Testimony of ACT Ohio on HB 372 Regarding Building Code Appeals

Summary

Written testimony dated March 8, 2022 from the Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio Foundation (ACT Ohio), from its executive director and addressed to Chairman Dick Stein and members of the Ohio House Commerce & Labor Committee on HB 372, regarding building code appeals. The letter describes ACT Ohio as a 501(c)(5) organization with 137 local affiliates representing more than 95,000 building trades members. It states that ACT Ohio supports many of the concepts in HB 372 and that the writer has spoken with bill sponsors Rep. Roemer and Rep. Ray. The writer is assessing the impact of the 24 hour commencement and 72 hour hearing timelines, which the writer believes the bill's continuation language may already address, and mentions enforcement against un-approved work and the anticipated volume increase of appeals. It says the expedited appeal process could help resolve disputes quickly.

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Full text

Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio Foundation
Matthew Szollosi, Executive Directo!
mszollosi@actohio.org | (614) 795-3164

A} AFFILIATED CONSTRUCTION TRADES

March 8, 2022

Honorable Dick Stein

Ohio House Commerce & Labor Committee
77 S. High Street, 12" Floor

Columbus, OH 43215

Chairman Stein, Vice-Chair Johnson, Ranking Member Lepore-Hagan & Members of the House
Commerce & Labor Committee:

Please be advised that the Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio Foundation (“ACT Ohio”)
is a 501(c)(5) organization created to facilitate economic and industrial development
opportunities, and to promote industry-best practices for Ohio’s public and private construction.

ACT Ohio currently has 137 local affiliates across the state, who in the aggregate
represent more than 95,000 building trades members. ACT Ohio has invested hundreds of
thousands of dollars to promote careers in construction to Ohioans of all ethnic and socio-
economic circumstances. We are aggressively recruiting the best and the brightest to seek an
apprenticeship and develop skills that can sustain a family. We strongly support the. concept of
getting young people, minorities, females and veterans involved and interested in Ohio’s
construction industry.

Please be advised that ACT Ohio supports many of the concepts set forth in HB 372. I
have had numerous productive conversations with the bill sponsors Rep. Roemer and Rep. Ray
regarding the intent of the legislation.

Building standards and adherence to building codes are an essential part of our every-day
business. Inevitably, conflicts in interpretation arise and the majority of these conflicts are
worked out short of the formal appeal process set out in law. However, there are occasions in the
construction industry whereby these issues cannot be privately resolved. These matters are
addressed through appeals to entities known as Boards of Building Appeals. These BBAs exist at
the municipal, county and state levels.

Specifically, I am trying to assess from our industry partners the impact of the 24 hour
commencement and 72 hour hearing timelines. I believe in my most recent discussion with Rep.

Roemer that these issues may already be addressed by the continuation language in the bill.

Additionally, we discussed the bill’s potential impact on enforcement procedures
regarding illegal or un-approved work.

41 South High Street, Ste. 2325, Columbus, OH 43215

(614) 228-5446 | info@actohio.org | ACTOhio.org

Finally, we are better trying to understand the anticipated volume increase of appeals at
each of these levels if the expedited processes set forth in the bill are put in place.

While we are still reviewing some of these matters, I concur with Rep. Roemer and Ray’s
testimony last week that building officials in certain areas fully understand the leverage they
have, particularly under current high-demand market conditions. Clearly, the expedited appeal
process set forth in HB 372 could have the desired effect of helping both sides to potential
disputes find common ground and troubleshoot these differences quickly.

Thank you for your time and consideration — we will gladly continue to work with the bill
sponsors to alleviate any questions that we may have.

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