Legislative / Governmental / Regulatory Affairs

CAAG is the only link between contractors and government at all levels.  We deal with local cities and county governments, state agencies and the state legislature and interact with federal agencies and our Congressional Delegation whenever needed. 

CAAG is extremely involved in our state legislature and this is evidenced by all the legislation we have been able to see passed over the years.  Among these are:

• Only having to buy One (1) Business License (Occupation Tax)
• Providing that Permit Fees (Regulatory Fees) be based on the time it takes for the inspection
• Being able to mail in permits
• Eliminating Annual Regulatory Fees
• Being able to sue cities/counties for excessive permit fees and having them pay our legal fees
• Providing that you have 2 days after you start work to get permits for HVAC work
• Being able to do your own electrical work without a separate electrical license
• Providing for the Qualifications of inspectors
• Providing that Code Violations must cite legal basis of violation in writing.
• Providing that you only have to buy one code compliance bond
• Being able to hire an outside engineer for inspections
• Providing stiff penalties and jail time for unlicensed contractors
• Requiring the license number on vehicles, ads, etc. to easily identify unlicensed contractors
• Stopping Utility Competition and cross subsidization of utility funds!
• Stopping the “Grandfather” Clause bills that would open up licensing to unqualified people
• Getting the “Handy Man” Amendment vetoed by the Governor
• Working on Lien Laws and payments to HVACR contractors (Title to Equipment)
  

We are currently working with the GA. Revenue Dept. on how contractors pay and collect sales taxes.

Unified and Strong Voice for the Industry

The phrase, “there is strength in numbers” was never more revelant than it is in dealing with governments at all levels.  Alone one contractor has not impact on the multitude of elected officials that affect your everyday life.  However, as a strong, unified organization CAAG has a great deal of influence on these officials. 

Continuing Education

CAAG provides Continuing Education to its members in several different ways. The Annual Conference, Fall Seminar and District Meetings all offer hours of Continuing Education for the members.  See below for more information on each of these.

Annual Conference

Each year CAAG holds its Annual Conference at various locations around the state at which time members hear nationally recognized industry experts speak on topics of utmost importance and relevance to the industry.  Year after year, members who attend this Conference tell us that it is well worth the time and expense to attend.  They receive vital information that they can take back to their offices and put in use immediately, making them more efficient and profitable! This is a great opportunity to meet with other contractors around the state to network and ask questions and discuss problems and solutions.  Sometimes you would rather talk to contractors who are not direct competitors about various issues.  This is a great time to do that!  This provides all the Continuing Education Credits that you will need to fulfill the state law requirements to renew your license each year.

Fall Seminar

Each fall, CAAG holds an educational session in Macon, the center of the state, to update members on issues of interest to the industry.  We have speakers who are experts in their field to discuss various topics and current interest.  This is also another great opportunity to meet with other contractors around the state to network and ask questions and discuss problems and solutions.  Sometimes you would rather talk to contractors who are not direct competitors about various issues.  This is a great time to do that!

District Meetings

Each fall CAAG holds meetings around the state to update members on current issues and events that affect our members and the industry at large.  This is an opportunity for members to tell CAAG what their interest and concerns are and what they would like CAAG to be working on for them.   This is another great opportunity to meet with other contractors in your local area to network and ask questions and discuss problems and solutions.

Networking

As you saw in our Continuing Education section, all our Conferences, seminars and meetings provide an excellent opportunity for you to meet with other contractors that do exactly the same thing you do on a daily basis to discuss your common problems/opportunities and how they might have solved them.   You can do this with contractors with whom you compete every day or you can do this with your new friends from around the state with whom you will never compete.

Insurance

CAAG constantly tries to provide the most cost efficient and comprehensive group insurance coverage available to our members.  This is always a challenge but it is our goal to provide the best coverage at the most economical rates to our members.  For current information on this, please call the CAAG office.

Professionalism

By displaying the CAAG logo on your advertising, letterhead, proposals, contracts, vehicles, etc., you are telling the public that you are a professional.  You are a member of and support a professional association that promotes only the highest of ethical standards.  You are licensed, receive annual continuing education and support the betterment of the industry as a whole.  Our Mission Statement is:

The mission statement of the Conditioned Air Association of Georgia (CAAG) is to assist and enable CAAG members in every way possible to acquire, serve, and satisfy their customers by...

•    providing the highest quality technical and management information and services,
•    promoting good business ethics and sound business practices,
•    being the standard of excellence by which all others are measured,
•    promoting the genuine concern for the safety and satisfaction of customers by providing quality products and services

Newsletters

CAAG produces a quality newsletter on a quarterly basis that gives the latest in information involving the industry and the association.  This includes technical information as well as any other news that members should be made aware. 

Emails

Emails are sent to members on an “as needed” basis whenever there is information that is of interest to our members. This includes Legislative Updates or Alerts, Questions that other members have, technical advisories, surveys and any other information of a timely nature.  We certainly do not send junk emails or information that is of a trivial basis.  We recognize that your time is valuable and do not want to waste it with irrevilent emails.

Legislative Alerts Mailed / Faxed

Some of our members do not use the internet so we mail or fax information such as Legislative Alerts and Meeting information which are time sensitive to those who do not receive email.