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Legislative Update for the Week of February 22

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Littler Mendelson

Leg Roundup Image 132 by 140.jpgBill Would Strengthen Worker Benefits, Limit Executive Pay in the Event of Bankruptcy
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative John Conyers (D-MI) introduced the Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act (S. 3033, H.R. 4677), legislation that would strengthen employees' ability to recover wages and benefits and restrict the awarding of bonuses in the event of their employer's bankruptcy. Read the full post here. (February 26)

White House Health Care Summit Fails to Resolve Differences
The White House bipartisan health care summit produced no final legislation or agreement about how to proceed with health care reform. Democrats took the position that they would not start from scratch, and Republicans claimed they would not support the proposals that have already been put forth. Read the full post here. (February 26)

House Passes Bill Temporarily Extending COBRA, Unemployment Benefits
The House of Representatives approved by voice vote the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4691), legislation that provides brief extensions of unemployment insurance benefits and health insurance premium subsidies under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), among other programs. This stopgap measure would extend the COBRA subsidy through March 31, 2010, and unemployment assistance benefits through April 5, 2010. Read the full post here. (February 26)

Final Rule Regarding Civil Penalties Against Multiemployer Plan Sponsors for Certain ERISA Violations
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will publish in the Federal Register a final rule that outlines procedures relating to the assessment of civil penalties against sponsors of multiemployer pension plans for certain violations of section 305 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Read the full post here. (February 25)

Senate Passes Jobs Bill
The Senate voted 70-28 in favor of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, the $15 billion jobs bill introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) as an amendment to H.R. 2847, the more expansive jobs bill that cleared the House of Representatives three months ago. Read the full post here. (February 24)

Supreme Court Applies "Nerve Center" Approach to Diversity Jurisdiction
In what could be hailed as a victory for employers, the U.S. Supreme Court has made it less likely that a company can be sued in state court just because it conducts business in that state. Read the full post here. (February 23)

Obama Unveils Health Care Reform Proposal
President Obama's $950 billion plan contains many elements from the Senate-approved bill, including the requirement that most Americans obtain health insurance coverage and the creation of a health insurance exchange, but lacks a public insurance option included in the more expansive House legislation. Read the full post here. (February 22)
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