By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to allow private-sector employees who work more than 40 hours per week the choice of taking “comp” time rather than pay. The SEMA-supported legislation is intended to provide flexibility in the workplace. However, no action is anticipated in the Democrat-controlled Senate, based on concerns that workers could be coerced into taking time off rather than pay. 

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, hourly employees must be paid time-and-a-half after 40 hours of work. Many public-sector employees already have the right to earn comp time instead of pay. 

For more information, contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.  

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

A federal appeals court struck down a rule issued by the National Labor Relations Board instructing employers to display an 11x17-in. poster informing workers of their right to unionize and bargain collectively. The poster requirement was originally scheduled to take effect in 2011 but was placed on hold by a lower court. The rule is widely opposed by business groups, including SEMA, over concerns that it unfairly promotes unionization. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

A federal appeals court struck down a rule issued by the National Labor Relations Board instructing employers to display an 11x17-in. poster informing workers of their right to unionize and bargain collectively. The poster requirement was originally scheduled to take effect in 2011 but was placed on hold by a lower court. The rule is widely opposed by business groups, including SEMA, over concerns that it unfairly promotes unionization. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-opposed legislation to require tire retailers to provide a written disclosure on a used tire’s age, including the week and year the tire was manufactured, died when the Legislature adjourned for the year. The bill also required the disclosure to include a statement on tire aging explaining that tire age can contribute to crashes and that tires should be replaced every six years. 

Tire manufacturers that sell product in the United States comply with the strictest government tire safety testing standards in the world. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been studying tire aging for years and has yet to conclude that any regulatory action is needed. No auto industry, tire industry or NHTSA data has determined that a tire cannot perform when it reaches a particular chronological age. Tire properties evolve over a combination of time, service and storage conditions. Tires change more rapidly when exposed to excessive heat, under-inflation or overloaded conditions. 

Tires should be removed from service for several reasons, including tread worn down to minimum depth, signs of damage or signs of abuse. SEMA recommends that consumers have tires, including the spare, inspected regularly. Tire inflation pressure should be checked and properly adjusted at least once per month to maintain safety and fuel economy. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-opposed legislation to require tire retailers to provide a written disclosure on a used tire’s age, including the week and year the tire was manufactured, died when the Legislature adjourned for the year. The bill also required the disclosure to include a statement on tire aging explaining that tire age can contribute to crashes and that tires should be replaced every six years. 

Tire manufacturers that sell product in the United States comply with the strictest government tire safety testing standards in the world. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been studying tire aging for years and has yet to conclude that any regulatory action is needed. No auto industry, tire industry or NHTSA data has determined that a tire cannot perform when it reaches a particular chronological age. Tire properties evolve over a combination of time, service and storage conditions. Tires change more rapidly when exposed to excessive heat, under-inflation or overloaded conditions. 

Tires should be removed from service for several reasons, including tread worn down to minimum depth, signs of damage or signs of abuse. SEMA recommends that consumers have tires, including the spare, inspected regularly. Tire inflation pressure should be checked and properly adjusted at least once per month to maintain safety and fuel economy. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Having already been approved by the House, legislation to prohibit the sale and distribution of corn-based ethanol is pending consideration by the Maine Senate. If enacted into law, the measure would not take effect until at least two of the other New England states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont—have enacted laws that prohibit the sale of motor fuel containing corn-based ethanol. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Having already been approved by the House, legislation to prohibit the sale and distribution of corn-based ethanol is pending consideration by the Maine Senate. If enacted into law, the measure would not take effect until at least two of the other New England states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont—have enacted laws that prohibit the sale of motor fuel containing corn-based ethanol. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Having already been approved by the House, legislation to prohibit the sale and distribution of corn-based ethanol is pending consideration by the Maine Senate. If enacted into law, the measure would not take effect until at least two of the other New England states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont—have enacted laws that prohibit the sale of motor fuel containing corn-based ethanol. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-supported legislation to extend the new car emissions inspection exemption from four to seven model years was passed by the Colorado Senate but died in the House when the Legislature adjourned for the year. An amendment approved by the Senate had moved the implementation date from 2014 to 2016, but kept the extension in place. Separate legislation to extend the exemption to vehicles 10 years old and newer was not approved in the committee earlier this year. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-supported legislation to extend the new car emissions inspection exemption from four to seven model years was passed by the Colorado Senate but died in the House when the Legislature adjourned for the year. An amendment approved by the Senate had moved the implementation date from 2014 to 2016, but kept the extension in place. Separate legislation to extend the exemption to vehicles 10 years old and newer was not approved in the committee earlier this year. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.