Beth Lear — House Commerce and Labor Committee (March 8, 2022)

Summary

This is testimony in support of HB 372 to the Ohio House Commerce and Labor Committee, dated March 8, 2022, from Beth Lear, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio. She says ABC members support the bill and that an inspection appeal can take over 30 days, which she says makes it impossible for a contractor to exercise appeal rights without shutting a project down. Under the bill, a contractor could request an expedited appeal, the board must begin it within 24 hours and hold a hearing within 72 hours, and the contractor bears the cost. The current fee is not to exceed $200 for the Board of Building Appeals and $100 for local boards, and the bill allows an expedited-appeal fee of $500. She urges the committee to vote the bill out.

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Full text

March 8, 2022

Chair Stein
House Commerce and Labor Committee

Chairman Stein, Vice Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member Lepore-Hagan and Members of the
Commerce and Labor Committee,

Good morning. I am Beth Lear, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Associated Builders
and Contractors of Ohio.

ABC member contractors, our three Ohio chapters have nearly 1,000 commercial general
contractors, subcontractors and affiliated businesses, are completely dedicated to providing the
highest quality construction product for the most competitive price while maintaining the
highest level of workplace safety. Additionally, we work every day to recruit, train and employ
the construction workforce of tomorrow.

Our members support HB 372.

Current law requires inspections on all commercial construction projects during
construction. This is necessary to make certain the work is being performed according to the
building code and the approved plans.

Also in current law is the opportunity to appeal a decision of the inspector. The cost of the
inspection is provided in the original permitting process.

In the relatively rare circumstances that an inspection is appealed, the appeal process can take
over 30 days to complete. Typically speaking, it is impossible for a contractor to exercise their
appeal rights when the process would shut the project down by thirty days or more.
HB 372 offers a reasonable improvement to the existing appeal process that is funded by the
contractor – not the government.

How it works: If passed, the bill would allow a contractor to request an expedited appeal. Once
requested, the appropriate board must begin the appeal within 24 hours and hold a hearing
within 72 hours.

Lastly, the burden of the expedited appeals cost is on the contractor. The current fee for
appeals is not to exceed $200 for the Board of Building Appeals and $100 for local boards. The
bill allows the state and county/municipal boards to charge a fee for an expedited appeal of
$500.

ABC of Ohio believes there are already enough impediments in Ohio to getting construction
projects completed on time and on budget. With the additional burdens of workforce shortages
and material delays, we encourage this committee to favorably consider the permissive HB 372
and vote the bill out of committee to keep Ohio’s tradesmen and women working.


                  Beth Lear
                  VP of Government Affairs
                  (614) 725-6018
                  blear@abcofohio.org
                  www.ABCofOhio.com


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