The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts (AASP/MA) has reported that the state Senate passed the Auto Body Labor Rate Bill (SB 122) on July 13. The bill, which aims to establish an advisory commission and a system to validate collision repair labor rates in the state, now moves to the House Committee on Ways and Means for a final vote.
AASP/MA, along with the former Central Massachusetts Auto Rebuilders Association (CMARA) and former Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA – both have since merged to become part of AASP/MA) has been actively promoting the bill since its introduction. With days to go before the close of the 2010 summer session at the State House on July 31, AASP/MA Executive Director Peter Abdelmaseh said that participation and support from collision repairers throughout Massachusetts in the coming weeks will be crucial to help the bill ultimately become law.
"We have had an incredible amount of support on the bill from repairers throughout Massachusetts since day one," said Abdelmaseh. "And we have been rapidly gaining momentum as more and more professionals spread the word to their colleagues, customers, family, friends and, most importantly, their legislators. The huge outpouring of support for this bill has not been lost on our state’s representatives; they remember our issue and know that this bill is necessary to bring fairness to the collision repair industry."
To help further cement the necessity of labor rate reform into legislators’ minds prior to the close of the summer session, AASP/MA organized a upcoming "Legislative Day" on Beacon Hill on July 20.
"Our final show of support will be instrumental in sending the bill out of committee and into the Governor’s hands," Abdelmaseh said.
More information:
For more information on the bill, visit www.passthelaborratebill.org.
