U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Reach Deal on Omnibus, Tax Extenders

The U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate have reached a deal on both the Omnibus spending package and extending certain expired tax provisions commonly referred to as “extenders.” 
Read the rest of entry »

IRS Extends Deadlines for ACA’s 2015 Information Reporting Requirements

A recent Newsline article discussed the upcoming deadlines for the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) 2015 information reporting requirements under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) sections 6055 and 6056. On Dec. 28, 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2016-4, which extends the deadlines for the 2015 information reporting requirements, both furnishing to individuals and filing with the IRS.
Read the rest of entry »

Deadlines Looming for ACA Employer Mandate and Reporting Requirements

Effective Jan. 1, 2016, under the employer mandate provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers with 50-99 full-time employees and full-time equivalent employees (applicable large employers) must offer full-time employees (and dependents) minimum essential coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value or be subject to heavy penalties. Note: effective for the 2015 calendar year, such employers are subject to reporting requirements.
Read the rest of entry »

Wellness Programs, Drones and EPA Regulations Included in Federal Regulatory Agenda

The Obama Administration’s regulatory agenda was released on Nov. 20 and lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release in 2016, their final year. An update on rulemakings from a variety of agencies affecting the construction industry is below. ABC has also published Newsline stories updating the status of rulemakings from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Department of Labor listed in the regulatory agenda. 
Read the rest of entry »

President Obama Signs Regulatory Reform Measures into Law

On Dec. 4, President Obama signed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (H.R. 22) into law, which included ABC-supported provisions that streamline the process for developers trying to obtain environmental permits and approvals for their projects. 
Read the rest of entry »

Overtime, Blacklisting and Persuader Rules Addressed in DOL Regulatory Agenda

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released its latest regulatory agenda on Nov. 20. The agenda lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release in 2016, their final year. An update on rulemakings affecting the construction industry is below.
Read the rest of entry »

DOL Issues Proposed Rule Revising EEO Framework For National Apprenticeship Act

The Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed rule revising the equal employment opportunity regulatory framework for the National Apprenticeship Act on Nov. 6. Current regulations prohibit discrimination in registered apprenticeship programs on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and sex. The proposed rule updates the equal opportunity standards to include age (40 or older), genetic information, sexual orientation and disability among the protected base that cannot be discriminated against. It requires sponsors to take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in the registered apprenticeship programs.
Read the rest of entry »

Total Benefits Solution

Date: Thursday, January 21, 2016
Watch Now
Time: 2:00 p.m. (ET) / 1:00 p.m. (CT) / 12:00 p.m. (MT) / 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Length: 60 minutes
Fee: Free
Speaker: Brian Robertson, Executive Vice President, Fringe Benefit Group
Category:  
Presented by ABC's Strategic Partner - Fringe Benefit Group

 
WEBINAR DESCRIPTION
The Contractors Plan “Total Benefit Solution” – ABC members. Targeted to associate members who are providing professional insurance services to ABC members.

Read the rest of entry »

OSHA Releases Latest Regulatory Agenda

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its latest regulatory agenda on Nov. 20. The agenda lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release in 2016, their final year. Read the rest of entry »

Technology Empowered Estimating

Date: Tuesday. January 19, 2016
Watch Now
Time: 1:00 p.m. (ET) / 12:00 p.m. (CT) / 11:00 a.m. (MT) / 10:00 a.m. (PT)
Length: 60 minutes
Fee: Free
Speaker: Karl Rajotte, Product Manager, MEP Estimating, Viewpoint Construction Software
  Mike Gillum, Product Manager, ProContractor Estimating, Viewpoint Construction Software
 
Category: AQC  
Presented by ABC's Strategic Partner - Viewpoint 

Information technology and automation have converted construction project estimating from an arcane and sometimes mysterious art to an art-and-science process that can be standardized (individually, for each company) and reliably repeated. That's a game-changer that leads to more winning bids, better project management, enhanced cash flow and overall improvements in management visibility and control. But not all construction companies have gotten the memo; too many still rely on outdated estimating tools and processes that leave them unable to scale their businesses, and vulnerable to more technologically-empowered competitors.
Read the rest of entry »

2016 STEP Chapter Orientation / Q&A

Date: Friday, January 8, 2016
Watch Now
Time: 2:00 p.m. (ET) / 1:00 p.m. (CT) / 12:00 p.m. (MT) / 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Length: 60 minutes
Fee: Free
Speaker: Chris Williams, Director of Safety, ABC National
Category:  
WEBINAR DESCRIPTION
Big changes to the 2016 STEP application and processing procedures have occurred--the online application will replace the paper version as the primary entry method beginning January 1. Are you ready?

Important information on the online application process will be outlined, as will the impact the all-online process will have on processing and delivery of awards. There will be time for Q&A during and after the webinar, as well as the opportunity to provide feedback on 2015 and suggestions to improve the process for 2016. Read the rest of entry »

What’s New with AIA Contract Documents?

Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Watch Now
Time: 11:00 a.m. (ET) / 10:00 a.m. (CT) / 9:00 a.m. (MT) / 8:00 a.m. (PT)
Length: 30 minutes
Fee: Free
Speaker: Hasti Hejazi, Director, Global Innovation Education, The American Institute of Architects
  Courtney Holmes, Director, AIA Contract Documents Marketing & Sales, The American Institute of Architects
 
Category: Training and Education  
WEBINAR DESCRIPTION
In October 2015, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) released an updated version of AIA Contract Documents software.  During this informational webinar, ABC members will receive an overview of the recent release of agreements and guides available to AIA Contract Documents customers, learn about the forms most often used by contractors, and view a brief software demonstration. Read the rest of entry »

Compliance Alert –ACA Employer Reporting Requirements – Deadlines Approaching

Are you in compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements? To learn about the reporting requirements and important upcoming deadlines, a webinar presented by ABC’s general counsel, Littler Mendelson is available for ABC members to view, which can be found here. A login is required to view the webinar titled “Compliance Alert—Learn About the Affordable Care Act’s New Reporting Requirements for 2015” and a PowerPoint is also available.  
Read the rest of entry »

Grow Profitably with a Rigorous Focus on Business Development

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Watch Now
Time: 1:00 p.m. (ET) / 12:00 p.m. (CT) / 11:00 a.m. (MT) / 10:00 a.m. (PT)
Length: 60 minutes
Fee: Free
Speaker: David Brown, President/Senior Consultant, D Brown Management 
  Raymond Braswell, Senior Consultant, General Contractor Solutions, D Brown Management 
 
  Brian Andrew, Group Manager, Financial Solutions, D Brown Management 
 
Category:    
CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVE WEBINAR HOSTED BY ABC'S STRATEGIC PARTNER - VIEWPOINT 


WEBINAR DESCRIPTION
This 1 hour webinar is designed for owners, executives and anyone else involved in the business development process including estimators and project managers.  Learn how to shape a market strategy that leverages your strengths then build systematic processes to capture more business.

Best-practice ideas from contractors across the country will be shared that will immediately help your team improve its Business Development process and ensure your customers satisfaction.  D Brown Management designed this webinar specifically for Owners and Executives who understand that effective business development encompasses the entire team.

Read the rest of entry »

EEOC Issues Proposed Rule on Wellness Programs

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Oct. 30 issued a proposed rule under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) that would authorize employers who offer wellness programs to provide inducements for an employee’s spouse, who is also a participant in the employer’s health plan, to disclose their current or past health information. Under the proposal, total incentives provided to an employee and his or her spouse for participating in a wellness program that is a part of a group health program that collects this information may not exceed 30 percent of the total cost of the health plan in which they are enrolled. 
Read the rest of entry »