Member Update

Legislative News!

Motor Carrier Anti-Indemnification Legislation

Legislation that would prohibit indemnification clauses in motor carrier contracts against loss or damages caused by negligence, intentional acts or omissions was in the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Transportation, Utilities & Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday. Both Committees deferred action on the legislation; however, the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled the bill to be back up in Committee next week. Manufacture Alabama considers this legislation a seriousissue.

In essence, this legislation would allow a manufacturer to be sued where a carrier is involved in an accident carrying that manufacturer’s products, even when the accident is of no fault of the manufacturer. Such legislation would open up a Pandora’s Box of lawsuits against manufacturers.

All of MA’s industry sectors are opposed to the bill, and we encourage our members to contact their motor carriers and Senators to voice their opposition to the bill. Manufacture Alabama will continue to keep you updated on the status of the legislation.

To view the bills click on the links provided:

SB219, Senator Gerald Dial (R-Lineville)

HB339, by Rep. Ron Johnson (R-Sylacauga)

Metal Theft Legislation

HB278, by Rep. Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa), passed the House this week. The bill toughens the laws against metal theft and the purchase of stolen metal. The bill requires additional records to be maintained, limits the purchases of specified metal property, and requires Secondary Metal Recyclers to maintain a database of metal property sales. To view a copy of the bill, follow this link: HB278

Incentives for Compressed Natural Gas Use

Yesterday, Rep. Greg Wren (R-Montgomery), Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Energy, introduced legislation that would provide tax credit incentives for the conversions of motor vehicles for CNG use and the incremental costs of purchasing CNG powered motor vehicles. Manufacture Alabama will be monitoring this legislation throughout the session, and will keep you updated on the status of the bill. To view a copy of the bill, follow this link: HB462

Federal

Boiler MACT & The EPA Regulatory Relief Act

In March 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that would create stricter emissions limits on industrial and commercial boilers and process heaters (i.e. the Boiler MACT rule). Due to problems with the rule, the EPA stayed their implementation until the agency could reevaluate the proposed regulations.

On January 9, 2012, however, the D.C. District Court struck down the EPA's stay of the original Boiler MACT rules. Legislation has been proposed to stay the current EPA Boiler MACT rules and give EPA more time and direction to re-propose the rules in a manner that will be achievable and affordable by businesses. The legislation, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (S. 1392) has been introduced as an amendment (S.Amdt. 1660) to the transportation reauthorization bill (S. 1813) currently under consideration by the U.S. Senate. The House passed their version of the Boiler MACT legislation earlier this year.

Manufacture Alabama is asking its members to contact Senator Sessions and Shelby, and ask them to support the inclusion of Boiler MACT relief legislation (S. AMDT 1660) as part of S.1813, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century bill. We also ask you to contact your sister companies in other states to call their Senators to support the inclusion of this amendment. This legislation is critical to preserving manufacturing jobs.

Manufacture Alabama has created a link with a sample letter that will be automatically emailed to Senator Sessions and Shelby to support the inclusion of the Boiler MACT legislation. It only takes a few minutes. Click here to contact your lawmakers today!

Contact:

George Clark, President

Blake Hale Hardwich, External Affairs

(334) 386-3000