Mark Smith, ACEC CA’s Legislative Director, attended our October meeting and reported on the latest happenings in the Capitol with regards to legislation, budget, and the upcoming elections in 2012.  He reported that ACEC CA’s sponsored legislation went 1:1 this year with one signature and one veto.  Signed was SB 424 (Rubio), which creates a statutory process for the conversion of design professional liens to mechanics liens in the event that a work of improvement commences on a project.  Vetoed was AB 1210 (Garrick), a measure that would have exempted civil engineers from the QSD/P certificate and training requirements imposed as a condition of the new General Construction Permit.  From a budget perspective, as usual Mark reported that the California budget is projected to run a sizeable deficit.  Recent projects put the budget shortfall in the 2012 year at $8-10B.

On the political front, 2012 is shaping up to be one heck of an election cycle, with the open primary and redistricting hitting at the same time.  Many legislators are taking advantage of once in a decade opportunities to run for congress, and others are jumping ship from the Assembly to the Senate, and vice versa.  Given the political turmoil it is expected that we could have as many as 60 new members of the California legislature, for a freshman ratio of over 50%.  ACEC CA is meeting with new candidates and evaluating prospects statewide, and will make recommendations for a political action plan to the Board of Directors in early 2012.

Mark Smith can be reached at msmith@acec-ca.org or 916-441-7991 with questions and comments.