Legislative Update for the Week of March 15
Proposed Rule Would Implement Executive Order Affecting Service Contractors
The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking that seeks to implement Executive Order 13495, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts. The rule would require that any federal service contracts and solicitations for such contracts include a clause requiring contractors and their subcontractors to offer existing employees the right of first refusal to take positions for which they are qualified under the new contract. Read the full post here. (March 19)
Senators Unveil "Blueprint" for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) released a framework for comprehensive immigration reform. Although a bill has yet to be introduced, the Senators outlined their "four pillar" reform strategy (1) "requiring biometric Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs; (2) fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; (3) creating a process for admitting temporary workers; and (4) implementing a tough but fair path to legalization for those already here." Read the full post here. (March 19)
Employee Benefits Security Administration Announces Availability of Revised Model COBRA Notices
The Employee Benefits Security Administration will publish in the Federal Register an announcement indicating that updated model COBRA notices which group health plans and other entities are required to provide to individuals eligible for the premium reductions and additional health care coverage election periods provided by the recently-enacted Temporary Extension Act of 2010 are available at its website. Read the full post here. (March 19)
House Releases Text of Reconciliation Bill; Congressional Budget Office Provides Final Cost Estimate
The House of Representatives released the amended Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872), a reconciliation bill that contains "fixes" to the Senate-approved Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590). Also, the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation released their preliminary cost estimate of the total health care package. Read the full post here. (March 19)
House Passes Another Temporary COBRA, Unemployment Insurance Extension Bill
The House of Representatives passed by voice vote the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4851), legislation that would extend the 65% premium COBRA subsidy until April 30, 2010, and the emergency unemployment insurance benefits until May 5, 2010. On March 2, President Obama signed into law the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4691), a bill that extended the COBRA subsidy until March 31, 2010, and emergency unemployment insurance benefits until April 5, 2010. Read the full post here. (March 19)
Obama Signs HIRE Act into Law
President Obama signed into law the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act (H.R. 2847), the scaled-down jobs bill that provides employers with various tax breaks for hiring and retaining previously unemployed workers. Read the full post here. (March 18)
Bill Would Create Award for Employers that Implement Work-Life Balance Policies
Reps. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA) introduced the Work-Life Balance Award Act (H.R. 4855), legislation that would establish an award for employers that develop and implement work-life balance policies, and directs the Department of Labor to create a work-life balance advisory board to develop eligibility criteria for employers. Read the full post here. (March 17)
Bill Would Provide Labor Secretary with Greater Review Over State OSH Plans
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced the Ensuring Worker Safety Act (H.R. 4864), a bill that would allow the Secretary of Labor to review and order reforms on underperforming state Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) plans without first ordering their termination. Read the full post here. (March 17)
Subcommittee Holds Hearing on PAWA's Penalty Provisions
The Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on the penalty provisions contained in the Protecting America's Workers Act (H.R. 2067). A companion bill (S. 1580), previously introduced by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), would amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act by expanding its coverage, increasing whistleblower protections, and enhancing employer penalties for violations, among other significant changes. Read the full post here. (March 16)
OSHA to Revise Hexavalent Chromium Notification Requirements
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that revises the notification requirements in the exposure determination provisions of the standards for hexavalent chromium ("Cr(VI)"). Read the full post here. (March 16)
Financial Overhaul Bill Includes Say-on-Pay Provisions
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) introduced comprehensive financial reform legislation that includes provisions providing public corporate shareholders with an advisory vote on executive pay, and allowing them to nominate members of the board of directors through proxy ballots. Read the full post here. (March 15)
House Begins Consideration of Health Care Legislation
In what is widely believed to be the final sprint toward health care reform, the House Budget Committee will begin markup of a 2,309-page reconciliation bill that is expected to be the vehicle for changes to the Senate-passed health care bill as well as changes to the federal student lending program. Read the full post here. (March 15)
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