regulatory activities afecting small businesses.
Lately we've been talking a lot about how best
to comply with the RRP "Lead Paint" rule.
Also, as an industry, worker safety is a high
priority. Yet violations are reported every day
throughout the country. It seems that OSHA,
EPA and a number of other government agen-
cies are stepping up their enforcement eforts.
Regulatory enforcement is indeed a priority in
Washington. Te Obama Administration re-
cently earmarked another $10 million in grants
from unemployment
insurance funds to
increase enforcement
of worker misclassif -
cation violations.
In the end, en-
forcement of rules
and regulations is a
boost for qualifed
remodelers who play
by the rules and
who raise the level
of professionalism
in the industry. At
the same time, it is
the true remodeling
professional who of-
ten bears the yoke of new regulatory schemes.
Trunk slammers don't care. Tey are on to the
next job and the next town.
Qualifed Remodeler editors are already at
work on a package of stories for the October
issue of the magazine that will assist remodelers
in their eforts to comply with federal, state and
local regulations. It is our answer to the reality
of the "lightening round." Te easier we help
make it for you to deal with compliance, the
more time you have for selling jobs, satisfying
customers and delivering a quality experience
and work product.
|
ASHINGTON, D.C. — Each
spring the NAHB conducts its
board of directors meetings
here, where committee and
subcommittee work gets done. I've been at-
tending these meetings for 15 years. My focus
is the NAHB Remodelers but occasionally I
will venture into the activities of the larger
association. Tis time, I poured a strong cup
and plunked down in the Federal Government
Afairs committee, hoping to glean news
that might affect
remodelers.
Instead of one or
two relevant topics,
I was met with a tor-
rent of updates from
their policy and lob-
bying staf that could
and will adversely im-
pact remodelers. In
the committee, they
call it the Lightening
Round — quick
updates on the ev-
er-changing legisla-
tive and regulatory
world. The topics
ranged from worker-reclassifcation enforce-
ment and new rules on overtime thresholds (see
"In Brief," page 8) to new healthcare insurance
burdens on employers and stepped-up patent
enforcement on home designs. Remodelers
tend to be optimistic, but 90 minutes in this
meeting would certainly leave most concerned,
if not worried.
Incidentally, NARI ofcials also do a crack
job of staying on top of these issues and de-
ploying their lobbyist in Washington. Te
point is you really need an army of lobbyists
these days to stay on top of the legislative and
Lightening
Round
W
The point is you
really need an army
of lobbyists these
days to stay on top
of the legislative
and regulatory
activities afecting
small businesses.
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR'S NOTE
6 June 2015 QR QualifiedRemodeler.com | ForResidentialPros.com
Patrick L. O'Toole
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