Page 52 - IEC Insights Nov-Dec21_WEB

2021 IEC NATIONAL AWARDS CHAPTER AWARDS

IEC LEGISLATIVE CHAPTER OF THE YEAR
IEC ROCKY MOUNTAIN

State Legislative Advocacy is always paramount among IECRM make a bad bill somewhat less bad.” Our efforts turn post-session
advocacy priorities. The last year has been particularly important to ensure representation of the merit shop industry on the new
as IECRM worked with the Governor’s Office and Colorado State SAA Council.
Agencies (CDLE and DORA) to maintain construction as an
essential business throughout the pandemic and provide advice ECRM consistently serves as a resource to individual legislators,
and counsel to contractor members on health, safety, labor & state and local agency leaders, and influential business groups
employment issues during this time. IECRM held weekly and on issues that relate to construction, workforce and industry.
now bimonthly Member Forums to keep members educated on During the 2021 session, IECRM tracked more than 30 bills, held
executive orders, laws and regulatory guidelines. support/oppose positions on 9 bills, and closely monitored/took
amend positions on others. In addition to HB21-1007, Workers
HB21-1007 State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA). This bill, Compensation legislation received significant focus among
presented by the AFL-CIO with strong union support, membership including HB21-1207 Overpayment of Workers’
re-establishes a SAA in Colorado which has been under federal Compensation Benefits and SB21-197 Workers’ Compensation
guidance since the mid-1980’s. IECRM led coalition efforts to Physician. Also, after several years of debate, consensus was
oppose this legislation due to: the unbalanced makeup of the reached on HB21-1167 Private Construction Contract Payments.
council, no need for a change in oversight and lack of data to IECRM recognizes an Annual Legislator of the Year with a coveted
support the sponsors’ arguments. IECRM worked with legislators award for individual support of the electrical contracting industry.
to delay/amend the bill and testified against the bill in person,
online and written testimony. The bill made it through the process IECRM also encourages direct contact between members and their
with only Democratic support. In the end, IECRM was able “to legislative representatives. The IECRM PAC distributed $4700.00

50 Insights Magazine | November/December 2021 | www.ieci.org