ABC, as part of a coalition representing more than 50 employer organizations, sent a letter Dec. 18 to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) urging them to delay issuing the Department of Labor鈥檚 (DOL) final persuader rule until it finalized a rulemaking scheduled for later this year that will make significant changes to Form LM-21, which employers are required to file when they hire a persuader. The final 鈥減ersuader鈥� rule is currently under review at OIRA.

The Obama Administration鈥檚 regulatory agenda was released on Nov. 20 and lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release in 2016, their final year. An update on rulemakings from a variety of agencies affecting the construction industry is below. 老牛影视has also published Newsline stories updating the status of rulemakings from theOccupational Safety and Health Administration听(OSHA) and the听U.S. Department of Labor听listed in the regulatory agenda. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)听

On Dec. 4, President Obama signed the Fixing America鈥檚 Surface Transportation Act (H.R. 22) into law, which included ABC-supported provisions that streamline the process for developers trying to obtain environmental permits and approvals for their projects.听

The Department of Labor (DOL) issued a听proposed rule听revising the equal employment opportunity regulatory framework for the National Apprenticeship Act on Nov. 6. Current regulations prohibit discrimination in registered apprenticeship programs on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and sex. The proposed rule updates the equal opportunity standards to include age (40 or older), genetic information, sexual orientation and disability among the protected base that cannot be discriminated against. It requires sponsors to take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in the registered apprenticeship programs.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released its latest regulatory agenda on Nov. 20. The agenda lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release in 2016, their final year. An update on rulemakings affecting the construction industry is below.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its latest regulatory agenda on Nov. 20. The agenda lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release in 2016, their final year. An update on rulemakings affecting the construction industry is below.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Oct. 30 issued a proposed rule under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) that would authorize employers who offer wellness programs to provide inducements for an employee鈥檚 spouse, who is also a participant in the employer鈥檚 health plan, to disclose their current or past health information. Under the proposal, total incentives provided to an employee and his or her spouse for participating in a wellness program that is a part of a group health program that collects this information may not exceed 30 percent of the total cost of the health plan in which they are enrolled.

A bipartisan group of legislators in the United States Senate voted 55-43 to pass a resolution (S.J.Res. 22) that nullifies the controversial 鈥淲aters of the U.S.鈥� (WOTUS) rule. The resolution was introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Ia.) following a procedural vote on the ABC-supported Federal Water Quality Protection Act (S. 1140), which was blocked by Senate Democrats in a 57-41 vote (short of the 60 votes needed to advance). The resolution also prevents the agencies from issuing a similar version of the regulation in the future.

On Oct. 27, the ABC-led Coalition for Workplace Safety (CWS) submitted comments urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to withdraw its proposed rule clarifying an employer鈥檚 continuing obligation to make and maintain accurate records of reportable injuries.

老牛影视is encouraging all members to call on their Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor and support the 鈥淧rotecting Local Business Opportunity Act鈥� (S. 2015/ H.R. 3459). This important legislation will help provide additional stability for contractors, subcontractors and their employees by restoring the 30 year old 鈥渏oint employer鈥� standard, encouraging local business ownership and employee opportunity.