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The Houston Auto Body Association asked that members of the collision repair industry in Texas contact their Senators in support of SB 1300, which was up for committee hearing on April 12.

To view the full text of this bill please CLICK HERE.

The Texas Senate Business and Commerce committee voted unanimously to pass SB 1300 on that date, which will require more disclosure from insurers about their Direct repair Program policies and requirements.

James Brown, HABA’s President, and many others with the HABA met in Austin April 12 at 7am to show support for this bill.

The Texas Department of Insurance is in full support of this bill as well, according to Brown.

The Committee Substitute version of the bill was passed out of committee, it now heads to the Local & Consent calendar and then it will go to the House Insurance Committee.

“I would also like to extend a special thanks to all those who made phone calls and those who came to Austin in show of support for this Bill. I especially want to thank Larry Cernosek personally for the all the time he spends in Austin on behalf of the HABA and the Collision Industry as a whole,” said Brown. To view the full text of this bill search ‘SB 1300’ at www.autobodynews.com.

The Mid-State Chapter of the Florida Autobody Collision Alliance (FACA) provided hands-on training to Central Florida area First-Responders including Fire Department personnel from the areas of Lakeland, Auburndale and Winter Haven on April 13.

To view a PDF of this article please CLICK HERE.

I-Car certified instructor; Steve Laszlo, was on hand to assist in the training and provided information on current vehicle construction technology and related materials.

Training forcused on avoiding areas on newer vehicles where airbags or electrical components could pose a potential risk. Newer hybrid and all-electric vehicles can be dangerous for emergency personnel unfamiliar with the cars mechanics.

Activities took place at 6:30 pm at All Pro Used Auto Parts, 1425 Old Dixie Highway Auburndale, FL 33823-9505.

The Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA) held their first monthly meeting of the spring on April 14th at 6:30 PM at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter.

The group had Chuck Elliott, District Manager with  KPA as their guest presenter. Elliott explained the differences between the recent inspections completed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related to your waste streams within a body shop versus the typical OSHA inspections which are generally about employee safety and compliance.

The night began with a discussion on OSHA and the expectations the organization has when it comes to safety in a collision repair shop. The requirements for shipping hazardous materials with the Department of Transportation was also discussed.

On March 16, 2011 the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) held its Annual Awards Banquet at the Crowne Plaza Meadowlands in Secaucus, New Jersey. As always, the highlight of the event was the presentation of the SCRS Industry Awards, through which the Society recognizes those that demonstrate outstanding service and achievement within the collision repair industry.

“Two Hawaiian words characterize these awards and their recipients,” explained Dale Matsumoto, chairman of the SCRS Awards Committee. “The first, ‘aloha,’ is familiar to us as a greeting and farewell; but it also can be used to mean the giving of one’s self-a lifestyle encompassing a life of giving, sharing, caring and love.”

“The second, ‘kina’ole,” means flawless-as in doing the right thing for the right reason with the right feeling. Most individuals can, and will, do the rights things; but it is the deep feelings in our heart that makes us to things, for the right reason. This year’s winners embody the meaning of both these words.”

Below is a summary of this year’s awards, their recipients, and the achievement being recognized.

The New Jersey Green Automotive Repair Program (NJGARP) announced in September that the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) joined them as a new organizational partner.

The NJGARP program, launched in April 2009, encourages the State’s automotive repair facilities—including dealerships, independent shops and, soon, auto body shops-—to implement environmentally-friendly business practices and become certified as “green” businesses.

“AASP/NJ is very proud to join with the other organizations in NJGARP as a partner in promoting environmentally-sound business practices within the body repair industry,” said Charles Bryant, Executive Director of the AASP/NJ. “The group has done tremendous work in its first year and I know that our members will be committed to helping promote processes that are good for the environment, good for consumers and good for business.”

Collision repair associations leaders from around the country met in Secaucus, New Jersey, in March to share ideas and discuss state legislative or regulatory successes and efforts. The  “2011 East Coast Resolution Forum,” an event sponsored by the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) and the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) of  New Jersey, was held in conjunction with AASP-New Jersey’s NORTHEAST® 2011 trade show.

Here’s a round-up of some of the news and discussion from the meeting:

Efforts to regulate mobile repairers
Charles Bryant AASP-New Jersey said his group has been working for some time to get the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to regulate repair businesses that are performing work on a mobile basis in violation, AASP-New Jersey contends, with the state’s shop licensing law. That law requires that repairs be made inside a building zoned for autobody repairs and that all paint work be done inside a booth or a room with a filtration system.

Mobile repair work, such as that done on a dealership lot, Bryant said, clearly falls outside these parameters. The Commission, however, had proposed bringing mobile repairers in under the shop licensing program. AASP-New Jersey opposed this action, showing the Commission published ads by mobile repairers indicating they were doing far more than minor cosmetic repairs and paint work.

Pro-Spray® Automotive Finishes, a division of Alco Industries, has introduced an economical, quality alternative for meeting low basecoat/clearcoat VOC requirements – the new Pro-Spray® 3.5 VOC Solvent Basecoat System.

“This system is a viable option to waterborne basecoat in VOC-compliant markets, and is an affordable choice for walk-in and non-waterborne collision repair shops,” said Tom Gardner, director – business development. “It utilizes existing Pro-Spray products, so it doesn’t require a major investment.”

For example, the system uses Pro-Spray solvent toners and new low-VOC binders, activators and thinners. The compliant basecoats can be used over Pro-Spray 2.1 VOC sealers and 2.1 VOC primers, and topcoated with any Pro-Spray 2.1 VOC clearcoats, to meet the strictest air quality mandates.

State Farm says in the coming months it will develop a new electronic parts ordering system for its Select Service shops. The new parts ordering plan was rolled out to the DRP shops through an online video.  In the video, claims consultant Gregg McDonald outlines State Farm's plans, stating that the company will work with repairers, parts suppliers and technology vendors to develop a new electronic ordering solution.

To view the video please CLICK HERE.

McDonald said the insurer will work with all segments of the industry to develop a system to "reduce the amount of time and effort needed to search for, source and order all part types," and "to give suppliers a better view of the process, and access to complete parts orders." McDonald also said that the system will include a review tool to allow shops and vendors to provide feedback on the parts ordering experience, saying "Supplier choice and decisions regarding which parts are best suited for the individual repair will remain in your hands."

The Glendale/Foothill chapter of the CAA will hold their monthly meeting on April 21 from 6 to 9 pm. The dinner meeting will be held at the Brookside Country Club in Pasadena.

The meetings featured speaker is Cory J. King, a partner in the legal office of Fine, Boggs & Perkins in San Diego. King's employment law practice focuses on the preventative side of employment claims as well as litigation relating to employment issues.
King will speak about wage laws and updates, employee rights on overtime and meal time hours, preparing auto repair shops for the employee free choice act, sexual harassment and the slip and fall employee handbook.

Please R.S.V.P. to Cindy Shilito at 714-944-4028 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or to Linda Holcomb at 310-422-1773.

This meeting is being sponsored by Brian Ekstrand from ALLDATA.

For more information please visit www.calautobody.com.

The Houston Autobody Association (HABA) will host their first annual body shop owners and managers appreciation event on May 19 from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Cadillac Bar in Houston.

The organization will host this event in lieu of their monthly meeting for May.

The event is open to members and non-members alike. Please visit www.habaonline.org and fill out the RSVP information and fax it in so the group can get a head count of those attending.

The hope is for local body shop employees to meet the members of the association and see what they are all about. HABA hopes to interest the local industry in joining their association and becoming part of a great organization that has and will continue in the advancement of the collision repair industry.

Please visit www.habaonline.org for more information.

Download the invitation HERE.