Public Policy
Second Week of PA State Budget Hearings Includes Discussion on Labor
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry During the second week of annual budget hearings with the heads of state agencies and state row offices, House and Senate Appropriations Committee members discussed a variety of issues related to the Wolf administration’s 2018-19 proposed state spending plan and related policy initiatives. At a Senate Appropriations Hearing…
Read MoreData Analytics: Health Data Should be Used For More Than Just Keeping Score
From ChamberChoice and Smart Business Pittsburgh Benefits consultants use data as a part of the consulting services provided to employers. The consulting strategy includes looking at health claims throughout the benefits year, creating reports and reviewing the reports with the benefits administration team. “But this approach of simply ‘keeping score’ of data doesn’t accomplish the goals of…
Read MoreLeadership Central Penn Gets Political
So you think you know what LCP stands for. So did the class participants. That might have been true until arriving at Central Susquehanna Community Foundation in Berwick for February’s class when LCP stood for legacy, change and politics. Punxsutawney Phil was seen this month, and the class welcomed back Tina Welch of Welch Performance…
Read MoreDowntown Improvement Plans Moving Forward in Berwick, Bloomsburg & Danville
Efforts to enhance the downtown commercial districts in Berwick, Bloomsburg, and Danville are moving forward. On Thursday, Feb. 22, the Berwick: The Next Step steering committee met with representatives of state and federal agencies as well as elected officials to provide an overview of the downtown enhancement plan. Several significant projects are currently being pursued…
Read MoreFirst Week of Budget Hearings Zeros in on Spending Plan Specifics, Job Creation
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry The first of two weeks of budget hearings was held last week, as lawmakers on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees met with the heads of state agencies and state row offices to discuss the proposed appropriations in Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2018-19 state budget, current issues facing each…
Read MoreEEOC Wellness Rules Have Short Shelf Life
From ChamberChoice It seemed like it had taken the EEOC forever to issue regulations as to whether employers could provide employees an incentive to participate in a wellness program and still have the program be voluntary. The issue of “voluntary” is important because under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) any wellness program that includes a disability-related inquiry…
Read MoreFinal Disability Claims Regulations Effective April 1
From ChamberChoice In Jan. 2017, it was reported that the Department of Labor (DOL) published final regulations governing the ERISA claims and appeals process that will apply to all claims for disability benefits. The effective date of the rule has been delayed from Jan. 1, 2018 to April 1, 2018. These regulations mirror amendments to the claims procedures for…
Read MoreGovernor Wolf Launches PA Business One-Stop Shop to Support Pennsylvania Entrepreneurship
From the Governor’s Office On Feb. 7, Governor Tom Wolf launched the new PA Business One-Stop Shop to serve as a sole source to guide entrepreneurs and small businesses through all stages of development, from planning and startup to operation and expansion. “I know first-hand how difficult it can be as a business owner to…
Read MoreRegulatory Reform Bills Advance in House and Senate
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry Last week, regulatory reform legislation supported by the PA Chamber was considered in both the House and Senate. The Senate adopted S.R. 226, which aims to help ensure the state is progressing toward a well-functioning and predictable regulatory and permitting program. The resolution requires an independent review of…
Read MoreReview of Employee Benefit Files Should Include Tax Cuts and Job Act Provisions
From ChamberChoice At this time of year it is less hectic in the Human Resource and Employee Benefit departments with the end of the year reports filed and open enrollment out of the way. It’s the perfect time of year for employers to pull out benefit records for review, confirmation and updating. Here are several…
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