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Platinum Sponsor ASAC Urges YOU to Attend the California Subcontractors Legislative Conference, April 2, 2014

We are pleased to announce that the subcontracting and supplier community has come together to host the 2nd Annual California Subcontractors Legislative Conference on April 2, 2014.

Several subcontractor organizations including the American Subcontractors Association of California, Western Steel Council, Northern California Painting and Finishing Contractors Association, Wall and Ceiling Alliance, Northern California Glass Management Association, Union Roofing Contractors Association, Gerdau, Roofing Contractors Association of California, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of California, Associated Roofing Contractors of the Bay Area Counties, Mason Contractors Association of California, Painting and Decoration Contractors of California, and the Surety Association of San Diego, have committed to help fund this event as conference sponsors.

This will be an all-day event with major speakers from the State Legislature as well as regulatory agencies making presentations on issues that impact all subcontractor trades.  You will be given guidance for speaking to your legislative representatives, as well as "white papers" on the bills so you can visit your legislators tro discuss issues of paramount importance to you and your company.

We would like to take this opportunity to invite your company to attend the event and to be a conference sponsor.  Sponsorship levels are Platinum at $1,500, Gold at $1000, Silver at $500. and Bronze at $250.  You can see details of the sponsorship levels on the California Subcontractors Legislative Conference Website - Click here for website.  You can sign up for Sponsorship from the website, and also sign up to attend the Conference from the website.  Payment can be made by either check or credit card.  There is an opportunity to bring two other interested people at half price registration! 
SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS
www.casublegconf.org

As you are well aware, action by the State Legislature has had and will continue to have a major economic impact on subcontractors.  It behooves subcontractors as well as manufacturers and distributors who provide materials to their subcontractor clients to be certain that our issues are addressed in order for all of us to move forward in an atmosphere of economic viability.

If you have questions, please contact Jordi Grant at ASAC.  She can be reached at (888) 310-2722 or at asac@asacalif.com
(Updated Feb 1, 2014)

Grassroots Action Turns into ASAC's Bill AB 1705 - the "protect the 5% public works retention cap"

ASAC companies in Assembly Member Das Williams' district 37 (Santa Barbara, Ventura, Goleta, Santa Paula, and the Channel Islands) initially spoke to him about introducing a bill that would cap retentions at 5% in private works. This is great grassroots action!

Upon further discussion with several lobbying trade groups, the idea needs a bit more time to brew, as the 5% cap in public works already has some problems. School districts are declaring simple projects as "substantially complex" which allows the cap to be exceeded. The strategy has long been to let public works accommodate this limitation first and then go for private works. And, the idea that the State should dictate private contracting is troublesome to many.

Assembly Member Williams decided to fix the problems in public works first and has introduced AB 1705 for ASAC. Since then NECA and SMACNA have offered to co-sponsor the measure. ASAC intends to make this the main focus for 2014, and we will lobby this bill when you are here for the CA Subcontractors Legislative Conference on April 2.

On another issue, ASAC has decided that it will not sponsor legislation this year that would prevent situations whereby subcontractors are required to provide additional insurance for the negligence of general contractors. The current law, effective just 14 months ago, contained a provision that inadvertently allowed this to occur. ASAC's Government Relations Committee detected this deficiency and even suggested amendments to the law that would prevent it from happening.

However, there has been scant evidence of actual harm or damages to subcontractors thus far. Without this many legislators would be (and as other trade organizations already are) reluctant to re-open the debate as the first venture at reforming indemnity laws was extremely hard fought and opponents would quickly seize upon another such bill to attempt further amendments to the detriment of the subcontracting community.

Among several reasons for this decision are:
1. Not enough damage has been caused yet. (Indeed, some maintain that such indemnity policies are unenforceable.)
2. There's enough on our plate already by sponsoring AB 1705 to clean up the "substantially complex" loophole found in AB 293 and already being exploited by some public agencies.
3. Other bills are coming in that we will need to deal with, change orders being one.
4. The legislature doesn't prevent problems...it waits for the whole train to wreck (the "not enough damage" argument).
5. We will have a fight on our hands with AB 1705 as school districts, sanitation districts and maybe water agencies (who will be building facilities pursuant to the Governor's drought legislation) will oppose.
6. There will be opportunities to initiate another bill in January 2015, after the elections when new legislators arrive and the above issues are behind us.

ASAC President Brett Eckles and Government Relations Chair Dan McLennon appreciate your understanding and continuing support as we work through the remainder of this legislative session. Please be sure to register for the second annual CA Subcontractors Legislative Conference on April 2 so you can have a hand in lobbying our many issues! Go here: (www.CaSubLegConf.org)

This is very important...to you.

When Senate Bill 293 passed last year subcontractors believed that they finally achieved a 5% cap on retention in public projects. However, a clause in the bill allows the cap to be exceeded if the project is "substantially complex". Since then we've seen simple projects being declared substantially complex. In effect, public entities are evading the law. Worse, subcontractors are being taken advantage of...again!

We need your help to stop this abuse.
Legislators are convinced of a need only when confronted with actual proof of the abuse. We need your help to prove the problem exists. Gathering hundreds of examples will help legislators move toward retaining the 5% cap.

Please fax or scan and email copies of all bidding docs that declare a project to be "SC" to ASAC immediately. This is your opportunity to "citizen lobby" the issue. YOU hold the key!

No Proof = No 5% Cap! ASAC represents its Members, and together we make change happen.


FAX TO 530-662-2865 OR SCAN AND E-MAIL TO ASAC@ASACALIF.COM

(Updated Feb 14, 2014)

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We invite your company to "Capitalize on Success" in Sacramento, by participating in the second annual California Subcontractors Legislative Conference on April 2, 2014. You're invited to co-host this important event that you and your company people will want to attend.

Subcontractors and suppliers and industry service providers will be gathering at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento across the street from the Capitol to discuss pending legislation that affects the construction industry.

There are issues you will want to learn about and lobby:
Subcontractor's right to stop work for nonpayment;  5% Retention Cap in Public Works Being Circumvented!
We need to close the loophole which allows public entities to declare every project "sufficiently complex" and evade the 5% cap!

By April there will be other measures that will require our involvement.

The time to make your mark on the issues in 2014 is during this conference when the bills are being amended for committee hearings and voting. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit their own senator and assembly member after learning how to lobby their position on the bills. Talking points will be provided. This event is the least expensive and most productive way to get your message across. Please join the effort and stand out as a leader in the legislative arena.

Given today’s economic realities, two things are obvious:
●We all need to have a say in anything the legislature does regarding construction.
●Combining our resources for this event will help make our lobbying successful.

Planning and marketing the event is a joint effort among the hosting organizations/companies. They will determine the day’s program, their logos will appear on the conference materials, and their identity and issues will be presented to legislators and key capitol staff.

Should you wish to participate in planning the event and agenda as an event sponsor, please visit www.casublegconf.org
(Updated Feb 1, 2014)