Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
It is hard to believe I am writing an end of year message. So much has happened this past year and yet there is still so much to accomplish. Like many of you, the phrase; “not enough hours in the day,” comes to mind.
What did we do this year?
• Ensured passage of HB 3049 and HB 2095 through the Texas State Legislature. HB 3049 addressed awarding licensing hours earned to high school students taking construction related courses upon graduation. As for HB 2095, this was a clean up bill that tackled a previous bill passed in the previous cycle regarding legacy license transfers. The original bill stated a license must be held at least 50 years. With HB 2095, that number was lowered to 35 years.
• Provided Plumbing Continuing Education to over 10,000 students across the state of Texas!
• Sponsored business, technical and service training at the local chapter levels
• Member Discount programs for business goods and services
• Disseminated up to date National mandates, executive orders, and congressional actions as received
• Working tirelessly with the Department of Labor regarding Apprentice to Journeyman Ratios and the need for updates to these mandates
• National PHCC spearheading Tax Reform talks with Ways and Means Committee Chair, Kevin Brady of Texas
• State PHCC members and leaders working with the President’s Taskforce on Apprenticeship
• State monitoring of licensing and code changes• Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality relationships that seek to champion the role of the Plumbing and HVAC contractor
• Workforce Development conversations, meetings, taskforces, that center on bringing more young people and military into our trades
• Active role in serving on the Lt. Governor’s P-TECH (Pathways to Early College High School) Advisory Board that oversees programs that work with industry to prepare students for careers in high demand
• Creating a “go to” reputation for schools, districts and local business communities that wish to bring trades programs to their area
• Speaking and presentation opportunities, committee participation and promotion events to share career possibilities in the trades we represent• Working diligently to advocate for action to “lower” the amount of time currently experienced for licensing testing at TSBPE; talks with agencies, the Governor’s Office and Texas Workforce Commission
• Texas Legislative Campaign contributions and support; Senate Business & Commerce as well as House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee monitoring and outreachThese and many more were our accomplishments in 2017.
As we approach 2018, our goal here at PHCC Texas is to continue to protect the licenses we serve as well as bring to you, the contractor, added value as you seek to do business in our great state.
Won’t you continue to join us in our endeavors? We need your partnership and your support. It is through membership dues, event attendance and Political Action Committee contributions that the work of this association is accomplished.
Thank you for an amazing 2017. I look forward to great things in the year ahead.
As always, please let me know how I can assist you.
Alicia Dover, CAE
Executive Director