COMMITTEE UPDATE
Spring Forum Session Materials Available Online
Did you miss the NCSL 2008 Spring Forum in Washington, D.C.? Session materials and presentations are available on the committee website. Session topics included business incentives, mine safety, aviation and economic development, and unemployment insurance.
NCSL SUPPORTS U.I. BENEFIT EXTENSION…AND MORE
NCSL Capitol to Capitol
Volume 15 Issue 17
May 13, 2008
House and Senate FY 2008 supplemental appropriations bills getting floor (House) and committee (Senate) attention this week would grant workers 13 more weeks of unemployment compensation benefits. NCSL formally backed this extension in a May 7 letter signed by North Carolina Representative Philip Frye and Washington Representative Steve Conway. The two representatives serve as the chair and immediate past chair of NCSL’s Labor and Economic Development Committee. While the letter supports the extension, it says state unemployment insurance agencies have experienced reduced [federal] funding. The letter adds that “it is imperative that Congress continues to collaborate with states to strengthen their unemployment systems… [and provide adequate resources for administering the program and supplement, not supplant, current state efforts.” The letter is available online at: http://www.ncsl.org/print/standcomm/sclaborecon/NCSLUIExtension050708.pdf.
IN THE NEWS
Stocks Turn Higher After Jobless Claims Report
New York Times
May 15, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street turned higher in erratic trading Thursday as a batch of reports pointed to an economy that is hurting, but not experiencing as rough a time as many investors expected after the near-collapse of the mortgage market.
N.J. enacts paid family leave
Stateline.org
May 14, 2008
By Christine Vestal
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) leaving Coopers University Hospital in Camden, N.J., where he was treated for injuries from an auto accident in April 2007. He is flanked by his children, who were able to take time off from their jobs to be with him. Corzine is one of only three governors who have signed paid family-leave laws giving all workers the ability to care for loved ones when needed.
DHS and State Announce WHTI Requirements for Land & Sea, WHTI Policies Advanced at Spring Forum
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced on March 27, 2008 the final rule for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The WHTI final rule requires travelers to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States. These document requirements will be effective June 1, 2009.
In addition to the release of the WHTI final rule, DHS is officially designating the Washington State Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) a WHTI-compliant document. As of March 24, Washington State had already scheduled more than 18,600 appointments for EDL interviews and issued more than 6,400 EDLs.
In related news, two WHTI-related policies were introduced during NCSL's Spring Forum, April 24-26, 2008. One focused on the costs of WHTI and would have superseded existing WHTI policy in the Labor & Economic Development Committee. It was referred to the committee, subsequently tabled and can be accessed here: http://www.ncsl.org/print/standcomm/sclaborecon/WHTI_DRAFT.pdf.
The other, an Action Calendar Resolution, called for the federal government not to mandate the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology by states. It came before and was passed by the Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce (CFI) Committee and can be found here: http://www.ncsl.org/print/standcomm/sccomfc/opsommer0408.pdf.
For more information on WHTI, EDLs, and Real ID, see NCSL's website at http://www.ncsl.org/standcomm/sclaborecon/whti.htm.
SENATE GETS COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING/MORTGAGE BILL
NCSL Capitol to Capitol
Volume 15 Issue 17
May 13, 2008
On May 8, the House voted 266-154 to send H.R. 5830 (Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank) to the Senate. This legislation would broaden the Federal Housing Administration’s loan guarantee program and prevent up to 500,000 foreclosures, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. NCSL and governors teamed up with North Carolina Representative Brad Miller and Ohio Representative Steven LaTourette on a successful floor amendment that keeps intact state foreclosure laws. The White House has issued a veto threat and the Senate is staggering toward mark up of similar legislation this week.
RECENT REPORTS
GAO Report: Workforce Development: Community Colleges and One-Stop Centers Collaborate to Meet 21st Century Workforce Needs
GAO-08-547, May 15, 2008
The community colleges that GAO visited developed various approaches and programs for career and technical training to meet the needs of industry sectors, individual employers, and certain types of students and workers.
DOL Unveils FirstStep Recordkeeping, Reporting and Notices elaws Advisor
U.S. Department of Labor, May 6, 2008
The U.S. Department of Labor today unveiled the FirstStep Recordkeeping, Reporting and Notices elaws Advisor — its latest tool to help employers comply with federal employment laws. This new suite of elaws Advisors is available at www.dol.gov/elaws/firststep.
2008 Highlights of State UI Laws
Strategic Services on Unemployment & Workers Compensation has released the 2008 Highlights of State UI Laws. The books are available for sale through the UWC web site book shop at: http://www.uwcstrategy.org/.
CRS Report for Congress
Current Law and Selected Proposals Extending Unemployment Compensation
April 24, 2008
This report examines recent proposals that would create a new temporary
extension of unemployment compensation.
