Our most significant discussion centered on ways to attract young talent into the industry
Nashville, TN (PRWEB) March 31, 2015
The Associated General Contractors of Tennessee, representing over 600 contractors and service providers, lobbied the 109th General Assembly requesting support for 14 bills they have designated as extremely sensitive to the construction industry. YAD Consulting President, Erin Coleman, participated in the discussions with members of the state legislature. The Association of General Contactors’ position on each bill was discussed in relation to its impact on the Construction Industry in the State of Tennessee, and an ask for legislator support was made.
“This was an important day for the construction industry in Tennessee”, says Erin Coleman. “Bills covered a wide variety of topics that affect the future of construction in our state. Our most significant discussion centered on ways to attract young talent into the industry, safety concerns, Union relationships and more.”
Of the 14 bills in consideration, the Association of General Contractors strongly supports 7. The Go Build! bill, funds a marketing and public relations effort to attract young people to employment in the construction industry was discussed. For every four construction workers who retire or leave the industry, only one enters the industry as a career. The AGC strongly supports a campaign that would entice recent graduates and military veterans to consider construction as a career.
The AGC further strongly supported a bill that would prohibit the requirement of fire sprinkler systems in townhouses by any local or statewide adopted building codes, as well as a bill that would prohibit a local government from imposing a fee in excess of $200 for the issuance of a permit for excavation. Also supported was a bill allowing the Department of General Service to purchase materials in bulk to take advantage of savings, a bill allowing the Board for Licensing staff to issue citations against contractors at the staff level rather than through the lengthy process in place today, and a bill that allows the State Fire Marshall’s office to fine contractors for installing fire protection sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers and related equipment rather than revoking the contractor’s license.
Opposition was expressed against bills that would establish a bid preference for Tennessee contractors, would require the steps into public buildings be marked with a 3 inch thick application of yellow paint to assist persons with vision impairments, would increase the threshold for public works projects that require a registered architect from $25,000 to $100,000, and would assign the calculation of wages at the state level instead of the Federal Government level. Lastly, the AGC strongly opposed the bill that would enable counties and municipalities to opt out of the International Energy Conservation Code standards applicable statewide to buildings classified for certain industrial or storage uses.
Understanding the implications of each of these bills will continue to play an important role in the future of the construction industry in Tennessee and YAD Consulting’s President Erin Coleman was pleased to be included in the day.