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P.E. License
Continuing Professional Development
Professional
engineers and surveyors shouldn't be misled into thinking they can meet
their biennial continuing professional development requirement just by
completing a correspondence course, warns the State Board of Registration
for Professional Engineers & Surveyors.
State law requires engineers and surveyors to obtain 30
continuing professional development hours (PDH) during each two-year
licensing period. The current licensing period ends December 31,
2015.
Recently the board staff has fielded many inquiries as
to whether the board accepts correspondence courses as part of the
continuing education requirement. One online provider has claimed
that simply by completing the company's workbook, the licensee can fulfill
his or her entire 30 PDH requirement.
To dispel that misconception, the board issued this
statement: "Registrants are reminded that board policy allows up
to a maximum of three (3) hours continuing professional development per
year for the completion of correspondence courses (paper, online or other
format) provided the course and the course provider meet the requirements
of R.C. 4733.151."
A board representative said this is not a new policy, noting that it was
adopted in January 2014. The board issued this warning now so that
registrants have ample time to earn the required 30 PDH prior to the
December 31, 2015 deadline.
OCA Annual Convention in the Dominican Republic
The deadline for
deposits is this month! This is the first time our association has
been to the Dominican Republic. We have lined up an exciting week of
activities: Sessions, excursions, and our theme trip to Altos de
Chavon. There are numerous sponsorship opportunities available as
well. Contact Rachel Sirca about convention details or Emily Pickens about
registering. If you have not received the invitation or excursion
details, contact Rachel or Emily.
House Approves Highway & Transit Bill: Sets Stage for
Fight Over Increased Investment
The House of Representatives
Nov. 5 voted 363 to 64 to approve legislation that would reauthorize the
federal highway and public transportation programs through FY 2021.
While support for the measure was overwhelming and bipartisan, opposition
came largely from the extremely conservative wing of the House Republican
caucus. Perhaps most importantly, the House included a Highway Trust
Fund (HTF)-related amendment that has the potential to change the dynamics
of the reauthorization process as it moves forward.
The package approved by the House was a combination of
the surface transportation reauthorization and policy reform bill approved
by the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in October and
the three-year HTF revenue plan approved by the Senate in July. The
intent of this commingling was to produce legislation that—like its Senate
counterpart—would authorize highway and transit investment levels for six
years, but only generate enough new HTF resources to fund the first three
years of those authorizations. While the House bill provides
essentially status quo investment levels adjusted annually for inflation,
the Senate bill would lead to modest program growth beyond the maintenance
of purchasing power.
However, shortly before approving the legislation, the
House adopted 354-72 an amendment by Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) that
struck two of the Senate revenue generating provisions that accounted for
roughly $19 billion—or more than half—of the new HTF revenue supplied under
the Senate proposal. In their place, the amendment would generate $59
billion by requiring the liquidation of the Federal Reserve’s surplus
capital account and deposits those funds into the general fund of the U.S.
Treasury.
As a result of the Neugebauer Amendment, the House
legislation would produce $40 billion more in new revenue than the
Senate-passed highway/transit bill. This net amount is projected to
be sufficient to support either the full six-years of surface transportation
funding under the House proposal or a shorter duration bill at investment
levels exceeding those approved by the Senate. Before debate between those
two approaches begins—and we highly expect it will—the surplus $40 billion
from the Neugebauer Amendment must by locked down for dedication to the
HTF.
Shortly after final passage, the House Transportation
& Infrastructure Committee named its negotiators to reconcile its
proposal with the Senate. They include:
Republicans: Bill Shuster, Pa.; Jimmy Duncan, Tenn.;
Sam Graves, Mo.; Rick Crawford, Ark.; Lou Barletta, Pa.; Blake Farenthold,
Texas, Jeff Denham, Calif., Reid Ribble, Wis.; Scott Perry, Pa.; Rob
Woodall, Ga.; John Katko, N.Y.; Bob Gibbs, Ohio, Brian Babin, Texas;
Cresent Hardy, Nev.; and Garret Graves, La.
Democrats: Peter DeFazio, Ore.; Eleanor Holmes Norton,
D.C.; Jerrold Nadler, N.Y.; Corrine Brown, Fla.; Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Texas; Elijah Cummings, Md.; Rick Larsen, Wash.; Michael Capuano, Mass.;
Grace Napolitano, Calif.; Daniel Lipinski, Ill.; Steve Cohen, Tenn.; and
Albio Sires, N.J.
Other participants in those discussions from the
relevant House and Senate committees should be named in the coming
days. Then, an already unpredictable reauthorization process will
begin a whole new chapter. Stay tuned!
Election Wrap - Up
This week State Issue 1, Ohio legislative redistricting reform & State
Issue 2, a measure to protect Ohio’s constitution from monopoly interests
passed while State Issue 3, the legalization of marijuana, was handily
defeated.
State Issue 1- Creates a
bipartisan, public process for drawing legislative districts
State
Issue 1 passed by a final tally of 71.46%-28.4%. The group behind
issue three, Fair Districts for Ohio, was spearheaded by a bipartisan duo
of former state representatives, Matt Huffman (R-Lima) and Vernon Sykes
(D-Akron). There was no organized opposition to State Issue 1,
helping the Fair Districts for Ohio campaign cruise to an easy victory.
State Issue 2 - Anti-monopoly
amendment; protects the initiative process from being used for personal
economic benefit
Issue
2 passed by a slim margin, 51.58%-48.42%, and was the closest of any of the
three statewide issues. The goal of the issue was to keep future
initiatives from creating monopolies in the Ohio Constitution.
State Issue 3- Grants a
monopoly for the commercial production and sale of marijuana for
recreational and medicinal purposes
Pushed
by a limited group of private investors that provided a huge financial
advantage to fund their campaign, the “Responsible Ohio” amendment went
down by an unexpectedly large margin of nearly 30 points (64.10% -35.90%).
Polling throughout the last few months had erroneously shown this issue to
be too close to call.
OCA
was a supporter of the campaign opposing Issue 3, Ohioans Against Marijuana
Monopolies. The group ran a low-budget, grassroots campaign made up
of business, labor, medical professionals, educators and many others. In
addition, there was broad support from newspaper editorial boards from
major cities throughout Ohio that opposed the Issue 3 proposal.
This
week’s vote on the legalization of marijuana issue is not anticipated to be
the final decision on the issue. It is anticipated that there will be
another ballot issue on the matter perhaps as soon as next year, when the
voter turnout is expected to be much higher due to the presidential
election. In addition, the Ohio legislature may be considering
supporting the use of medicinal marijuana at some point in the future.
Our thanks to our members and their
employees who turned out to vote on these important issues.
What Contractors
Need To Know About Erosion & Sediment Control (SWPPP) Inspections
Coyle
SWPPP Professionals is offering training on erosion & sediment control
BMP's and SWPPP designs. Earn 8 PDH's towards your CPESC & CESSWI
certification.
Topics
include:
- Inspectors: What You Need to Know
- Alternative BMPs for Erosion &
Sediment Control
- More Effective Alternative BMPs
- Regulations Update
- ODOT Compliance: Borrow, Use &
Waste Areas
- Ecological Resource Evaluation &
Management
- Hands on SWPPP Design
Hamilton - Tuesday,
December 1, 2015 - 8:00 - 4:30
Butler Soil and Water Conservation District
1802
Princeton Rd. Hamilton, Ohio 45011
Columbus - Wednesday, December 2,
2015 - 8:00 - 4:30
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation
District
1404
Goodale Blvd., Suite 100, Columbus, Oh 43212
Medina - Wednesday, January 13,
2016 - 8:00 - 4:30
Medina Community Recreation Center
855
Weymouth Rd. Medina, Ohio 44256
Registration fee $195 per person
(Lunch Included!)
For more
details and to register visit our website: CoyleSWPPP.com
Ohio
Safety Congress – March 9-11, 2016
This week, BWC distributed
save-the-date notices for its 2016 Ohio Safety Congress. Please mark
your calendar for March 9-11, 2016 at the Columbus Convention Center.
As always, there will be great educational sessions to
keep your workers, safe, healthy and on the job. There will be a
great Expo Marketplace to simplify the purchase of safety and health
products. There will also be a Medical Health Symposium and Safety
Innovations Competition. The classes include free continuing
education credits.
Registration
will open in January. Admission is free. Look for future
reminders from BWC and in OCA newsletters.
OCA Discount On Underground
Storage Tank Compliance Class
If your company deals with
underground storage tanks, you have a legal obligation to understand new
EPA compliance regulations.
BLR is conducting a Master Class on Underground Storage
Tank Compliance in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday, December 1, 2015. This
is a comprehensive 1-day workshop on new and ongoing regulatory requirements
for operating, maintaining and inspecting UST’s.
The class will be held at Embassy Suites, 5100 Upper
Metro Place, Dublin, Ohio 43017. The hotel phone number is (614)
790-9000. Registration is 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. The Conference runs
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
OCA’s
Safety Department has arranged for a special discount for OCA
members. When you register, enter the discount code, “OCA”, to
receive $97 off the program cost of $397. There are additional
discounts for multiple registrants from a single company. Click
on this link http://store.blr.com/ust-2015 for online
registration; enter the discount code at checkout. You may also register by
calling BLR’s Customer Service team at 800-727-5257 and referencing the
discount code verbally.
If you have any questions, please contact Mark Potnick in the OCA
office.
Estimating Competition Searching
for a Project…
Every year the students
participating in the OCA Estimating Competition use a
previously-constructed project from one of our members. Last year’s
students estimated a roundabout in Dublin, Ohio, presented by George J.
Igel & Co., Inc. We are now looking for a new project for the
2016 competition. If you are willing to attend a couple of meetings to
discuss your project, and give a presentation to those attending the competition,
please contact Rachel Sirca at 614-488-0724 or [email protected].
Teamsters
Central States Pension Fund Implements Rescue Plan
OCA
and its contractor members who are signatory to the Teamsters Statewide
Highway Heavy Agreement, are contributing employers to the Central States,
Southeast and Southwest Area Pension Fund in Chicago. The Fund has
alerted its plan participants on its website that all fund participants
were sent letters describing how the fund's proposed pension reductions
under the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 will affect their
benefits.
The fund filed its application with the Treasury
Department on Sept. 25 to allow pension reductions in order to save the
plan, as allowed under the MPRA, the announcement said.
Passed as part of the federal appropriations bill in
December 2014, the MPRA gives distressed multiemployer pension plans the
option to reduce retiree benefits (60 CLR 1127, 12/18/14). Prior to the
MPRA, pension benefit cutbacks were prohibited under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act.
Central States‘ rescue proposal is a “gut-wrenching
effort by the fund's trustees” to stabilize the fund while being the “most
fair” to participants and retirees, Thomas C. Nyhan, executive director and
general counsel of the fund, said during an Oct. 15 electronic town hall
meeting for active and retired plan participants.
The event was held as the rescue proposal—and the new
law that would allow the cuts, the 2014 Multiemployer Pension Reform
Act—have come under impassioned criticism from retirees and retiree
advocates.
Nyhan sought to reassure retirees that the cuts
proposed to the Treasury Department are merely benefit suspensions and
aren't intended to be permanent cuts. Once the rescue plan is approved, the
fund's trustees will be required each year to determine whether the cuts
are still needed, he said.
He said it was “impossible for me to see a path” for
legislation with Republicans in control of Congress “to appropriate
taxpayer dollars to support union pension plans,” but that “should
something like this ever materialize, I guarantee you that we will be the
first” in line “to try to take advantage of it.”
During the town hall with retirees, Nyhan tried to ease
the mind of retirees who may be considering returning to work, discussing
changes to the re-employment rules if the rescue plan goes through.
According to a Central States guide to the rescue plan,
the proposal would remove all re-employment restrictions for participants
who retired on or before Oct. 1, 2015, whose benefits are reduced.
Participants who retired after that date while they were between age 62 and
65 could return to work, but with some restrictions, while there would be
no restrictions once retirees reached age 65, the guide says.
The Treasury Department published the Central States
Pension Fund's application for suspension of benefits in the Oct. 23
Federal Register.
The application by Central States, Southeast and
Southwest Areas, Pension Fund features a number of documents, including the
description of the proposed suspension, which would begin on July 1, 2016.
The amount of a participant's suspension would be based
on three factors—the “tier” the person's benefits are associated with; the
amount of contributions made to the plan on the participant's behalf; and
whether the person will be an active participant, terminated participant or
retiree as of July 1, 2016—the application said.
“Participants with at least 20 years of Contributory
Service Credit (and their beneficiaries in pay status) as of July 1, 2016,
will receive lesser suspensions than other participants. Also, the
suspensions are affected by both the age of the participant upon retirement
and whether the participant elected a joint and survivor form of benefit
upon retirement,” the application says.
If you
have any questions or concerns, please contact Mark Potnick, OCA’s Director
of Labor Relations, or visit the Central States Pension Plan’s website for
additional information: www.CSPensionRescue.com
2015 OCA Safety Awards
OCA’s annual safety award program is a great opportunity for our contractor
members to showcase their safety programs and be recognized for their
achievements. All OCA members are encouraged to participate!
Awards are presented in several size divisions, based on total hours
worked. Recognition is also given to any contractors who worked
accident and injury free during the year!
This year’s winners will be announced during the Winter Conference Awards
luncheon on December 8th at the Hilton Easton in Columbus. Please
click here to access the application form. The deadline date
for submission is Friday, November 20, 2015. Please return the completed
form at your earliest convenience so that your company will be in the
running for OCA’s coveted safety award!
If you have any questions about the Safety Awards Program, please contact
Emily Pickens or Mark Potnick in the OCA office. Please continue to
keep worker safety and health at the forefront of all you do! We’ll
be looking for your application, and good luck!
Opportunities in Transportation
Safety
The Ohio Chapter of
the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) is hosting Opportunities in Transportation
Safety in conjunction with ODOT on March 3, 2016.
For more details about the
conference or to submit questions for ODOT officials to address in the Ask the Owner Q&A
session, please visit www.ohioatssa.com.
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