TEXAS WATCH PRESS RELEASE: SUNSET STAFF: TRCC SHOULD BE SCRAPPED
Alex Winslow, Executive Director of Texas Watch issued the following statement: “Like many of the homes built by bad builders in our state, the TRCC is beyond repair.  We need to scrap it, go back to the drawing board, and implement a process that truly protects homeowners. “We endorse the Sunset staff’s recommendation to bring an end to the TRCC as we currently know it.  Lawmakers should replace the feckless TRCC with real reforms that ensure builder accountability, quality building standards, and true oversight and regulation of the homebuilding industry.  Instead of a builder protection agency like the TRCC, homeowners need an agency designed to serve their needs. “Consumers need real protections against unscrupulous builders who build shoddy homes, and the TRCC has never provided homeowners with that kind of protection.  Indeed, homeowners – not builders – are the ones regulated by the TRCC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2008
Contact: Alex Winslow, 512-381-1111

SUNSET STAFF: TRCC SHOULD BE SCRAPPED

Consumer Groups Support Staff Recommendation to Abolish Residential Construction Agency

AUSTIN – The staff of the Texas Sunset Commission today recommended abolishing the Texas Residential Construction Commission, a move supported by consumer and homeowner organizations.  Sunset Commission staff found that the TRCC fails to protect homeowners from the actions of bad builders and does not provide a meaningful process to resolve disputes between homeowners and builders.  In the report, the Sunset staff concludes that “anything short of a true regulatory program does more harm than good, and should be abolished.”

Texas Watch and a host of other homeowner and consumer organizations have long advocated for replacing the TRCC with real oversight of the homebuilding industry.

Alex Winslow, Executive Director of Texas Watch issued the following statement:

“Like many of the homes built by bad builders in our state, the TRCC is beyond repair.  We need to scrap it, go back to the drawing board, and implement a process that truly protects homeowners. 

“We endorse the Sunset staff’s recommendation to bring an end to the TRCC as we currently know it.  Lawmakers should replace the feckless TRCC with real reforms that ensure builder accountability, quality building standards, and true oversight and regulation of the homebuilding industry.  Instead of a builder protection agency like the TRCC, homeowners need an agency designed to serve their needs.

“Consumers need real protections against unscrupulous builders who build shoddy homes, and the TRCC has never provided homeowners with that kind of protection.  Indeed, homeowners – not builders – are the ones regulated by the TRCC.

“We look forward to working with the Sunset Commission and the Legislature to develop real solutions to the problems facing Texas homeowners” 

Created in 2003, the TRCC was billed a way to streamline disputes between homeowners and builders.  Unfortunately, the agency has exacerbated problems for homeowners by failing to properly police the homebuilding industry, imposing bureaucratic barriers, and failing to ensure that homeowners are able to have their broken homes repaired.  Since its creation, homeowners have called for the agency to be abolished or dramatically altered to serve as a consumer protection office.

You can see the full Sunset staff report along with its recommendations on the Sunset Commission’s website: 
 http://www.sunset.state.tx.us/81streports/trcc/trcc_hm.pdf 

N. Alex Winslow
Executive Director
Texas Watch