In this Capitol Report:
- LEGISLATIVE ALERT: Paid Family Leave Bill Will Cost Every Employer
- PRESS RELEASE: Colorado Employers Release Statement on SB 188 Committee Hearing
- Colorado Chamber Board Update
- Attend a Council Meeting and Hear from our Guest Speakers
- Sponsorships Going Fast, Don't Miss your Chance...Sponsor Colorado Chamber's 2019 Annual Golf Tournament
- Federal News Blink
LEGISLATIVE ALERT: Paid Family Leave Bill Will Cost Every Employer
A new bill was heard this week in the legislature, called the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) bill or SB 188. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce is very concerned about this bills impact on businesses and workers in this state.
The FAMLI bill requires all public and private sector employers and workers to participate in and finance a family and medical leave program that would be administered by the Department of Labor and Employment.
Previous versions of this bill have been attempted in the past and have died on a bipartisan vote, in part due to the steep price tag. This bill is a $1 billion program, with all employers and employees in Colorado responsible for funding it.
An overview of our concerns are as follows:
- There are no exemptions for paying for the program: It will be mandatory for employers of all sizes, both public and private to pay a fee regardless of whether they already offer a paid leave program now. All workers will be required to pay for the program.
- The bill fails to align with the Federal Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which could result in potential “stacking” of leave in which a worker could be on leave for six months or more – 12+ weeks under FAMLI and 12 weeks under FMLA based on expansion of the definition of “family member” and the reduced amount of time required on the job – only 3 months.
- A worker can take up to 12 weeks of leave in a 52-week period. For a “separate qualifying event,” the worker can take another four weeks of leave.
- Every employer will be required to maintain the position for the full duration of a worker’s leave while finding temporary skilled workers to replace those on leave.
- An employer who has benefits that meet or exceed the program’s benefits cannot require a worker to take the employer’s current benefits. Both employer & employee will be required to pay for the program regardless of existing benefits.
- Employers will be required to administer the program but won’t be reimbursed for admin costs.
This bill is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, March 19th in the Senate Finance Committee at the State Capitol. If you share our concerns with this bill, we’re asking that you consider testifying in opposition to SB 188. For more information on the hearing, please contact Loren Furman at 303-866-9642.
We would also ask that you please contact the prime sponsors and legislators on key committees to express your concerns:
Prime Sponsors:
Senator Angela Williams, [email protected], 303-866-4864
Senator Faith Winter, [email protected]; 303-866-4863
Rep. Matt Gray, [email protected]; 303-866-4667
Rep. Monica Duran, [email protected], 303-866-5522
Finance Committee:
Senator Lois Court (D)
[email protected]
303-866-4861
Senator Pete Lee (D)
[email protected]
303-866-6364
Senator Paul Lundeen (R )
[email protected]
303-866-4835
Senator Julie Gonzales (D)
[email protected]
303-866-4862
Senator Nancy Todd (D)
[email protected]
303-866-3432
Senator Rob Woodward (R )
[email protected]
303-866-4853
Appropriations Committee:
Senator Rachel Zenzinger, Chair (D)
[email protected]
303-866-4840
Senator Dominick Moreno, Vice Chair (D)
[email protected]
303-866-4857
Senator Mike Foote (D)
[email protected]
303-866-5291
Senator Bob Gardner (R )
[email protected]
303-866-4880
Senator Dennis Hisey (R )
[email protected]
303-866-4877
Senator Julie Gonzales (D)
[email protected]
303-866-4862
Senator Bob Rankin (R )
[email protected];
303-866-5292
Senator Robert Rodriguez (D)
[email protected]
303-866-4852
Senator Nancy Todd (D)
[email protected]
303-866-3432
Senator Rob Woodward (R )
[email protected]
303-866-4853
Resources on SB 188:
Get the facts on the FAMLI bill
PRESS RELEASE: Colorado Employers Release Statement on SB 188 Committee Hearing
Senate Bill 188, the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) bill, was heard on Wednesday in the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee amid blizzard conditions.
A coalition of Colorado employers that represent millions of worker across the state joined together to release a joint statement on their opposition to the legislation.
Colorado Chamber Board Update
At last month’s board meeting, the Colorado Chamber welcomed its newest board member, Joanne Sherwood. Joanne is President and CEO at Citywide Banks and has built a solid career and reputation in the banking and financial services industry. She has over three decades of experience in banking and is currently serving as the Chair-elect for the Colorado Banker’s Association.
She is also an active board member with the Denver Hospice, a nonprofit providing hospice and palliative care services for patients and support services for families throughout nine Colorado counties. Joanne also volunteers with Arrupe Jesuit High School, a college preparatory school serving economically disadvantaged students from Denver’s inner-city neighborhoods. Previously, she served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Denver and the Home Builders Association.
We’re proud to have Joanne on board!
Attend a Council Meeting and Hear from our Guest Speakers
Policy Councils are at the core of the Colorado Chamber’s work and provide an opportunity for dialogue between our members, key legislators and state agency leaders. Influential guest speakers for upcoming councils are listed below
Energy & Environment:
March 27th: Representative Chris Hansen, Joint Budget Committee and Chair of Appropriations Committee
April 17th: Doug Benevento, EPA Region 8 Administrator
Please visit our online calendar for a complete list of council meetings.
Sponsorships Going Fast, Don't Miss your Chance...Sponsor Colorado Chamber's 2019 Annual Golf Tournament
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Federal News Blink
In positive momentum for employers, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled that employees in private sector unions no longer have to contribute dues for lobbying efforts & can instead request proof that dues are only used for purely representational efforts (often referred to as Beck objectors).
The Department of Labor has issued proposed rules to update overtime thresholds/exemptions to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Colorado Chamber weighed in and testified on behalf of our members during several overtime public comment forums in 2017 and 2018. DOL’s proposal has been submitted to the Federal Register for printing & public comments will begin shortly after publication. The biggest changes put forth for public comment are:
- Increasing the weekly threshold for “white collar” exempt employees from $455/week ($23,660 annually) to $679/week ($35,308) for overtime. (Almost exactly halfway between the previous threshold and the $47,476 threshold proposed by the Obama Administration)
- Updating annual minimum compensation for highly compensated employees exemption from $100,000 to $147,414.
- Proposal does not include automatic or periodic updates, but DOL has said they plan to revisit threshold levels every four years.
SAVE-the-DATE:
- Next Federal Policy Council will be April 9th!