Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
The following is a summary of the legislative and regulatory news for the week of April 5, 2009:
Agency Changes
President Obama has named Jane Oates as his nominee for assistant secretary of the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
Jordan Barab has been appointed as both deputy assistant secretary and acting assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Employee Benefits
The Internal Revenue Service has released guidance on the COBRA premium subsidy provided for in the stimulus package. The Department of Labor (DOL) has likewise issued expanded guidance on the COBRA subsidy notice requirements.
Immigration
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will continue to accept applications for initial H-1B status more than a week after the filing season opened.
Workplace Safety
OSHA has released a guidance document on assigned protection factors for respirators. The agency has also released a revised Field Operations Manual.