Legislative
& Government Affairs
02.24.10
Help Keep High Speed Rail Alive - Contact your Legislator
The link
below leads to an assembly bill that, if passed, would effectively KILL the High
Speed Rail project. The thought behind it is to prevent the State from further
indebtness at the expense of the High Speed Rail project, however the project
has received a $2.2 Billion stimulus grant from the Federal Government, and will
ultimately produce 1000's of jobs throughout the state, from preliminary engineering,
architectural design, construction, construction management, as well as, operational
jobs, maintenance, and peripheral job and independent business stimulation.
Please
let your local Assemblyperson you OPPOSE this bill!
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2101-2150/ab_2121_bill_20100218_introduced.pdf
The purpose of the Northern California Chapter Government Advocacy is to:
- Monitor and influence legislative and regulatory initiatives that impacts
our industry on a state and local level
- Create partnerships with other associations
and industry groups to promote positive construction industry policies
- Work with
our Northern California members on issues of impact to our industry
- Inform our
Northern California members of key issues that impacting construction management
in our state
- Help our membership educate Owners about the value of professional
construction management
Contact:
Michael Warriner, PE
Regional Construction Manager
Carollo Engineers, P.C.
2700 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Suite 300
Walnut Creek CA 94598-3466
Work (925) 932-1710
No Cell
FAX (925) 930-0208
mwarriner@carollo.com
6.6.09
FEDERAL BILL WILL PROHIBIT THE USE OF PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION!
Federal Bill HR-2104 proposes to mandate the use of public employees for construction
inspection on all public works transportation projects that are federally funded.
CMAA National strongly opposes this bill. To see a
letter sent to Rep. Filner by CMAA National President and CEO, Bruce D’Agostino,
click here. Also, consider contacting your representative and
sending your views regarding this important bill.
6.6.09
ANTI-CONTRACTING OUT BILL
California Senate Bill (SB-474, Ducheny – D; San Diego) will require
state and local agencies make detailed, official findings before entering into
a contract for a transportation project using public-partnerships, design-build
or other innovative project delivery techniques. The bill would require Caltrans
to present to the California Transportation Commission, for its review and comment,
a draft of the methodology for determining those savings. The bill would also
require the department, prior to awarding any contract or entering into any agreement
for a pilot program involving innovative contracting or financing authority,
to make a finding that the use of that authority will provide specified benefits.
Please consider contacting your State Senator and Assemblyperson with your views
on this bill.
Federal Recovery contracts likely to need CCR Registration POSTED 3.17.09
In interpreting section 1512 of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
(ARRA), the Office of Management and Budget has indicated that it may require
all contractors whose work is funded under the Act (i.e., those performing contracts
for goods or services provided to transit and other governmental agencies using
economic recovery money to pay for the goods and services) to be registered in
the federal Central Contractor Registration database.
OMB has not made a final decision on the issue. While there is no charge
to register, it is a potentially time-consuming process involving a number of
certifications and assurances. CMAA business members should consider starting
the registration process early to avoid potential interference with the contracting
process and avoid what may be an overwhelming rush on the system if they do declare
registration necessary.
The ARRA legislation is at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h1enr.txt.pdf
The Central Contractor Registration database is at www.ccr.gov.
UPDATE DECEMBER 1, 2008 [B. Power]
No sooner had both houses completed their
respective formation sessions today,
with the installation of the newly elected members, and the orderly elections
of leaders, then the Governor convened an "economic crisis" Special
Session under the provisions of Proposition 58 related to the budget and a
separate Special Session to address (1) a stimulus package, (2) the Unemployment
Insurance insolvency and (3) the mortgage crisis.
Under Proposition 58 the legislature has 45 days to pass and send a bill or
bills to the Governor's desk addressing the state's budget crisis. If
the 45 days pass and the legislature has not passed bills to address the
problem, they cannot adjourn or act on other bills until the state's fiscal
emergency is addressed.
Here is a link:
http://www.gov.ca.gov/press-release/11159/
UPDATE: NOVEMBER 6, 2008 [B. Power]
The Governor held a press conference today to discuss the California budget
crisis and propose economic stimulus. Here are the observations as they may affect
our industry:
Transit
Governor proposes an additional hit on mass transit, at a time when there
are tremendous ridership and usage pressures, not to mention challenges to meet
GHG reductions. The Governor is essentially calling for the outright elimination
of PTA as a state to local grant program. This amounts to $229.9 M this year
and $306 M in 2009-10. It may be a preview of his intent to eliminate STA outright.
Prop 42
Not only does the Governor not seek suspension of Prop 42, but his sales tax
increase and expansion proposals include motor fuels (rather than exclude them
as one caucus proposed earlier this year). This produces additional revenues
to P42 during the period of the temporary tax and these are reflected in his
summary document.
Stimulus
Local Roads — proposes acceleration of $700 Million of the remaining Prop
1B bonds to cities and counties that can get the funds encumbered by December
2009.
Transit Capital — Proposes and appropriation of $800 million in Proposition 1B
now for ready to go transit projects.
Other — Waiver of CEQA to move $822 million in other Prop 1B-funded projects
administered by Caltrans (no list provided yet).
Expediting permitting and reviews for hospital projects |
