The Department of Labor’s (DOL) regulatory agenda, released Nov. 27, included updated timeframes for proposed rulemakings related to independent contractors and apprenticeship. 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) decreased the optional standard mileage rates to use for 2014 in computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business by half-a-cent.

During its Nov. 5 meeting in Las Vegas, Nev., the ABC Board of Directors elected Dan Brodbeck of Compass Partners LLC in Brentwood, Tenn., to serve as the association's 2014 national chairman. Phil Hoppman of Big D Metalworks in Dallas, Texas, was elected to serve as ABC’s 2014 chairman-elect.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), along with several other trade associations, Dec. 18 sent a letter expressing serious concern over the White House’s nominee to lead DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), David Weil. Weil’s advocacy positions and lack of relevant job experience were cited as evidence that he would be unable to impartially enforce critical federal wage and hour laws governing the workplace.

Members of the public can create an account with the International Code Council (ICC) and submit proposals for changes to the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) until Jan. 10. Any proposal submitted will be posted online by March 2014 to be reviewed by the public and heard by two technical committees in open hearings. 

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) December 12 released the Spanish version of their ladder safety smartphone app which is designed to improve the safety of extension ladders by using visual and audio signals to make it easier for workers to check the angle of the ladder and offers useful tips for using extension ladders safely. When a user’s phone is set to Spanish language, the Spanish version of the app will install when downloaded.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) commended a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California seeking declarative and injunctive relief against an unnecessary and discriminatory new statute (S.B. 54) recently enacted in the California Legislature. SB 54 is special interest legislation that would force private refineries in California to award construction and maintenance work predominately to contractors who sign contracts with Building Trades unions.  

With 2014 just around the corner, ABC is providing an overview of several new provisions included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that are scheduled to become effective in the new year. Additional information about PPACA, including reference guides and webinars, may be found in ABC’s health care employer toolkit.  

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has added Metro Washington Chapter member Jim Anglemyer of WCS Construction, LLC, Washington, D.C., to the Beam Club Presidential Level, which recognizes ABC’s top membership recruiters.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) are soliciting comments from the construction community about the potential use of a government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) on federal construction projects in six states including North Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Maryland, Kentucky and Texas.