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Education/Training
Safety
January 9-12: OSHA 500: Trainer Course in OSHA Standards for Construction January 16-19: OSHA 510: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction January 16-26: OSHA 510: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction - EVENING January 17-20: OSHA 2045: Machinery and Machine Guarding Standards January 23-26: OSHA 511: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry January 30-February 1: OSHA 502: Update for Construction Industry Outreach Trainers January 30-February 2: OSHA 2015: Hazardous Materials February 2-3: OSHA 10-Hour Safety Course For Entry Level Construction Workers
The Leading Edge is a bimonthly newsletter dedicated to updating AGC Houston members about safety issues in the commercial construction industry.
AGC News
The AGC Texas Building Branch has laid out its agenda for the upcoming 85th Legislature convening January 10, 2017 with its top three priorities being revising state lien laws, addressing construction defect claims, and recovering attorney's fees for state breach of contract claims.
   By Tony Stergio, Andrews Myers, PC
A Texas Federal Judge recently enjoined the implementation of the DOL’s new overtime rules. The regulations, which raised the salary requirements for white-collar employee exemptions to $47,476/year, were slated to go into effect on December 1, 2016.
The judge, in blocking the rules’ implementation, held that the 21 states that brought the suit met their initial burden for the injunction through arguments that the DOL lacked statutory authority to raise the salary level for the exemptions. The judge will later determine if the salary hike can ever go into effect without an act of congress.
Whatever the ruling, appeals are expected. But for now, the new exempt employee salary hike regulations are on hold. Data DIGest is your source for the latest economic news relevant to the construction industry with commentary and analysis from AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson. It brings you actionable information to stay ahead of the curve on issues such as materials, prices, construction employment, and state-by-state construction trends. Hear Ken Simonson at the Annual Business Meeting & Membership Networking Breakfast Thursday, January 26, 2017 at the Marriott Marquis Houston. Click here for details. 
Events
Member News
 MLN Company celebrated the holiday season with an annual party, complete with food, DJ, casino tables, giveaways and photo booth as a means to thank its employees. The party featured MLN Company President Murray Neal's famous gumbo, and employees Chris Schlag and Robert Whitman who cooked an assortment of pork tenderloins, barbecue brisket and ribs. While side dishes and desserts were catered, MLN's service department cooked shrimp. According to Clarissa Lang, MLN Company, "the Christmas celebrations started with Murray cooking up food for his employees from day one. As the years went on and the company grew, it's become a party of 400+." Besides employees, MLN Company invites industry partners, clients, family and friends. Pictured are MLN Company's Clarissa Lang, AGC Houston's Jerry Nevlud; Murray and Mindy Neal; and AGC Houston's Catherine Bezman, Charlene Anthony, and Anavell Trevino.
News you can Use
OSHA is extending the comment period for its proposal to revise provisions in the agency's recordkeeping, general industry, maritime and construction standards. Originally scheduled to expire Dec. 5, 2016, the comment period will be extended to Jan. 4, 2017, to allow parties more time to review the rule and collect necessary information and data for comments. By Katy Laird, Andrews Myers, PC
On November 8, Texans voted in favor of school bonds throughout the state, affording contractors multiple opportunities to bid on new projects in the coming months.
In total, Texans approved $2,719,875,577 worth of education bonds. The following are some of the larger bonds that were passed:
• El Paso ISD approved a $668.7 million bond to close nine schools and consolidate the schools into rebuilt campuses.
The American economy will grow 2.2% in 2017, according to economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics. Those surveyed also predicted a 4.7% unemployment rate and an increase of 2.3% for consumer prices. The improved number is still lackluster by historical standards. U.S. economic growth averaged 3.1 percent a year from 1948 to 2015, according to the Congressional Research Service. But the business economists say Americans need to get used to slow growth: 80 percent of those surveyed believe the potential growth rate of the American economy will remain at 2.5 percent or lower over the next five years
AGC Houston members are invited to join the Houston Revit Users group, which meets on the second Tuesday of the month. Revit and BIM application users range from beginner to expert skill levels. Since 2002, the Houston Area Revit Users Group (HARUG) has been the main resource in the area for Revit Users, AutoCAD Architecture (previously Architectural Desktop), AutoCAD and other BIM-related tools.
Membership Benefits
 PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO YOUR EMPLOYEES! The Patrick J. Kiley Excellence in Leadership Scholarship has granted more than $400,000 toward scholarships in over 20 years. Here's Looking at You
 A local mother and her two young children will have a brighter Christmas this year, thanks to the AGC Houston staff. For the third year in a row, the chapter staff has sponsored a family in need during the Christmas holidays through the WorkFaith Connection. The WorkFaith Connection's mission is to help people in transition build a new life through work and faith. For the AGC chapter staff, the gesture is a means to celebrate the season's spirit and watch the childrens' faces light up!
New Members
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