Since 1954 ACIA has been actively representing the construction inspection industry in many ways. To better serve the industry, ACIA is pleased to introduce this new free monthly online feature to maintain awareness of legislative activity that affects our industry. 

The ACIA Government Affairs Committee has continuously monitored legislative movement affecting the construction inspection industry for many years. ACIA was first to inform California school and hospital inspectors of AB 2995 and AB 2966 when they were introduced back in February of this year.

ACIA will continue as it has in the past to monitor legislative movement in collaboration with industry related professional organizations and report on updates as they develop.

AB 2966 – Hospital IOR Bill

The Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG) no longer sponsor the bill which is currently on the Senate Floor where it remains since August 6th. The recently amended study bill proposed to remove the hospital governing board and the architect from the selection process and further remove the architect from directing the inspector as currently required by current codes and statutes. The language of the study bill reads:

1. Develop and implement a timely review of the current process by which hospital inspectors of record are selected and approved, to ensure that the highest quality standards of hospital construction inspection are adhered to.
   
2. Judge the adequacy of the current number of hospital inspectors of record relative to the need to meet the 2013 seismic safety standard deadline.
   
3. Make recommendations for changes that are necessary to ensure that deadlines for seismic safety are met and that hospital buildings meet all applicable standards.

Important dates to know:

Aug. 22 - Last day to amend bills on the floor.
Aug. 31 - Last day for any bill to be passed.
Sept 30 - Last day for the Governor to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature before 
                Sept. 1 and in the Governor's possession on or after Sept. 1

SB 1608 - Equal Access Rights

This bill which proposes to increase assurance of accessibility for the public and to increase the continuing education requirements regarding accessibility for architects was passed by the Assembly on August 19th.  Now back in the Senate SB 1608 is already generating a great deal of interest in the Certified Access Specialist Program (CASp) developed by the Division of the State Architect (DSA). In anticipation of this bill passing, numerous individuals have already registered to be among the first in the State to be Certified Access Specialists.

For more information regarding CASp certification please visit http://www.dsa.dgs.ca.gov/Access/casp.htm