President Obama signed H.R. 4851 into law on April 15, 2010. The new law amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) yet again to extend the 65% COBRA premium assistance through May 31, 2010.
Continue Reading LAW ALERT: Cobra Subsidy Extended Yet Again
On March 2, 2010, President Obama signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4691) that, among other things, extends the eligibility period for the COBRA subsidy provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for an additional 30 days.
On February 5, 2010, the EEOC issued a press release announcing the court approval of a $6.2 million settlement of its lawsuit against Sears, Roebuck & Company on behalf of 235 employees. The lawsuit maintained that Sears had an inflexible workers’ compensation leave exhaustion policy that terminated employees once they exhausted their workers’ compensation [leave] entitlement rather than engaging in the interactive process to determine if a reasonable accommodation existed to help return them to work. The settlement is the largest ADA settlement in a single case in EEOC history. Each of the 235 employees will receive approximately $26,300 in settlement funds.
Sacramento County’s Department of Human Assistance (DHA) is implementing a new subsidized employment program called the “Job Opportunity Program.” The Job Opportunity Program is a new job stimulus program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 and authorized under the federal TANF Emergency Contingency Fund (ECF). Through this funding the County will reimburse participating employers 80% of the employer’s subsidized employment program, which could include 100% of the employee’s wages for up to six months. Participants are men and women who have marketable skills but are currently unemployed or underemployed. Participants placed with an employer will closely match the established minimum requirements.
On January 19, 2010, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued model notices to help plan administrators and employers comply with COBRA notice requirements as dictated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”), as amended by the Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 2010 (“2010 DOD Act”).
Continue Reading LAW ALERT: Department Of Labor Issues Model Notices For The Extended COBRA Subsidy
