NASBP Focal Point - January 21, 2016

January 21, 2016

Legislative, Regulatory and Other News at a Glance for Grassroots Action

Currently thirty-eight legislatures are in session: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Federal, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

In This Issue:

State Report

State Report

Bonding Assistance Programs

Florida Senate Bill 756

FL SB 756 (Brandes) authorizes the FLDOT to establish a program for highway projects that would assist small businesses. Bond waivers for small businesses may be incorporated as part of this program. On January 21, a hearing was conducted on the bill in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development.

Public-Private Partnerships

Washington House Bill 1218

WA HB 1218 (Zeiger) modifies the current review process for non-toll P3 projects so that they are subject to bonding requirements separate from the state’s Little Miller Act. This bill was introduced last year and was re-introduced on January 11. It was referred to the House Committee on Transportation.

State Guarantee Fund

Massachusetts House Bill 3889

MA HB 3889 (Cariddi) creates a state guarantee fund for default on public construction surety bond payments. As introduced, HB 3889 is retroactive to January 1, 2012. A hearing was conducted on the bill on January 20. NASBP submitted testimony in opposition to the legislation. A copy of our testimony can be found
here.

Subcontractor Default Insurance

Massachusetts House Bill 2808

MA HB 2808 (Rogers) amends the Massachusetts Little Miller Act to allow Subcontractor Default Insurance in lieu of performance and payment bonds. Subcontractors must submit payment and performance bonds to the CMAR at no additional cost to the firm or awarding agency. A hearing was conducted on the bill last year on October 6, 2015. NASBP submitted
testimony in opposition to the legislation then. NASBP is expecting the bill to be taken up again in this year and has retained a contract lobbyist to oppose the measure.

Key NASBP Links:

NASBP Career Center
| Know the Top Issues | SuretyPAC | Find Your Elected Official | Government 101

Focal Point is an e-bulletin sent twice per month to members and friends of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers when most state legislatures are in session and as needed thereafter. To obtain copies of Bills or other materials discussed above, contact advocacy@nasbp.org. Visit the NASBP Advocacy Resource Center. Copyright © 2015. NASBP. All rights reserved.