Pennsylvania Builders Association

TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO THE INDUSTRY.

SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS AND THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING INDUSTRY - PBA EXISTS TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF ALL THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE GOODS OR SERVICES TO IMPROVING THE "BUILT ENVIRONMENT." PBA FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND PROFESSIONALISM OF ITS MEMBERS BY PROVIDING AND DISSEMINATING INFORMATION REGARDING ADVANCES IN BUILDING TECHNIQUES, METHODS, PRODUCTS AND SYSTEMS. PBA INTERACTS WITH ITS MEMBERSHIP BOTH IN FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS AND THROUGH VARIOUS ELECTRONIC AND "VIRTUAL" COMMUNICATIONS. MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OBTAIN MANY SERVICES DIRECTLY FROM LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS AFFILIATED WITH PBA. CONSEQUENTLY, PBA DEVOTES RESOURCES TO SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE RESPECTIVE LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS, PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT. ULTIMATELY, PBA'S EFFORTS SERVE THE INTEREST OF THE HOME-BUYING PUBLIC THROUGH THE PROVISION OF BETTER, SAFER, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE - PENNSYLVANIA WAS ONE OF THE LAST STATES, IN 2004, TO IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE UNIFORM BUILDING CODE. PREVIOUSLY THE STATE WAS A PATCHWORK OF BUILDING CODES DEFINED BY EACH MUNICIPALITY, AND SOME AREAS HAD NO BUILDING CODES. THE STATE'S UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE ADDS VALUE BY PROVIDING CONSISTENCY TO BUILDING REQUIREMENTS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA AND ENSURING A HIGHER LEVEL OF QUALITY AND BUILDING SAFETY THAN WAS AVAILABLE PREVIOUSLY. PBA WORKS CONTINUOUSLY TO MONITOR CHANGES PROPOSED TO BUILDING CODES BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL AND TO REVIEW CHALLENGES TO THE STATE'S UCC BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WANTING SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS. PBA PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS AN ADVOCATE FOR A REASONABLE AND CONSISTENT STATEWIDE BUILDING CODE THAT PROPERLY BALANCES THE NEEDS OF BUILDING PROFESSIONALS AND NEW HOME CONSUMERS. THIS RESPONSIBILITY INCLUDES ATTENDANCE AT INTERNATIONAL CODES CONFERENCES AND FREQUENT TESTIMONY BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON STATE BUILDING CODE ISSUES.

REGULATORY PRIORITIES AND JUDICIAL ADVOCACY - PBA'S GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS EFFORTS INCLUDE TRACKING, REPORTING ON AND OFTEN LOBBYING FOR LEGISLATION THAT WILL IMPROVE BUILDERS' ABILITY TO PROVIDE QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PBA ALSO WATCHES AND ACTS TO IMPROVE OR PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION OF HARMFUL LEGISLATION, REGULATION AND/OR JUDICIAL DETERMINATIONS THAT ARE LIKELY TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE HOUSING INDUSTRY OR HOUSING CONSUMERS. THIS TAKES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AS A NUMBER OF STATE AGENCIES CAN PRODUCE REGULATIONS THAT CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT HOMEBUILDING. THE MOST PERTINENT STATE AGENCIES ARE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. PBA STAFF AND MEMBERS MEET REGULARLY WITH STATE AGENCY OFFICIALS, AND THEY FREQUENTLY TESTIFY BEFORE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES ON REGULATIONS THAT COULD IMPACT NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. UNDER THE BANNER OF JUDICIAL ADVOCACY, PBA ALSO MAINTAINS AN INDUSTRY ACTION FUND FOR MOUNTING COURT CHALLENGES AGAINST POORLY CONCEIVED OR IMPROPER LAWS AND REGULATION THAT COULD HARM THE STATE'S HOMEBUILDERS. MEMBERS PAY AN ANNUAL $20 ASSESSMENT AS PART OF THEIR DUES TO FUND SUCH LITIGATION. PAST LEGAL CHALLENGES INCLUDED SUCH ISSUES AS GOVERNMENT-MANDATED FIRE SPRINKLERS IN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND TOWNHOUSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS POORLY SUPPORTED BY SOUND SCIENTIFIC DATA. PBA PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE BY SPEARHEADING SUCH LEGAL CAMPAIGNS BECAUSE IT IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD GO UNOPPOSED.