By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee has approved legislation to allow funds collected for California’s Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMRV) program to be spent by other agencies on unrelated programs and never reimbursed.

Legislation to allow funds collected for California’s Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMRV) program to be spent by other agencies on unrelated programs and never reimbursed was approved by the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. The bill has now been sent to the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee for consideration. The bill would threaten closure of existing OHV recreation areas and any new or expanded areas. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives passed three bills to combat frivolous lawsuits, which are a distraction for businesses and can create financial hardship. Small businesses are especially vulnerable to these kinds of abuses. In many instances, defending a small business in court drains precious resources, which could otherwise be used to make investments needed to grow the company. Below are summaries of the three bills that have now moved to the U.S. Senate:

• The Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 (LARA) would require federal judges to impose monetary sanctions against lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits. Under current law, federal judges are allowed but not required to impose penalties. LARA would also eliminate a provision in current law that allows lawyers to avoid penalties by withdrawing frivolous claims after sanction proceedings have begun. Courts could also award the prevailing parties reasonable expenses and attorney’s fees in defending against a frivolous lawsuit.

• The ‘Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017 makes significant changes to the procedure used for class-action litigation, requiring that classes consist of members with the same type and scope of injury. If successful, victims would be paid first before class action lawyers get paid. Also, the lawyer could not be a relative or have any employment or contractual relationship with the plaintiff.

• The Innocent Party Protection Act makes it more difficult for trial lawyers to prevent lawsuits from being moved to federal court or to forum-shop for favorable state courts. The bill would prevent trial lawyers from entangling a local small businesses in a lawsuit as a mechanism to have the case heard in a local jurisdiction.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives passed three bills to combat frivolous lawsuits, which are a distraction for businesses and can create financial hardship. Small businesses are especially vulnerable to these kinds of abuses. In many instances, defending a small business in court drains precious resources, which could otherwise be used to make investments needed to grow the company. Below are summaries of the three bills that have now moved to the U.S. Senate:

• The Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 (LARA) would require federal judges to impose monetary sanctions against lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits. Under current law, federal judges are allowed but not required to impose penalties. LARA would also eliminate a provision in current law that allows lawyers to avoid penalties by withdrawing frivolous claims after sanction proceedings have begun. Courts could also award the prevailing parties reasonable expenses and attorney’s fees in defending against a frivolous lawsuit.

• The ‘Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017 makes significant changes to the procedure used for class-action litigation, requiring that classes consist of members with the same type and scope of injury. If successful, victims would be paid first before class action lawyers get paid. Also, the lawyer could not be a relative or have any employment or contractual relationship with the plaintiff.

• The Innocent Party Protection Act makes it more difficult for trial lawyers to prevent lawsuits from being moved to federal court or to forum-shop for favorable state courts. The bill would prevent trial lawyers from entangling a local small businesses in a lawsuit as a mechanism to have the case heard in a local jurisdiction.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives passed three bills to combat frivolous lawsuits, which are a distraction for businesses and can create financial hardship. Small businesses are especially vulnerable to these kinds of abuses. In many instances, defending a small business in court drains precious resources, which could otherwise be used to make investments needed to grow the company. Below are summaries of the three bills that have now moved to the U.S. Senate:

• The Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 (LARA) would require federal judges to impose monetary sanctions against lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits. Under current law, federal judges are allowed but not required to impose penalties. LARA would also eliminate a provision in current law that allows lawyers to avoid penalties by withdrawing frivolous claims after sanction proceedings have begun. Courts could also award the prevailing parties reasonable expenses and attorney’s fees in defending against a frivolous lawsuit.

• The ‘Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017 makes significant changes to the procedure used for class-action litigation, requiring that classes consist of members with the same type and scope of injury. If successful, victims would be paid first before class action lawyers get paid. Also, the lawyer could not be a relative or have any employment or contractual relationship with the plaintiff.

• The Innocent Party Protection Act makes it more difficult for trial lawyers to prevent lawsuits from being moved to federal court or to forum-shop for favorable state courts. The bill would prevent trial lawyers from entangling a local small businesses in a lawsuit as a mechanism to have the case heard in a local jurisdiction.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

Aria Resort & Casino	Bellagio
Excalibur Hotel	Luxor Las Vegas
MGM Grand	Mirage
Monte Carlo Resort & Casino	New York – New York Hotel & Casino
Signature at MGM	Vdara

Several hotels offer early-bird rates for exhibitors and attendees of the 2017 SEMA Show. These early-bird rates expire March 29.

OnPeak, the SEMA Show’s official hotel provider, has negotiated reduced rates at a number of Las Vegas hotels to help make your stay more affordable. Through OnPeak, SEMA brings the lowest rates, best hotels and amenities for your trip. OnPeak also provides flexible booking policies, group tools and a team of customer service agents to ensure a smooth booking process.  

Early-Bird Rates Expiring March 29

Aria Resort & Casino
Early Bird Rate: $279/night
Regular Rate: $304/night

Bellagio
Early Bird Rate: $289/night
Regular Rate: $310/night

Excalibur Hotel
Early Bird Rate: $118/night
Regular Rate: $133/night

Luxor Las Vegas
Early Bird Rate: $163/night
Regular Rate: $184/night

MGM Grand
Early Bird Rate: $174/night
Regular Rate: $203/night

Mirage
Early Bird Rate: $219/night
Regular Rate: $234/night

Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
Early Bird Rate: $171/night
Regular Rate: $190/night

New York – New York Hotel & Casino
Early Bird Rate: $184/night
Regular Rate: $215/night

Signature at MGM
Early Bird Rate: $249/night
Regular Rate: $293/night

Vdara
Early Bird Rate: $249/night
Regular Rate: $293/night

*Rates listed are average nightly rates and are subject to change without notice.

By SEMA Editors

Aria Resort & Casino	Bellagio
Excalibur Hotel	Luxor Las Vegas
MGM Grand	Mirage
Monte Carlo Resort & Casino	New York – New York Hotel & Casino
Signature at MGM	Vdara

Several hotels offer early-bird rates for exhibitors and attendees of the 2017 SEMA Show. These early-bird rates expire March 29.

OnPeak, the SEMA Show’s official hotel provider, has negotiated reduced rates at a number of Las Vegas hotels to help make your stay more affordable. Through OnPeak, SEMA brings the lowest rates, best hotels and amenities for your trip. OnPeak also provides flexible booking policies, group tools and a team of customer service agents to ensure a smooth booking process.  

Early-Bird Rates Expiring March 29

Aria Resort & Casino
Early Bird Rate: $279/night
Regular Rate: $304/night

Bellagio
Early Bird Rate: $289/night
Regular Rate: $310/night

Excalibur Hotel
Early Bird Rate: $118/night
Regular Rate: $133/night

Luxor Las Vegas
Early Bird Rate: $163/night
Regular Rate: $184/night

MGM Grand
Early Bird Rate: $174/night
Regular Rate: $203/night

Mirage
Early Bird Rate: $219/night
Regular Rate: $234/night

Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
Early Bird Rate: $171/night
Regular Rate: $190/night

New York – New York Hotel & Casino
Early Bird Rate: $184/night
Regular Rate: $215/night

Signature at MGM
Early Bird Rate: $249/night
Regular Rate: $293/night

Vdara
Early Bird Rate: $249/night
Regular Rate: $293/night

*Rates listed are average nightly rates and are subject to change without notice.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-supported legislation (HR 1315) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to cap the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10% and prohibit the sale of E15.

SEMA-supported legislation (HR 1315) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to cap the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10% and prohibit the sale of E15 (gasoline with 15% ethanol).

The bill would also eliminate the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) mandate that 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol be blended into the U.S. fuel supply each year. While the RFS was intended to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil, the 2007 law has translated into ever-increasing corn production so that the ethanol byproduct can be blended into gasoline. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has turned to sales of E15 to achieve the law’s artificial mandate. Ethanol, especially in higher concentrations, such as E15, can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles produced before 2001 that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. 

SEMA has joined with more than 50 other organizations from the auto/boat industries to the food, energy and environmental community to support passage of the legislation. Tell your lawmakers to support HR 1315 by sending them a letter.

For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-supported legislation (HR 1315) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to cap the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10% and prohibit the sale of E15.

SEMA-supported legislation (HR 1315) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to cap the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10% and prohibit the sale of E15 (gasoline with 15% ethanol).

The bill would also eliminate the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) mandate that 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol be blended into the U.S. fuel supply each year. While the RFS was intended to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil, the 2007 law has translated into ever-increasing corn production so that the ethanol byproduct can be blended into gasoline. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has turned to sales of E15 to achieve the law’s artificial mandate. Ethanol, especially in higher concentrations, such as E15, can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles produced before 2001 that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. 

SEMA has joined with more than 50 other organizations from the auto/boat industries to the food, energy and environmental community to support passage of the legislation. Tell your lawmakers to support HR 1315 by sending them a letter.

For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-supported legislation (HR 1315) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to cap the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10% and prohibit the sale of E15.

SEMA-supported legislation (HR 1315) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to cap the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10% and prohibit the sale of E15 (gasoline with 15% ethanol).

The bill would also eliminate the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) mandate that 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol be blended into the U.S. fuel supply each year. While the RFS was intended to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil, the 2007 law has translated into ever-increasing corn production so that the ethanol byproduct can be blended into gasoline. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has turned to sales of E15 to achieve the law’s artificial mandate. Ethanol, especially in higher concentrations, such as E15, can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles produced before 2001 that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. 

SEMA has joined with more than 50 other organizations from the auto/boat industries to the food, energy and environmental community to support passage of the legislation. Tell your lawmakers to support HR 1315 by sending them a letter.

For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By Amelia Zwecher

The SEMA Career Center supports automotive aftermarket companies with human resources and talent acquisition tools, including recruitment tips.

The SEMA Career Center supports automotive aftermarket companies with human resources and talent acquisition tools. Some helpful articles were recently published in SEMA eNews. Just in case you missed any of these engaging articles, they’re listed below in chronological order. Save this list as a quick reference to help your company with recruitment strategy:

• Recruitment Tips and Best Practices for Automotive Employers Part 1
• Recruitment Tips and Best Practices for Automotive Employers Part 2
• Recruitment Tips and Best Practices for Automotive Employers Part 3
• Recruitment Tips and Best Practices for Automotive Employers Part 4
• 6 Reasons You Should Hire an Intern
• Celebrate SEMA Career Center’s First-Year Anniversary with a Special Offer
• SEMA HR Hub Launch New Complimentary Benefit for Employers
• Find Top Talent National Career Fair Monthly Listing
• Do Workplace Wellness Programs Work
• Tips for Attracting Top Talent- Step 1: The Job Description
• Spotlight: Find New Automotive Talent Pipelines
• Hot HR Topics to Keep on Your Radar

For more information, or if you would like assistance with scheduling recruitment and outreach events at higher-education institutions nationally, contact SEMA Manager of Career Services Amelia F. Zwecher, PhD, PHR, at ameliaz@sema.org.

Also, complete this form to receive specific career fair event information relevant to your company needs.