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SBA announces $1M for grant awardees to establish new VBOCs. On Aug. 27, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced over $1 million to three organizations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico to provide funding to establish new Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs). The centers “will enhance training and counseling services for both new and existing veteran and military spouse small business owners.”
FINCEN previews events on beneficial ownership reporting education. On Sept. 6, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released a recap of its August events aimed at “educat[ing] small businesses and other key stakeholders about new beneficial ownership reporting requirements.” FinCEN also previewed its upcoming education events. The recap and preview of upcoming events are available here.
Biden administration issues final rules on mental health, substance use disorder care access. On Sept. 9, the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury issued final rules “to clarify and strengthen protections to expand equitable access” to mental health and substance use disorder care. The new rules “add additional protections against more restrictive, nonquantitative treatment limitations for mental health and substance use disorder benefits as compared to medical or surgical benefits.” More information on the final rules is available here.
DOL updates cybersecurity guidance. On Sept. 6, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) announced updates to its current cybersecurity guidance “confirming that it applies to allow types of plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act [ERISA], including health and welfare plans, and all employee retirement benefit plans.” EBSA’s new Compliance Assistance Release “provides best practices in cybersecurity for plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, recordkeepers and plan participants.”
DOL announces opening of public comment period for proposed rule on extreme heat. On Aug. 30, DOL announced the opening of the public comment period for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed rule for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings. The proposed rule, announced in July, “would require employers to develop an injury and illness prevention plan to control heat hazards in workplaces affected by excessive heat.” Comments to the proposed rule must be submitted by Dec. 30.
Biden signs “Good Jobs EO.” On Sept. 6, President Biden signed an executive order that “specif[ies] a clear list of labor standards that all Federal agencies should look to prioritize.” The “Good Jobs EO” also creates a new Investing in Good Jobs Task Force that will oversee agency implementation of standards that promote instruments such as Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), prevailing wage standards, and registered apprenticeships.
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