Viri Huerta

During Utah’s 2016 legislative session, a bill modifying the Workers’ Compensation Act to address volunteers was passed. The enacted bill (S. 76), which became effective May 10th, provides that volunteers are not employees for purposes of workers’ compensation, unless the nongovernment entity chooses to cover the volunteer with workers’ compensation coverage. A volunteer is defined Read more

Last year, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter signed the Wage Theft Law making amendments to Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code. Starting today, employers that violate the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law or the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law will receive higher penalties. If it is determined that wages are owed by the Read more

On March 23, 2016, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam signed Bill H 682. Under the new law, the Tennessee Code Annotated is amended by changing how business owners and employers prohibit weapons on their premises. An individual, corporation, business entity, or government entity may continue to display a notice that prohibits weapon possession on their property Read more

Effective August 1, 2016, handgun license holders are allowed to carry a concealed handgun on the campuses of public and private colleges and institutions in the state of Texas. Campuses cannot adopt any rule, regulation, or other provision prohibiting license holders from carrying handguns. As stated under enacted Bill S. 11, an institution of higher Read more

The Idaho Department of Labor has recently updated its mandatory unemployment insurance benefits posting. The posting revisions include a new color scheme, an equal opportunity statement, and a new unemployment insurance filing claim process. Before qualifying to receive payment, the unemployment insurance program requires applicants to meet the following conditions: be totally or partially unemployed Read more

On June 7, 2016, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed Bill S. 211 making payroll cards an approved form of wage payment. Under An Act Allowing Employers to Pay Wages Using Payroll Cards, “payroll card” is defined as a stored value card or other device used by an employee to access wages from a payroll card Read more

The Minneapolis City Council has approved the Minneapolis Sick and Safe Time Ordinance. Starting July 1, 2017, employers in the city of Minneapolis with one or more employees must provide employees with time off to address their health needs and that of their family members. Employers will also be required to provide time off to Read more

Minneapolis has become the latest city to consider a paid sick leave ordinance. If the City Council passes the Minneapolis Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance, employers employing six or more employees would need to provide employees with paid time off to address their health needs and that of their family members, as well as Read more

On April 18, 2016, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed the Medical Marijuana Act (Bill S 3). The law, which took effect May 18, 2016, legalizes prescription and use of medical marijuana by individuals with a serious condition. A “serious medical condition” is defined as any of the following: Cancer Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus Read more