, and how we can help you.
• The AIA’s Public Policies and Position Statements: What components and members need to know about compliance, and the process required in seeking exceptions.
• Antitrust discussion: Learning the basics on antitrust compliance, including the following:

1. Why can’t we talk about fees?

2. What is a group boycott, and why is it prohibited?

3. How can you work with state legislatures and agencies on subjects affecting competition without violating antitrust laws?

• Amicus Briefs: What we look for in deciding to support components in court cases.
• And the Rest of the Story: Legal issues you’d like to talk about.

Event address for attendees: https://aiaevents.webex.com/aiaevents/onstage/g.php?d=666105640&t=a

Event number: 666 105 640

Event password: Welcome11

THIS WEEK IN STATE RELATIONS:

• The first three SGN Advisory Panels (Codes, Project Delivery, and Stock School Plans) began this week and were a rousing success! Each Panel has committed to monthly meetings and will work together to monitor legislation, review AIA advocacy and policy resources, and be leaders on their respective issues for SGN. The dates for the other five Panels – Taxes, Torts/Liability, QBS, Licensure, and Interior Design – will be announced by COB Friday, April 22.
• SGN Listserv threads: None this week!

All SGN Listserv threads are archived on Sharepoint; click here, then on “SGN Listserv Threads”

RESOURCES:

• The 2011 State Budget Update is available from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The Update analyzes FY 2011 budget gaps, revenue performance for major tax categories, and spending overruns. To download the file, titled “NCSL State Budget Update March 2011,” click here and then SGN Resources
• The Tax Foundation has released the 2011 version of the “Facts & Figures: How Does Your State Compare?” booklet, which compares the states on 32 different measures of taxation and spending.

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Connect with AIA’s State Affairs team (Angie Taylor [Director, State Relations] 202.626.7583, angietaylor@aia.org; Chris Merriam [Manager, State Issues and Programs] 202.626.7449, chrismerriam@aia.org) or on Twitter (@AIA_StRelations).