2022 Title Sponsor: Oswald
Oswald Insurance Companies provides risk management and insurance brokerage services with a focused lens on professional liability insurance. Oswald helps architects see the risks and manage accordingly through their services, including contract reviews, education opportunities and deep experience in the design industry.
Understanding risk means keeping tabs on changes in the legal landscape. Architecture is a highly legislated profession, so Oswald tracks bills and hearings in the states where we work. To share that information, and other important risk management learnings, with the architects we serve, Oswald provides legislative updates and continuing education opportunities.
Legislative Update (as of 2/16/22)
OFCC State Contract Review: ACEC/AIA Task force, full document review relative to insurability.
ACEC Ohio Indemnification Bill- Public Contract Indemnification- Senate Bill 56: This legislation which would regulate the use of indemnity provisions in contracts related to public improvements. The Bill has gone back and forth between the Ohio Senate and House, but a final version approved by the House by a vote of 88-2 is now awaiting approval in the Senate. We are hopeful that will occur in the next Legislative Session.
Payment Assurance Legislation- Senate Bill 49: signed into law 7/12/2021 (it took effect on October 4, 2021) and establishes a payment assurance program (i.e. lien rights) for registered design professionals (architects, landscape architects, engineers, and surveyors.
Ohio Revised Code section 9.239– 179D Internal Revenue Code Tax Deduction: Energy Efficient Commercial Building Deduction addresses the tax deduction that the state of Ohio is to allocate to design firms.
New Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Continuing Education: New law was passed in the beginning of 2020 that requires sexual harassment prevention training for all persons who hold a professional license issued by the Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) for professionals that require CE to renew. The law requires licensees to complete a one-hour CE course in sexual harassment prevention training and is effective for all renewals on or after January 1, 2020. This law currently applies to Illinois. Contact us for links to Illinois-approved providers.
Anti-Harassment Training: There are now 11 states that require anti-harassment training for both managers and employees who work in those states. Each state also has specific requirements that the training must discuss. The 11 states with these laws are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., Illinois, Maryland, Maine, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont. Contact us for information on software available to provide and track this training for your managers and employees.
Upcoming Education Opportunities
We are also dedicated to providing education opportunities to the industry because a sound risk management plan starts with education.
Save the date for Oswald’s All Ohio Convocation which will be will be live and in person at Nationwide Conference Center in Columbus on Thursday September 8th, 2022.
AXA XL & PLAN/Oswald Sponsored Webinars
April 20, 2022 – How Cognitive Bias Undermines Project Success
September 14, 2022 – Winning the Best Work: Go/No-Go Process
December 7, 2022 - The Fight Before “The Fight” (positioning your firm for a better outcome if there is a claim)
Registration
For registration information on these programs, contact Paula M. Selvaggio, RPLU, Industry Segment Leader, Architects & Engineers, Design & Construction, Oswald.
Through our approach and our collaborative business units—property and casualty, employee benefits, personal client management, retirement plan services, and life insurance—we help individuals and businesses identify, reduce, and manage their risks.
We are grateful for the opportunity to serve this industry and look forward to a continued partnership. Thank you for your support.
Oswald is a longtime supporter of AIA Cincinnati. Learn more at www.oswaldcompanies.com