Law Changes

Alaska
Organ and Bone Marrow Donation Leave
Requires paid leave from employment for organ and bone marrow donation. The law provides paid administrative leave of a certain amount, unless the employee requests fewer hours. The leave time may include time spent on a screening process to determine whether the employee is a compatible donor.
Read the Statute - 2007 AK H.B. 252

Arizona
Employment Reports
Authorizes the Department of Economic Security and the State Health Care Cost Containment System administration to use reports required to be submitted by employers related to the hiring or rehiring of residents of the State to verify Medicare and Medicaid eligibility.
Read the Statute - 2008 AZ S.B. 1133

Colorado
Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program
Implements the nonimmigrant agricultural seasonal worker pilot program for the purpose of expediting recruitment, application, and approval of workers through the federal H-2A certification process. Requires the country of origin of each worker to perform background checks. Provides for employer requirements and employee benefits, including workers compensation. Also provides for identification cards for the seasonal workers.
Read the Statute - 2008 CO H.B. 1325

Preventative Coverage for Colorectal Cancer
Requires most health insurance plans to cover colorectal cancer screening. Limits cost sharing to 10% of the cost of the screening. Exempts small group basic health plans other than the high- deductible plan from the requirements of the act.
Read the Statute - 2008 CO H.B. 1410

Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation under certain circumstances.
Read the Statute - 2008 CO S.B. 200

Connecticut
Minimum Wage
Increases the state minimum wage to $8.00 on January 1, 2009 and $8.25 on January 1, 2010.
Read the Statute - 2008 CT H.B. 5105

Military Leave for State Employees
Allows certain employees in the Department of Correction to use paid leave time, part pay and accrue benefits while participating in certain military operations and when they return from service for federal or state post-September 11 anti-terrorism or homeland security-related duty, the Afghanistan war or the Iraq wars. Relates to equivalent leave time those in teaching or professional positions in school districts.
Read the Statute - 2008 CT H.B. 5111

Insurance Coverage for Autism
Requires insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorder therapies.
Read the Statute - 2008 CT H.B. 5696

Jury Duty Leave
Clarifies that employers must allow their employees leave time to serve as jurors, regardless of the shift worked by the employee, and may not require such employee to serve or work in excess of eight hours in any given day. Provides that an employer is liable for damages for violations.
Read the Statute - 2008 CT H.B. 5918

Conviction Information Accuracy
Concerns the release, sale and accuracy of conviction information. Requires consumer reporting agencies and other persons that purchase criminal records from the Judicial Department to obtain updated information from the Judicial Department and to delete erased records prior to further disclosing such records.
Read the Statute - 2008 CT S.B. 704

Automatic Enrollment in Retirement Plans
Relieves employers of liability for making employee contribution investment decisions on behalf of an employee who is signed up for automatic enrollment in a specified retirement plan. Covers payroll deductions made to an employee retirement plan.
Read the Statute - 2008 CT S.B. 157

Louisiana
Employment of Minors
Provides an exception to provisions prohibiting the employment of minors under a specified age. Provides that a minor may be employed if the minor's parent or guardian is an owner or partner in the business in which the minor is to be employed, the minor is at least a specified age and works only under the direct supervision of the parent of guardian, and the minor obtains an employment certificate.
Read the Statute - 2008 LA H.B. 738

Drug Testing
Allows any person, firm, or corporation engaged in construction, maintenance, or manufacturing at any refining or chemical facility to reduce or modify the initial cut-off level applicable to marijuana testing.
Read the Statute - 2008 LA H.B. 514

Maryland
American Indian Heritage Day
Makes a certain date a legal State holiday named American Indian Heritage Day. Provides that a certain paid holiday for State employees is for American Indian Heritage Day.
Read the Statute - 2008 MD H.B. 83

Minnesota
Consumer Protection
Modifies restrictions on the collection and use of Social Security numbers.
Read the Statute - 2007 MN S.F. 2390

New Hampshire
Volunteer Firefighters
Establishes a leave policy for state employees who are also volunteer firefighters.
Read the Statute - 2007 MH H.B. 1607

Oklahoma
Public Health and Safety
Prohibits the forced implantation of a microchip. Provides no person, state, county or local governmental entity or corporate entity may require an individual to undergo the implanting of a microchip or permanent mark of any kind or nature upon an individual. Allows the State Department of Health to impose a fine not to exceed a certain amount of any person who violates the law.
Read the Statute - 2007 OK S.B. 47

Tribal Contributions
Relates to the Employment Security Act and the Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Act. Provides an Indian tribe or tribal unit subject to the Employment Act will pay contributions under the same terms and conditions as required of nongovernmental employers unless the tribe elects to pay into the State Unemployment Compensation Fund.
Read the Statute - 2007 OK S.B. 1531

Whistleblower Protection
Relates to State government and the Whistleblower Act. Provides that an appeal made to the Merit Protection Commission must identify the person on whose behalf it is made and include the name, address and telephone number of such person. Authorizes third-party state employees who have knowledge of retaliatory action taken against a whistleblower to file an appeal. Provides for the appointment of an administrative law judge to hear the case.
Read the Statute - 2007 OK S.B. 2046

Pennsylvania
Clean Indoor Air Act
Establishes the Clean Indoor Air Act. Imposes duties upon the Department of Health. Imposes penalties. Repeals a related provision of the Fire and Panic Act. Relates to secondhand smoke.
Read the Statute - 2007 PA S.B. 246

Rhode Island
Family Military Leave
Relates to the Family Military Leave Act. Permits the spouse or parent of a service person to obtain leave from work while the service person is on military duty. Provides for continuation of group life, health insurance and disability insurance benefits at the employee's expense.
Read the Statute - 2007 RI S.B. 2760

Military Family Relief Act
Permits the spouse or parent of a service person to obtain leave from work while the service person is on military duty.
Read the Statute - 2007 RI H.B. 7774

South Carolina
Illegal Aliens
Creates the Illegal Immigration Reform Act. Requires public employers and public contractors to register and participate in the federal work authorization program to verify the employment authorization of all new employees.
Read the Statute - 2007 SC H.B. 4400

Tennessee
Background Checks and Child Care Agencies
Requires criminal background checks to be completed prior to employment at child care agencies or the Department of Human Services.
Read the Statute - 2007 TN S.B. 2708

Civil Air Patrol Members
Authorizes members of civil air patrol who are state employees to receive their regular compensation while participating in authorized training or emergency services.
Read the Statute - 2007 TN S.B. 3881