The regulatory agencies (the IRS, DOL, and HHS) have started to fill in some (but by no means all) of the gaps in the Affordable Care Act guidance needed to implement the transformation of health coverage that is supposed to happen in 2014.
On November 29th, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a request for declaratory ruling filed by Soundbite Communications Inc. (Soundbite). The FCC held that a one-time text message confirming a consumer's request to opt-out of receiving text messages, if it meets specific requirements, does not violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
The employer, an electrical utility construction contractor, assigned its apprentice lineman (employee) to work at a site replacing old electrical power lines along Route 60 in New London, Ohio. The employer held a daily job-briefing in which it instructed workers that they were required to use protective rubber gloves and sleeves, (protective equipment) in case power lines became energized.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released final regulations on the excise tax imposed on the sale of certain medical devices (the Device Tax) under the Affordable Care Act. The Device Tax will impact the sale of any taxable medical device by the manufacturer, producer, or importer of the device, at a rate of two-point-three percent (2.3%) of the sale price.
On November 16, 2012, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) released the 2013 Updates to its U.S. Corporate Governance Policy (the 2013 Updates). The 2013 Updates will be effective for shareholder meetings on or after February 1, 2013, unless otherwise noted within the alert.
In Washington State Nurses Association v. Sacred Heart Medical Center, the Supreme Court of Washington held that when employees miss a legally mandated rest break, both the missed rest break and the additional labor provided during that missed break constitute "hours worked." In effect, missing a rest break extends the employees' workday, which may entitle them to overtime compensation under Washington law.
The federal government is increasing requirements for oil and gas operators. Pursuant to the recently published New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for the Oil and Natural Gas Sector, 40 C.F.R., Part 60, subpart OOOO, effective October 15, 2012, owners or operators of hydraulically fractured natural gas wells must notify USEPA not later than two days prior to commencing well completion operations.
The licensure process for intermediate care facilities (ICFs) currently licensed by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) as nursing homes has recently changed. ICF providers who are currently licensed by the ODH as nursing homes will need to apply for a residential facility license through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) by February 1, 2013.
The state of Ohio requires county auditors to reappraise properties every six years and update those values in the middle of that cycle. The auditors for several Ohio counties listed below are currently finalizing property values to meet this obligation.
The 2012 elections are just less than a month away. Many states allow employees to take time off, sometimes with pay, so that they can vote. The chart below provides a general overview of each state’s law as to time off, pay, and what, if any, advance notice is required before taking time off to vote.
With the November 6 General Election only five weeks away, the political campaign season is kicking into high gear. Here is a preview of the major candidate races and issues that will be on the ballot in Ohio.
On October 1, 2012, New York Stock Exchange LLC (NYSE) amended the proposed listing standards it issued on September 25, 2012 implementing the requirements imposed by Section 10C of the Securities Exchange of 1934 and Exchange Act Rule 10C-1.
The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission held its first meeting on September 13, 2012. The Commission was created through the passage of House Bill 188 earlier this year, and is tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the Ohio Constitution, and making recommendations to the General Assembly regarding changes to the Constitution, including recommendations for changes to the process for proposing constitutional amendments.
On September 25 and 26, 2012, respectively, New York Stock Exchange LLC (NYSE) and The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (NASDAQ) proposed amendments to their listing standards to comply with the requirements of Section 10C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), as set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10C-1, relating to the independence of compensation committees and compensation advisers.
After many attempts, it appears that clothing designs may finally gain protection in the United States. On Monday, September 10th, Senator Charles Schumer re-introduced a new version of what is now called the Innovative Design Protection Act (IDPA) to provide quasi-copyright protection to “fashion designs.”
The most significant changes under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) are scheduled to go into effect in 2014. One of those changes is the imposition of shared responsibility penalties on large employers that fail to offer health coverage to all of their full-time employees (or offer health coverage to full-time employees that is deemed to be unaffordable or inadequate).
