May Impact UI Trust Funds On January 19, 2024, the US DOL released guidance with state requirements with respect to reporting and reconciliation of federal reimbursements for payments for the unemployment compensation waiting week. See Instructions for Reconciling Funds Made Available to States Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act - Section 2105 (dol.gov).The [...]
On September 12, 2023, the US Department of Labor posted a notice requesting comments on ETA 227. This form is used for quarterly data collection concerned with identifying fraud. Data cells describe fraud identified through tools (State and National Directories of New Hires) and breaks out fraud cases in the Federal-State Extended Benefits program. See the [...]
On Friday, November 5, 2021 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect unvaccinated employees of large employers (100 or more employees) from the risk of contracting COVID–19 by strongly encouraging vaccination. Covered employers must develop, implement, and enforce a mandatory COVID–19 vaccination policy, with an exception for employers [...]
On Thursday, November 4, 2021 the Biden-Harris Administration released a press release describing emergency regulations requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers. See Biden-Harris Administration Issues Emergency Regulation Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers | CMS The press release references emergency regulations issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that may be [...]
The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released a statement providing guidance on the use of $350 Billion in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The release provided below includes links to a description of permissible uses and the allocation of funds by state and county. Local governments should expect to receive funds in two [...]
In response to opposition from UWC and an extensive list of employer representatives and workers’ compensation insurance plan representatives, the presumption of coverage and compensability for COVID-19 illness under the Longshore Act was taken out of the final version of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The deletion came as the result of a determination [...]
On Tuesday, March 2, 2021, UWC and a broad based coalition of business representatives submitted a letter of opposition to the inclusion of a presumption of workers’ compensation coverage and compensability for COVID-19 infection that was not in the course of employment and did not arise from employment. >> UWC and Business Groups File Opposition to [...]
The US House Ways and Means Committee has reported legislation language proposed for inclusion in the budget reconciliation bill for 2021. The language also seeks to address COVID-19 relief and economic stimulus. A summary of the UI related provisions addressed in the bill is available from the House Ways and Means Committee at 1.UI_sxs.pdf (house.gov) Click [...]
In one of his Executive Orders on January 21st, President Biden ordered the development of federal guidance for Occupational Safety and Health. The order addresses issues that are temporary in response to COVID-19 but also begins to address longer term issues. In particular, Section 2 of the Executive Order provides that within two weeks of the [...]
On January 22, 2021, President Biden signed a series of executive orders, including an order addressing economic relief. This order includes the following provision: Help ensure that unemployed Americans no longer have to choose between paying their bills and keeping themselves and their families safe from COVID-19 by asking the U.S. Department of Labor to consider [...]
