![]() Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont recently signed Senate Bill 1201, making Connecticut the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years or older. The new law not only requires expungement of certain existing marijuana convictions but also creates employment protections for recreational marijuana users. While these protections are more limited than those recently recognized in neighboring states New York and New Jersey, Connecticut employers should review current policies and practices to ensure they are prepared for the changes by July 1, 2022, the effective date of the new employment provisions. read more
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![]() In a recent opinion piece for Morning Consult, Michael Lotito, co-chair of Littler’s Workplace Policy Institute, explained his thoughts on the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021 (PRO Act), which passed the House of Representatives on March 9, 2021. The article notes that the PRO Act would make more than 50 significant changes to current law and overhaul the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 for the first time in more than 70 years. Lotito argues that the PRO Act interferes with individuals’ rights for those in states that wish to remain free of forced union membership. New PHI Report Offers 50 Recommendations to the White House & Congress About Direct Care Workforce7/28/2021 ![]() PHI recently released a report, Federal Policy Priorities for the Direct Care Workforce, offering detailed federal policy recommendations to strengthen the direct care workforce across eight key areas: financing, compensation, training, workforce interventions, data collection, direct care worker leadership, equity, and the public narrative. COVID-19 put the direct care workforce in the spotlight more than ever before - reinforcing the value of these workers. ![]() The First Special Session of the 130th Maine Legislature ended on July 19, with a flurry of votes on pending bills. Many of the newly-enacted laws, which were adopted with little debate, will significantly impact almost all employers in the state. read more ![]() Missouri Governor Mike Parsons and the state’s legislature refused to appropriate funding for the expansion earlier this year, triggering a lawsuit from three residents arguing that the state is required to implement the expansion. read more ![]() Home care was once again in the forefront on the national stage this week. President Biden, Vice President Harris, and guest presenter Tyree Brown all spoke at a White House press conference on Monday, to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). During his remarks, President Biden highlighted the importance of home- and community-based services, noting that “this past year the entire nation saw just how vital our caregivers are and how critical home-based care truly is for many Americans.” He touched on the proposed $400 billion for HCBS in the American Rescue Plan that will help people with disabilities and older adults live more independently. HCAOA & Association for Home & Hospice Care of NC Announce Partnership to Support Home Care Agencies7/21/2021 ![]() This week, HCAOA announced a partnership with the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina (AHHC) to support personal care and private pay agencies throughout the state. All agencies in the state are invited to participate in a joint webinar to kick off the partnership on Tuesday, August 3 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Agenda items include a federal regulatory and legislative update, a state regulatory and legislative update, an update from North Carolina Medicaid Deputy Secretary Dave Richard, a discussion about the caregiver shortage, and labor law updates for providers. OSHA Extends Comment Period on Emergency Temporary Standard, Offers Free Tools for Agencies7/14/2021 ![]() On June 21, OSHA published an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19. Last week, OSHA announced it will publish a notice in the Federal Register to extend the comment period for the COVID-19 healthcare ETS to August 20, 2021. ![]() By: Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. On June 12, 2021, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued an order dismissing a lawsuit brought by employees of Houston Methodist Hospital challenging the Hospital’s requirements for all employees to be vaccinated [Jennifer Bridges, et al v. Houston Methodist Hospital, et al, Case 4:21-cv-01774, (U.S. District Court for the District of Texas, June 12, 2021)]. MAINE: Court Finds Portland Hazard Pay Ordinance Constitutional, But Not Effective Until 20227/14/2021 ![]() Employers in Portland, Maine received long-awaited clarity Tuesday regarding a November 2020 voter referendum raising the city’s minimum wage and instituting hazard pay during states of emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 6, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously ruled in Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce v. City of Portland that the voter-initiated legislation establishing an emergency minimum wage was constitutional but does not take effect until January 1, 2022. Today, HCAOA joined with 60 other advocacy groups to send a letter to the House of Representatives supporting the federal Credit for Caring Act – a commonsense bipartisan bill to create a non-refundable tax credit for family caregivers who work.
![]() On June 24, Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) announced new legislation, the Better Care Better Jobs Act (S. 2210/H.R. 4131) which would strengthen home- and community-based services (HCBS) by giving states more money to expand access to their Medicaid home-based care programs and strengthen the home-based care workforce. "We continue to review and analyze various components of this legislation and will share our analysis with our members shortly, stated HCAOA Executive Director, Vicki Hoak. "However we immediately see the positive aspects: ![]() On Wednesday, June 9, the 2021 regular legislative session of the General Assembly adjourned, shortly after lawmakers adopted a two-year $46.3 billion state budget and annual capital program. Less than a week later, lawmakers reconvened for a special session to implement the budget and legalize the use of marijuana. |
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