2013: The Year in Review

The laws and regulations that govern how SEMA members do business have a continuous impact on the way automotive specialty-equipment products are made, distributed and marketed. The charge of the SEMA Government Affairs office is to stay on top of relevant state and federal legislation and regulations to ensure the best possible outcome for the membership. The following are just a few examples of critical legislative/regulatory issues that the SEMA government affairs team was involved in this year.

SEMA Action Network (SAN)

Great strength comes with great numbers. Although thousands are already doing their part to heed the call, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) is once again enlisting SEMA Show attendees to join the cause. The SAN’s mission to keep SEMA-member businesses free from unnecessarily burdensome laws and regulations remains critical.

Founded in 1997, this growing alliance is comprised of U.S. and Canadian forces from the industry and hobby united to advance automotive freedoms.

LEGISLATIVE AND TECHNICAL AFFAIRS
By Steve McDonald 

Law and Order is an update of some of the most recent federal and state legislative and regulatory issues that could potentially impact the automotive specialty-equipment industry. These include issues affecting small-business owners and their employees.

SEMA Member JR Products Hosts Empire State Congressman

Members of Congress stand for re-election every two years, which often leads to quick turnover among the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. In upstate New York near Buffalo, voters recently elected a new legislator with a career in small-business growth and development. Given this background, Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) was thrilled to visit JR Products and showed interest in learning how SEMA-member companies contribute to the local economy.

Rep. Collins was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 to represent New York’s 27th Congressional District. From 2008–2012, Rep. Collins served as Erie County Executive, having spent the previous 34 years as a business owner and entrepreneur. A mechanical engineer by training, Collins began his professional career with Westinghouse Electric. He was subsequently the president and CEO of Nuttall Gear Corp. in Niagara Falls, New York, a company that specializes in power transmissions for heavy-duty machinery.

SEMA PAC Allows You to Do Something About It

For a decade, SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC) has been fighting for SEMA members and their businesses in the nation’s capital. Recently, SEMA decided to create a new position in the association devoted exclusively to growing the PAC’s influence.

Experienced campaign veteran Christian Robinson was chosen to lead the PAC in the years ahead. SEMA News had a chance to catch up with the new SEMA PAC manager. We wanted to know who he is, how SEMA PAC works and why members should take notice.

One of the greatest tools in the SEMA toolbox for member manufacturers is the new SEMA Garage-Industry Innovations Center. About a year ago, the SEMA Board of Directors met to discuss ways to help the association’s manufacturing members address various product development challenges. The SEMA Garage was born as a result of those discussions, and I was hired to lead this effort.

Located in Diamond Bar, California, adjacent to SEMA headquarters, this 15,000-sq.-ft. facility houses a variety of tools and programs designed to help SEMA manufacturers more efficiently develop and market new products. The facility is comprised of four separate cells, each of which play a critical role in helping members get products to market in a quick and economical manner.

SEMA Focuses Efforts to Help Members Achieve Regulatory Requirements

SEMA continues its work to untangle a variety of emissions-compliance requirements while identifying and pursuing alternative paths to relieve or clarify concerns about navigating the regulatory landscape. At both the state and federal levels, the association is engaged in facilitating member compliance through a variety of programs and initiatives. This article summarizes issues that are either being addressed or have become more manageable as a result of these efforts.

A Wealth of Information Is Just One Click Away

SEMA-member information on how specialty-equipment parts are regulated by the government, health care law overview, California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order (EO) instructions, intellectual property rights guide, links to small-business issues, off-road equipment and land use laws, etc.

SEMA Action Network (SAN) is the industry’s outreach to the hobbyist community (your customers) and provides a nationwide partnership of car clubs, individuals and SEMA members working together to promote industry-friendly laws and regulations.