Insurance Fraud, Massachusetts Labor Rates Legislative Updates, Paint and Materials Controversy Take Center Stage

Insurance fraud, Massachusetts labor rates Legislative updates, Paint and Materials controversy and other key industry issue affecting the automotive and repair industry are discussed. The majority of the seminars are free because local industry associations are sponsoring them for their members and industry as a whole.

Centerville MA (PRWEB) April 4, 2007 -- Insurance fraud, Massachusetts labor rates Legislative updates, Paint and Materials controversy and other key industry issue affecting the automotive and repair industry are discussed. The majority of the seminars are free because local industry associations are sponsoring them for their members and industry as a whole.

The fourth annual New England Collision and Auto Repair Show is April 20-22 at the Bayside Expo Center in Boston. This event features exhibitors displaying the equipment and products that shops use in their day-to-day operations, plus free seminars and I-CAR certification programs.

Seminar descriptions

Community Insurance Fraud Initiative Task Forces. Speaker: Michael Gray, Deputy Chief of the Insurance Fraud Bureau. In a targeted effort to reduce the number of fraudulent auto insurance claims that drive-up premium costs for residents of Massachusetts, Community Insurance Fraud Initiative (CIFI) task forces have been formed, which combine the resources of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts, local Police Departments, District Attorney's Offices and the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office to focus on the problem. Mr. Gray will introduce us to these initiatives, and discuss how these are working to lower insurance premiums for the citizens of Massachusetts.

Labor Rate Legislative Update This is a 7 person panel including members of AASP/CMARA, leading a discussion on pending legislation to regulate collision repair labor rates.

Safe Shops Initiative BPHC/EPA Boston Public Health Commission's Safe Shops Project and EPA's Design for the Environment Programs will discuss successes of working in partnership with automotive shops to promote best practices in environmental health. Topics include pollution prevention for auto repair and auto refinishing operations such as paint mixing, spray painting, and sanding.

Resolving the Paint and Material Controversy: How You Can Help Efforts Underway to Ensure Shops Are Appropriately Paid for Paint and Material Cost: Speakers: Steve Regan, MABA Communications Consultant, Brian Hickey, MABA Lobbyist

In January 2007 the ADALB Board voted to replace the current regulations that govern the manner in which payments for paint and materials are determined so repairers would be compensated in a fairer and more equitable way. Changing a regulation should take no more than 35 days, but once again, the Boards efforts on the issue of paint and material are being delayed.

MABA's lobbyist, Brian Hickey Associates, has developed a strategy to get the cooperation of the executive agencies and the Governors office to assist the ADALB effort to change the regulations. At a cost of $100 to $200 per repair it is clearly detrimental to repairers if this change is postponed further. Come see and hear what we can all do to make this change a reality sooner rather than later.

Attendees include shop owners, technicians, specialty shops, painters, mechanics, and glass technicians.

The automotive repair world comes together at New England's largest automotive repair trade show, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 20-22, 2007 at Bayside Expo, Boston, Massachusetts.

For more information, contact Richard Vendola at 800-996-3863

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