May 17th organizational meeting report

Post date: Jul 11, 2010 9:52:55 PM

Alliance for Regulatory Coordination

Report on Organizational Meeting

Meeting Date: May 17, 2010

Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Madison, Wisconsin

The meeting was convened at 9:05 a.m. by Bob DuPont, of Regulatory Guidance and Design, LLC. Attendees introduced themselves and provided a brief description of the organization they were primarily representing.

Mr. DuPont presented an overview of the Alliance idea and his interest in improving regulatory coordination.

Issues needing attention were identified and prioritized at each of the six tables. The “Table Team” priorities were further prioritized by the entire assembly. The top four issues of concern were:

• 1. Stop the lapsing of funds, from the Safety and Buildings Division, to other state agencies.

  2. Improve enforcement of codes, inspections, licensing and registrations.

  3. Repeal, repair, or correct State Statute Chapter 101. (Tied for second place.)

  4. Improve consistency and coordination with other agencies that deal with building regulations.

Other issues of particular interest were:

• 1. Having regulators focus on regulating – doing what agencies can uniquely do.

  2. Too much regulatory emphasis being placed on the “front end” of licensing and not enough regulatory emphasis on the “back end” where enforcement activities seem light.

DuPont reviewed the ARC commitments and a list of law change ideas, asking for comments. Comments were:

• 1. More weight should be given to the input from Advisory Code Councils of the Division.

  2. Policies regarding energy efficiency and water conservation should be developed with more input from technical experts utilizing the advisory code councils more fully.

  3. The industry should be given a regulatory calendar for significant policy and procedural changes.

  4. Code changes should be made on a regular basis.

  5. Should a legislative audit be requested relative to the Safety and Buildings Division?

  6. Should the Alliance be a venue for discussing a uniform Commercial Building Code?

DuPont reviewed the Operational Protocols for the Alliance, asking for comments. Comments were:

• 1. Perhaps the Council of Advisors should have fewer categories and more seats per category.

  2. One year terms were preferred over two year terms, with no additional term limits.

DuPont reviewed the Timetable of Alliance activities for 2010, and mentioned that certificates of commendation for approximately 2500 municipal departments are planned for issuance in September, 2011. DuPont also reviewed the list of services from Regulatory Guidance and Design, LLC as listed in the ARC Enrollment Packet.

The meeting was adjourned at Noon.

After the meeting the attendee’s individual lists of issues needing attention were collected and collated into groups on the basis of affinity for one another, by Bob DuPont. The following concerns and suggestions were identified by one or more attendees:

• 1. More coordination and consolidation is needed among state agencies that regulate buildings.

  2. Establish the Safety and Buildings Division by statute and locate it in an appropriate agency.

  3. More streamlining of regulatory processes is needed; especially for code development, licensing and plan review.

  4. Commerce should better coordinate the efforts of the various advisory code councils.

  5. Reduction of the S&B service backlogs is needed – especially for plan reviews and inspections.

  6. Maintaining the knowledge level of Division employees is needed - with emphasis on applied field knowledge and skills.

  7. Reciprocity with other states is desired for trade licenses.

  8. The Contractor Registration process should include identification of the type of work performed by the contractor.

  9. Commerce should work with the legislature more closely for legislation that is practical.

  10. Commerce should be required to fund continuing education services as required by law.

  11. Consider third-party testing for new products before Commerce issues a product approval.

  12. Prevailing wage reform; implementation and reporting requirements need attention.

This report was prepared by Bob DuPont, Regulatory Guidance and Design, LLC.

It was issued on May 25, 2010.

Note: As a result of the organizational meeting the idea for the Council of Advisors was dropped. Instead, the Alliance will hold quarterly meetings of the entire membership.