Some complain new homeowner-rights bill not enough
News 8 has reported numerous stories of homeowners complaining of shoddy construction, and being left with expensive repairs. Lawmakers promised to find a way to hold homebuilders accountable, but some wonder if a bill passed Monday really does that...Unsafe and leaky construction has forced Dawn Richardson to move out of the new home she's still paying for. Richardson said the problem was mold, and the lack of a statewide code that would require homebuilders to meet specific standards. "The builders know they can't be held accountable, so I don't think that they are working to resolve issues," Richardson said.

Contractor watchdog faulted
The state agency charged with watching over construction in Arizona isn't doing enough to protect consumers, according to a report from the Auditor General's Office.The audit said the agency needs to fix a $5.5 million deficit in the recovery fund, which helps people who lose money to licensed contractors. A residential builder pays $300 initially to the fund and then $150 annually.

Test results prove dangerous mold in Bexar County Courthouse 
According to one county judge, it's mold that nearly cost her life. "When I first started getting sick, they were remodeling this courtroom," said County Court at Law No. 3 Judge Shay Gebhardt.

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 AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE AAA'S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ARBITRATION RULES EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 1996

The construction Industry Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") have been amended for cases filed on and after April 1, 1996.  Set forth below is a summary of the significant changes.  The rules pamphlet should be consulted for the specific changes, as well as minor stylistic changes that appear throughout.

                                                      Background
In June 1994, the AAA created the Construction ADR Task Force, comprised of 55 representatives of the construction industry and it advocates. The mission of the Task Force was to undertake a comprehensive review of the AAA’s Construction Dispute Avoidance, Management and Resolution Services, including rules, administrative policies, panels, binding and non-binding forms of ADR, education and training programs, and outreach, with a goal of improving AAA services and helping the AAA be more responsive to the needs of the construction industry.

Panel seeks independent probe of SAHA
After listening to a dozen angry residents complain about problems they're having buying homes in the taxpayer-funded Villas de Fortuna subdivision, the City Council's Urban Affairs Committee called Tuesday for an independent investigation of the San Antonio Housing Authority, which had the homes built. The proposal must go before the entire City Council for approval. As proposed by District 6 Councilwoman Delicia Herrera, the investigation would be funded by SAHA but controlled by the city, which would find independent investigators to look at the lease-to-purchase program, evaluate the agency's handling of residents' concerns and provide solutions to problems that have endured through three SAHA CEOs, three chief operating officers, and a slew of other officials.