Top issues for New York engineering firms in 2015

ACEC New York has confirmed legislative priorities for the upcoming 2015 legislative session. The economic windfall of $5 billion, which will be received by NYS, is being pursued by special interest groups from all sectors. ACEC New York has joined the Rebuild NY Now coalition with the goal of dedicating a significant portion of these funds to repair the state's aging infrastructure. Besides this ongoing issue, ACEC New York will continue to promote the agenda items below: Legislative Priorities 2015 * Indemnification: Engineering firms should only be responsible for the work they perform. Contract language should be consistent with the standard of care as set by the SED and available professional liability insurance coverage. * Protect firms that respond to disasters: ACEC New York supports thoughtful and comprehensive legislation that would protect firms from frivolous lawsuits in the wake of disasters, as outlined in the Emergency Responder Act of 2015. Design professional firms should not be held responsible for claims that arise outside of their scope of practice. * Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS): QBS limits the inherent shortfalls of low-bid by fostering the development of innovative and cost-effective designs by extending QBS requirements to public authorities and public benefit corporations. QBS also provides lower project life cycle costs. * Increase use of New York private design firms: Expertise, efficiencies and capacity brought by private engineering design firms provide greater savings for the taxpayer. Funding Priorities 2015 * Support sensible and sustainable infrastructure funding: New York should use surpluses to finance and fund long-term infrastructure projects. Exempt capital funding from the local property tax cap, as well as provide mandate relief for municipalities. Investment in capital projects, in addition to maintenance of existing infrastructure, is essential and should be evenly distributed throughout NYS. ACEC New York also supports the MOVE-NY Fair Tolling Plan to provide a sustainable funding source for transit, roads and bridges. * State budget and agency funding: New York should provide agency funding that meets NYS' aging infrastructure needs. Timely passage of the state budget is a must. * Explore alternative funding models for major infrastructure projects: Public-Private Partnership (P3) projects have enabled the nation to save billions in the delivery of transportation infrastructure. Exempt Facility Bonds authorized for surface transportation and public buildings catalyze the use of private funding for projects used by the public. New York should allow pension funds the flexibility to support infrastructure improvements * Design-build: Design-build offers flexibility in project deliver and decreases project delivery schedules and saves taxpayer money, as well as provides equitable design stipends In these challenging times, we must not lose sight of the fact that NYS' infrastructure is a critical component of our ability to return to economic prosperity. ACEC New York's common sense legislative agenda will allow for appropriate investment in infrastructure while saving taxpayers money by using more efficient and cost-saving deliver methods and funding mechanisms. Robust infrastructure investment means a safer and more productive New York. ACEC New York is a proactive coalition of 280 firms representing every discipline of engineering related to the built environment—civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, environmental, geotechnical—and affiliated companies. Our shared goals are to further the business interests of our membership, enhance the quality and safety of the environment we live and work in, and help ensure the vitality of our communities. For more information, visit www.acecny.org. Jay Simson, CAE, is president of ACEC New York, Albany, N.Y.