SUNSET COMMISSION QUESTIONS WHETHER ABOLISHING TRCC IS THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS
“ Texas history will record TRCC to be the hallmark of a bad state policy, driven by the building industry’s agenda to unnecessarily punish homebuyers for the mistakes of their builder,” said Janet Ahmad, president of Homeowners for Better Building.  “Homeowners helplessly stand by frustrated as their homes and values are falling all because of industry greed and higher profits without accountability.”

TRCC: It’s the Uneducated Consumers’ Fault
The Texas Residential Construction Commission defended itself today during a Texas Sunset Advisory Commission hearing. Just last month, the Sunset Commission’s staff made the unusual recommendation that the agency be scrapped because it did “more harm than good” for Texas consumers. Today, the representatives from the TRCC who testified before lawmakers did all they could to avoid taking blame. The general consensus of the TRCC commissioners was that Texas consumers needed to be more educated about the home building process...The “don’t blame us” argument from the agency didn’t sit well with consumers.

Groups Support Sunset Staff Recommendation to Abolish Builder Protection Agency
Homeowners who have seen firsthand the problems posed by the Texas Residential Construction Commission came to the state Capitol today to encourage lawmakers to abolish the agency. “The state should not burden taxpayers and further frustrate victimized homeowners with this agency.  We must eliminate government waste and remove bad policy.  The Texas Residential Construction Commission must be abolished,” said Carolyn Becka, Vice President of Texas Back Your Rights.

Consumer groups blast Texas homebuilders agency
The Texas Residential Construction Commission should be abolished because it is ineffective and shields homebuilders from liability for shoddy work, activists said Tuesday, echoing a recent state report. The commission, which was created in 2003, was skewered last month in a state review, which found the agency does not have the trust of the consumers to protect them from unqualified builders...The report found that in 88 percent of TRCC cases, consumers were unable to get their homes fixed. Some cases continue to arbitration hearings, but "there are a lot of people that simply throw up their hands in frustration and say the expense and time wasted at TRCC made it difficult if not impossible for them to move forward," said Alex Winslow, director of the liberal watchdog group Texas Watch.

Controversial Texas construction commission meed not be dismantled, lawmakers say.
Lawmakers indicated Tuesday that they want the much-maligned Texas Residential Construction Commission to be rebuilt, not abolished, as has been recommended. Sunset Commission chairman and state Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, told residential construction commission officials to work closely with Sunset advisers and to embrace changes, or else the agency could find itself slated for demolition by the Legislature next year.

Fed up Hutto homeowners call for change in building regulations
Residents of the Hutto Parke subdivision were joined by members of a newly formed advocacy group and a candidate running to represent Williamson County in the Texas House of Representatives today on the State Capitol steps to call for an end to the state’s current agency tasked with regulating the building industry and its professionals. Historically, Texas has held homeowner’s rights in very high regard, adopting some of the toughest homestead laws in the nation, “ says Avery. “However, Texas today, become a magnet for unscrupulous home builders, because our laws fail to hold them accountable for their mis-deeds.  â€œWhen did it become alright to sell a sub-standard home?" asks Maldonado. " When did the mortgages become commodities, and when did homes become disposable?”