BTEA New York continues to fight against High Cost of 240 Scaffold law

An op-ed letter appeared in the Albany Times Union newspaper as a message to state legislators that the construction industry needs them to end the 240 Scaffold Law. New York is the only state in the nation that has this strict liability provision and is the cause of the highest insurance costs in the nation with at best two insurance companies who will even write insurance policies for New York contractors. Jay Badame of AECOM Tishman is leading an effort in having the BTEA New York work with the Citizens Budget Commission in a campaign to reduce these costs.

BTEA New York Leads Effort to Oppose Carlos Law imposing Criminal Sanctions for Safety Violations.

Thanks to the leadership of the BCA, CAGNY and GCA, the BTEA New York recently submitted a Memo of Opposition to what is called Carlos Law which would impose criminal sanctions, both in terms of high fines and criminal charges being filed against construction companies and their personnel when failing to follow safety protocols when fatalities and series accidents occur on job sites. The legislation is being advanced by the Laborers union and Real Estate Board of New York as a result of the HARCO case several years ago when several non-union workers were buried alive when a trench collapsed on them. 

The link below shows the details of BTEA New York and several Minority and Women-Owned business organizations’ oppositions to the bill as well as providing amendments to revise the bill so the full industry could support it.

Efforts to Address Material Cost Escalation Costs Continue with Legislature.

A bill to allow contractors equitable relief for unanticipated expenses caused by construction materials price escalation is moving forward in the last days of the NYS Legislative session. Under the leadership of the National Electrical Contractors, New York City Chapter, the bill would allow whenever terms and conditions of a construction contract awarded by New York State or a public benefit corporation based on bids submitted prior to April 1, 2020, but for materials purchased or invoiced after March 1, 2020, to be adjusted based on the cost increase acquired by the contractor, subcontractor or supplier of the materials. 

This legislation does not cover city projects and was based on a similar bill from the 1974 fuel crisis. The NYC School Construction Authority would be included in these provisions since legally it was created as a State entity.

BTEA New York Calls for More Private Sector Participation at Diversity Conference.

BTEA New York President Louis Coletti called for a strategic partnership between the BTEA New York, public agencies and Minority and Woman-Owned Business organizations in a united effort to grow the capacity of those firms in NYC. He said that although there is a large number of programs and efforts, everyone is “siloed” and needs more private sector involvement as full partners.