12/23/2014 - New Law Replaces Mandatory Tuberculosis Testing Requirements
A new law goes into effect on January 1, 2015 which
replaces the current tuberculosis testing requirements for school
employees and volunteers.
12/23/2014 - Implementation of New Provider Networks
New Medical Provider Networks (MPNs) are being
implemented effective January 1, 2015. This Briefing outlines the new
program and how it will affect employers and injured workers.
12/16/2014 - Update: California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act
The California Department of Industrial Relations
has published FAQs regarding the new paid sick leave law. This Briefing
provides important resources and links to help you comply with the new
law.
11/19/2014 - AB 1433 and SB 967: New State Laws Will Impact Sexual Assault Policies on California College Campuses
AB 1433 and SB 967 will have an impact on how
college campuses deal with allegations of violent crimes. This Briefing
offers background and details of these two new laws.
11/7/2014 - 2015 Benefit Limits for Health & Welfare Plans
The federal government has released the benefit limits for 2015.
11/4/2014 - California Legislative Update for Property & Casualty Bills
This Briefing highlights important bills that were
signed and, in one case, vetoed by Governor Brown in 2014 that pertain
to California schools’ property and liability programs.
10/17/2014 - SB 1266 Effective January 1, 2015 – Required Emergency Epinephrine Auto-Injectors In Schools
SB 1266 will require certain local education
agencies to provide emergency epinephrine auto-injectors to school
nurses and employees who volunteer to be trained. This Briefing
describes requirements, training to staff, and costs associated with the
new law.
10/9/2014 - AB 1432: Effective January 1, 2015 – Required Annual Training of Mandated Reporters
AB 1432 will require California school districts to
annually train mandated reporters on their child abuse reporting
obligations under the law. This Briefing details training and tracking
requirements and offers resources to assist in compliance.
10/9/2014 - Health Care Reform: Transitional Reinsurance Program Fee
The Affordable Care Act establishes a Transitional
Reinsurance Program (TRP) designed to help stabilize premiums in the
individual market from 2014 through 2016. This Briefing outlines who is
required to pay the TRP fee, the amounts due and the deadline for
payment.
REVISED VERSION
10/2/2014 - AB 2053: New Law Requires Supervisor Training Regarding Abusive Conduct
Effective January 1, 2015, AB 2053 will require all
California governmental employers to provide employee training on the
prevention of abusive conduct at work. This Briefing explains the new
training requirement and how Keenan can help.
10/1/2014 - Health Care Reform: New Cafeteria Plan Election Changes
On September 18, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service
issued IRS Notice 2014-55 to expand the rules relating to mid-year
cafeteria plan election changes. This Briefing details the conditions
under which employees are allowed to change their elections.
9/28/2014 - SB 863 Medical Provider Network Regulations: Final Regulations Approved
The Department of Workers’ Compensation has received
approved regulations regarding SB 863. This Briefing describes what
employers can expect regarding the new Medical Provider Network
regulations.
9/23/2014 - California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 FAQ
Effective July 1, 2015, the California Healthy
Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 will entitle eligible employees
to up to six (6) days of paid sick leave per year. This Briefing
presents answers to many of the questions that employers have about the
new law.
8/12/2014 - Certificate of Consent to Self-Insure: Important Reminders Regarding Posting Requirements
Self-insured employers in California are required to
post their Certificate of Consent to Self-Insure. This Briefing reviews
posting requirements and provides important reminders to help ensure
you are in compliance.
8/7/2014 - GASB Exposure Draft: Proposed Changes in Public Agency OPEB Reporting
This Briefing describes two new drafts approved by
the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) that, when finalized,
will change how governmental employers calculate and report the costs
and obligations associated with OPEB.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Determining Full-Time Status Part VI – Change in Measurement Methods
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added section 4980H to
the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC section 4980H, an Applicable
Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a penalty if it fails to offer
its ACA defined full-time employees, and their dependents, minimum
essential coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value. The
final regulations provide two methods for tracking employees and
determining their full-time status – the Monthly Measurement Method and
the Look-Back Measurement Method. This Briefing, the last in a six-part
series, describes the rules governing changes in employment status that
cause an employee to transition from one measurement method to the
other.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Determining Full-Time Status Part V – Rehire Rules & Breaks-in-Service
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added section 4980H to
the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC section 4980H, an Applicable
Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a penalty if it fails to offer
its ACA defined full-time employees, and their dependents, minimum
essential coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value. This
Briefing, the fifth in a six-part series, describes the rules governing
employees who are rehired after terminating employment or who resume
working after a break-in-service in order to determine full-time status.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Determining Full-Time Status Part IV – Look-Back Measurement Method
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added section 4980H to
the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC section 4980H, an Applicable
Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a penalty if it fails to offer
its ACA defined full-time employees, and their dependents, minimum
essential coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value. This
Briefing, the fourth in a six-part series, describes additional rules
governing new employees under the Look-Back Measurement Method, one of
two methods for determining full-time status.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Determining Full-Time Status Part III – Look-Back Measurement Method
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added section 4980H to
the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC section 4980H, an Applicable
Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a penalty if it fails to offer
its ACA defined full-time employees, and their dependents, minimum
essential coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value. This
Briefing, the third in a six-part series, describes some of the rules
governing new employees under the Look-Back Measurement Method, one of
two methods for determining full-time status.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Determining Full-Time Status Part II – Look-Back Measurement Method
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added section 4980H to
the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC section 4980H, an Applicable
Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a penalty if it fails to offer
its ACA defined full-time employees, and their dependents, minimum
essential coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value. This
Briefing, the second in a six-part series, describes the rules governing
ongoing employees under the Look-Back Measurement Method, one of two
methods for determining full-time status.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Determining Full-Time Status Part I – Monthly Measurement Method
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added section 4980H to
the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC section 4980H, an Applicable
Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a penalty if it fails to offer
its ACA defined full-time employees, and their dependents, minimum
essential coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value. This
Briefing, the first in a six-part series, describes the Monthly
Measurement Method to determine an employee’s full-time status.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Calculating Hours of Service
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added section 4980H to
the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC section 4980H, an Applicable
Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a penalty if it fails to offer
its ACA defined full-time employees, and their dependents, minimum
essential coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value. This
Briefing explains how employers may calculate hours of service to
determine full-time status for purposes of IRC section 4980H.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Common Law Employees and Independent Contractors
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added section 4980H to
the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC section 4980H, an Applicable
Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a penalty if it fails to offer
its ACA defined full-time employees, and their dependents, minimum
essential coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value. An
ALE’s obligation applies only to its common law employees who are
full-time and does not apply to independent contractors. This Briefing
describes the factors employers should consider when determining whether
an individual is a common law employee or independent contractor.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Calculating Minimum Value
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added section 4980H to
the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC section 4980H, an Applicable
Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a penalty if it fails to offer
its ACA defined full-time employees, and their dependents, minimum
essential coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value. This
Briefing describes the methods available for determining whether a group
health plan provides minimum value.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Affordability Safe Harbors
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added significant new
reporting requirements to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC
section 4980H, an Applicable Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a
penalty if it fails to offer to its ACA defined full-time employees, and
their dependents, minimum essential coverage that is affordable and
provides minimum value (MV). The regulations for IRC section 4980H
provide three safe harbors ALEs may use to determine whether coverage is
affordable for an employee. This Briefing describes these three safe
harbors.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Offer of Minimum Essential Coverage
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added significant new
reporting requirements to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC
section 4980H, an Applicable Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a
penalty if it fails to offer to its ACA defined full-time employees, and
their dependents, minimum essential coverage that is affordable and
provides minimum value (MV). This Briefing explains what constitutes an
offer of coverage for purposes of IRC section 4980H.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Determining Applicable Large Employer Status
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added significant new
reporting requirements to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Internal
Revenue Code (IRC) section 4980H applies to Applicable Large Employers
(ALEs). This Briefing explains how to determine if an employer is an ALE
subject to IRC section 4980H.
7/18/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §4980H Transition Relief for Non-Calendar Year Plans
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added significant new
reporting requirements to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Under IRC
section 4980H, an Applicable Large Employer (ALE) may be subject to a
penalty if it fails to offer to its ACA defined full-time employees, and
their dependents, minimum essential coverage that is affordable and
provides minimum value. The Department of the Treasury released final
regulations for IRC section 4980H, which includes transitional relief
for 2015. This Briefing outlines the relief available to ALEs with
non-calendar year plans.
7/14/2014 - Workers’ Compensation January 1, 2015 Benefit Rates
The temporary disability benefit rates will increase
on January 1, 2015, based on the reported increase in California’s
State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW).
7/9/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §6056 Information Reporting by Applicable Large Employers
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added significant new
reporting requirements to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). IRC section
6056 requires each Applicable Large Employer (ALE) subject to the
Employer Shared Responsibility requirements of IRC Section 4980H to
report on their employer-sponsored coverage. This Briefing outlines the
reporting requirements under IRC section 6056.
7/9/2014 - Health Care Reform: IRC §6055 Information Reporting on Minimum Essential Coverage
The Affordable Care Act added significant new
reporting requirements to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). IRC section
6055 requires health insurance issuers, employers providing self-insured
group health coverage and others that provide minimum essential
coverage to report on the type and period of coverage. This Briefing
outlines the reporting requirements under IRC section 6055.
7/2/2014 - Family and Medical Leave Act: Proposed Changes Regarding Same-Sex Spouses
The U.S. Department of Labor recently proposed
changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that would expand the
availability of family leave to spouses in same-sex marriages,
regardless of their state of residence.
6/4/2014 - Legislative Update: AB 1266 – Available Resources for Implementation Guidance
The California Department of Education has yet to
release compliance guidance regarding AB 1266, this Briefing offers
resources to assist districts in developing policies and procedures to
comply with the new gender identity law.
5/21/2014 - Workers’ Compensation Update: Important Changes to Predesignation Regulations
Effective July 1, 2014, regulatory changes approved
by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) will take effect related to
predesignation of an employee’s personal physician or personal
chiropractor.
5/16/2014 - Covered California: Special Enrollment Period for those on COBRA
Beginning May 15, 2014 through July 15, 2014,
Covered California has a special enrollment period for those who are
currently on COBRA. This Briefing describes background behind this
decision and offers additional resources to COBRA beneficiaries.
5/2/2014 - Alert for San Francisco Bay Area Employers: Commuter Benefits Required as of September 30, 2014
Beginning on September 30, 2014, certain Bay Area
employers will be required to offer a commuter benefit to their
employees. The attached Briefing describes the new legal requirement and
how to comply.
4/25/2014 - Workers’ Compensation Legislative Update 2014
This Briefing updates the status of proposed workers’ compensation legislation in 2014.
3/19/2014 - Health Care Reform: Limitations on Out-of-Pocket Maximums
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) sets annual limits on a
plan participant’s out-of-pocket costs for in-network services for
essential health benefits. This Briefing details the 2014 and 2015
limits and rules for plans with carve-out vendors.
2/13/2014 - Health Care Reform: Employer Shared Responsibility Transition Relief
On February 10, 2014, the U.S. Treasury released
final regulations for IRC section 4980H, which includes some
transitional relief for 2015. This Briefing describes the new transition
relief available to employers.
1/14/2014 - Public Entity Self-Insured Annual Reports and Self-Insured Assessments
The Department of Industrial Relations, Office of
Self Insurance Plans recently issued the 2013-2014 assessment invoices
as well as an important change that will impact next year’s Public
Entity Self-Insured Employers Annual Report.
1/3/2014 - Medical Access Assistance Required for Medical Provider Networks
Effective January 1, 2014, a Medical Access
Assistant (MAA) must be made available to all injured workers
participating within an approved Medical Provider Network (MPN).