by Phil Crone, Director of Government Affairs and Green Building Programs

A few weeks ago, I wrote that the North Texas Municipal Water District is considering a move to Stage 4 water restrictions (their highest contemplated level). Such a move would have a significant impact on the 1 million customers that get their water from cities that the District serves.

In furtherance of Stage 4 restrictions, a city may prohibit the irrigation of new landscaping using treated water, prohibit permitting of private pools, and initiate a rate surcharge for water use that exceeds normal rates according to the District’s Model Drought Contingency Plan. The plan, which was finalized in 2008, contains model ordinances for cities to adopt. Cities served by the District include Allen, Frisco, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano, Richardson, Rockwall and Wylie. [Read more...]

The American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) approved today a reduction in some design value changes for visually graded No. 2 Southern pine 2x4s, but said it lacked the authority to change any other grades and sizes of the species until testing occurs.

The changes reduce by 25% to 30% some of the design values for No.2 2x4s, effective June 1, ALSC’s decision said. [Read more...]

Last week, HBA staff received a visit from Domingo Castillo, a community outreach official for the Department of Labor. He provided the association with some information regarding the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and overtime pay requirements.

Mr. Castillo mentioned that there has been a directive for his regional office for FLSA compliance. As such, emphasis will be on overtime pay, minimum wage, and notice requirements. Also, the economic reality of if independent contractors are actually operating as such. [Read more...]

At a meeting of the American Lumber Standard Committee’s Board of Review on Jan. 5, NAHB Chairman-Elect Barry Rutenberg took the opportunity to voice our members’ concerns regarding proposed design value changes for Southern Pine lumber. In doing so, he added to the drumbeat of industry testimony that was overwhelmingly in opposition to the changes on grounds that not enough testing has been performed to implement them. As previously reported, the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau (SPIB) released a notice on Oct. 6 that it had submitted a proposal to the ALSC Board seeking to lower the design values for visually graded Southern Pine by approximately 25%-30%. The proposal included changes to the full range of grades and sizes for Southern Pine based solely on test results for 2×4, Grade No. 2 lumber. SPIB announced that it would publish the proposed design values immediately after receiving approval from the ALSC Board. [Read more...]

The National Labor Relations Board has agreed to postpone the effective implementation date of its employee collective bargaining rights poster requirement — which includes a right to unionize notice — to April 30, 2012, depending upon the outcome of several legal challenges. [Read more...]

For the first time in nearly five years, the North Texas Municipal Water District is considering a move to Stage 4 water restrictions (their highest contemplated level). The decision, which could be made as soon as the District’s January 26 board meeting, would impact more than 1 million consumers and may spur additional water conservation requirements from the municipalities that the District serves. [Read more...]

New light bulb efficiency standards will begin phasing in on Jan. 1 despite intense opposition from conservatives, who have blasted the rules as a textbook unnecessary federal regulation.

While Republicans secured inclusion of a measure blocking funding for enforcement of the standards in a year-end spending bill, energy efficiency groups say the provision will have little practical impact. The Energy Department rules will nonetheless go into effect at the start of 2012. (read full article)

After January 1, 2012, SB 425 requires that all certificate of insurance forms be approved by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) before the form can be used to certify insurance. The insurance industry is still awaiting administrative rules from TDI to implement the law. However, in the absence of the procedural rules, please see this link for detailed information on the change in law.

The ACORD 25 form, which is widely used in business as a standard certificate, has already been approved. Company or industry specific forms, however, will have to be approved by TDI. As an alternative, a company can agree to accept the ACORD 25 form as evidence of casualty insurance.