ACECL January 2023 ENewsletter

January 31, 2023

2023 PLATINUM ANNUAL SPONSORS!

ACECL BOARD OF GOVERNORS

The Board of Governors met on January 20, 2023.

January 20, 2023 Agenda

Transportation Committee Report

November 4, 2022 Minutes

Legislative Committee Report

Nov/Dec 2022 Membership Report

October 2022 Financials

November 2022 Financials

December 2022 Financials

PRESIDENT & CEO MESSAGE

Protecting Members from Broad Indemnification Clauses

The year 2023 is off and running for ACECL. From workforce development to risk management, ACECL has a lot of irons in the fire for our members.

Earlier this month, the Legislative Committee and Board of Governor's approved ACECL filing legislation for the upcoming legislative session that will strengthen our current anti-indemnification law, R.S. 9:2780.1, by adding it to the the "Prohibited (Contract) Provisions" sections in the state's public bid laws (Title 38 and 48).

The legislation will provide clarity, consistency and fairness as it relates to shared liability exposure and responsibility between the consultant and their client, specifically, public clients. In addition to the legislation, ACECL is also planning to have our legal expert draft a white paper for our members that will provide an analysis of and recommended application of the state's anti-indemnification law as currently written and as amended by our proposed legislation.

In addition to our local state efforts, helping state MO's strengthen and/or pass anti-indemnification laws through their state legislatures is a major national priority for ACEC this year. So much so, ACEC is creating three videos that explain why indemnification laws prohibiting the use of indemnification, duty to defend and hold harms clauses in contracts are important to the consultant community. Two of the three videos have already been created and can be viewed below.

If you have any questions or feedback on this legislation, please email me at bdirmann@acecl.org.

Indemnification Video

Duty to Defend Video

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Wednesday, February 8, 2023 1:00 PM -

Thursday, February 9, 2023 12:00 Noon CST

Hilton Capitol Center

201 Lafayette St,

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

Please join us in Baton Rouge on February 8-9, 2023 as Louisiana ABC, ACEC, AIA, AGC, CAAL & LAPA host the 2023 Critical Issues Summit. This two day business summit will take place from 1-5 pm on Wednesday & 7:30 AM- 12 PM Thursday.

The Summit will include a presentation on the following topics:

Legal Seminar Panel
Legislative Outlook: Speaker of the House Clay Schexnayder
2023 Economic Outlook
Executive Director Panel
IIJA Funding
Addresses from Gubernatorial Candidates

Hear from National Headquarters from each association along with the local perspective during the Executive Director Panel. We'll have a lightning round Legal Panel, hear a Financial Forecast as well as an IIJA funding update. Louisiana Gubernatorial Candidates have been invited to speak on their platform.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CLICK HERE FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS

ACECL CRITICAL ISSUES SUMMIT SPONSORS

ACEC OF LOUISIANA COMMITTEES SPOTLIGHT

Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee assist member companies in understanding and managing risk and, on their behalf, advocate for changes in legislation and regulation to properly control or allocate risk.

The Risk Management Committee is chaired by Trip McCormick with Galloway. Trip's experience in representing A/E clients provides a real time, knowledgeable perspective related to the latest issues and trends that could impact the risk exposure of our member's.

For example, the committee played a big role in researching and determining the best plan of action for strengthening the states anti-indemnification law as detailed in the President & CEO Message.

If you are interested in joining the Risk Management Committee or any other ACECL Committees, please click on the button below and complete the form.

Committee Sign-Up Form

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Firms

NTB Associates, Inc.

GHD, Inc.

Affiliates

Gulf South Technology Solutions

Lord & Winter

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

February 8-9 - Critical Issues Summit
February 10 - HR Forum Meeting (ZOOM)
February 13 - Baton Rouge Chapter Luncheon
February 16 - Water Resources Committee Meeting
February 21 - Mardi Gras Holiday (Office Closed)

AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT

Our lawyers combine in-house engineering credentials with years of litigation experience to help resolve complex malpractice claims against architects, engineers and land surveyors. Keogh Cox is approved litigation panel counsel for many insurers serving design professionals and has a proven track record in this area of law. We conduct a thorough, detailed analysis of the technical and legal issues to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the case early in the litigation.

Contact: Mary Anne Wolf

Email: mwolf@keoghcox.com

Why Join the ACEC Business Insurance Trust (BIT) Program?

We could enumerate the benefits of joining the BIT Program, show you how much you could save by switching, tell you that ACEC uses our program for their insurance and recommends it for all ACEC members, or even explain how you get the support and expertise of Greyling, the BIT’s broker and America’s premiere engineering-focused insurance brokerage and risk management firm.

Instead, we’ll let Linda Bauer Darr, CEO and President of ACEC, say it for us.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

If you want to learn more visit us at acecbit.org, where you can download our guides and reports, watch a webinar in our Resource library, or request a quote for your firm’s Professional Liability, Business or Cyber Risk Insurance.

ELOS professionals provide support for clients involved in local, state, and federal programs and projects. ELOS help manage natural resources, develop grant proposals, and secure environmental clearance and permits for a wide range of projects. In addition to natural resource impact analysis and mitigation planning, ELOS also provides support for public outreach, interagency coordination, and decision documentation. ELOS has assisted several clients in drafting policy documents and resolutions related to land-use, flood protection, hazard mitigation, and transportation planning.