• • Delaware General Assembly goes back in session
• • Legislative Breakfast with US Congresswoman Rochester 2/19
• • ABC HobNob event - April 30 - Register Now
• • ABC comments on Sussex County/DelDOT MOU
• • Have your voice heard in Dover by signing up for Voter Voice
• • U.S. House ProAct bad for Merit Shop contractors
• • Employer Update: OSHA Civil Monetary Penalties Increase

 The Delaware General Assembly reconvened for its 2020 session on Tuesday, January 14. The big news so far was Governor John Carney and House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst announcing a $50 million investment in Clean Water in Delaware. From storm water, waste water, drinking water and flood abatement, these issues will see over $100 million in funding, once matching funds are added. This level of funding will cover the next 5-10 years, instead of having to go back for money year after year.  This bill not only addresses drinking water in areas like Ellendale and Blades but also flooding downstate and stormwater remediation upstate. The Governor also announced $50 million to build a new a school and upgrade current schools in Wilmington. During his State of the State Address he outlined how the money would be spent. The school would replace Bancroft School and includes funding for major renovations to Stubbs Early Education Center and Bayard School, the two other Christina facilities in Wilmington. Finally, he noted plans to create a One Stop website for citizens where they can buy park passes, register to vote and more, much like the recently created one stop site for businesses. He is also creating a Site Readiness Fund to help quickly convert properties to meet the needs of prospective employers and expanding the EDGE grant to support small business.  

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ABC will be hosting Congresswoman Lisa Blunt-Rochester for breakfast on February 19 at the Christiana Hilton from 8:30 - 10 a.m.  She is a leading voice in Congress on economic and work-related issues and serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  She is the former Delaware Secretary of Labor and State Personnel Director.  The cost for the breakfast is $25/person. To register, click here.

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ABC's newest Legislative event, Hobnob is set for its 2nd year on April 30, 2020 on The Green across from Legislative Hall in Dover.  HobNob is a lunch with the Governor, his Cabinet Secretaries , State Representatives and State Senators to discuss issues affecting our industry and your company.  It runs from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. with lunch and transportation from the Blue Hen Mall in Dover.  This year our guest speaker is Kayleen McCabe, national construction worker and speaker who will be talking about workforce development.  You can learn more about Kayleen by accessing her website here.  Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings will also be speaking.

Admission is Free for you and your employees (no limit on the number you can bring).  Following the conclusion of the event, we venture across the street to Legislative Hall to see politics in action and meet any state legislators that couldn't attend the lunch.  To register, click here.  

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ABC recently sent comments to the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Committee on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with DelDOT.  The MOU has been in place since 1998 but was recently updated.  

ABC Delaware believes it is critically important that language in the MOU is done correctly as it is critical to future development and livability for Sussex County. ABC recognizes that uncoordinated, poorly regulated development and dangerous traffic congestion is harmful to the County's residents and environment. This new MOU represents an opportunity to assure that future development enhances the quality of life, environment and economy in Sussex County.

For a copy of ABC's letter, please click here.

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ABC Delaware is encouraging all members and their employees to sign up for Voter Voice and communicate with their state legislators.  Voter Voice is our grassroots online program that matches you with your State Representative and State Senator with one click.  All you have to do is sign up with your name, address and email.  When ABC needs you to contact your legislator, we will send you an e-mail with instructions and a sample note.  You can either send that note, edit it or write your own.  Press the send button when your finished and it is sent directly to them from you.  It's a great way to get involved in the political process and have your voice heard either on an issue effecting your business or your company.  To sign up for voter voice, click here.  

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House Democrats in Washington are pushing for a floor vote on the ABC-opposed Protecting the Right to Organize Act. While a vote likely won't come until after the Martin Luther King Day recess, the bill currently has 218 cosponsors (a majority of the House) and it would be expected to pass if put on the floor.

The provisions below are only some of the several of the bad provisions that the PRO Act contains. Recently, these were poll-tested by GS strategy Group for CDW, the ABC-led coalition that is leading the fight against the PRO Act.

• Repeal all state-passed right-to-work laws
• Limit an employer's communication with employees about a union trying to organize that workplace
• Require companies turn over sensitive employee records, like cell phone numbers and home addresses to union organizers
• Limits the right to a secret ballot for union elections in favor of systems where a person's vote is public
• Limits the ability of individuals to work as independent contractors
• Allows unions to strike, boycott or protest any company that does business with another company that is involved in a labor dispute

It is critical that ABC members reach out to their lawmakers, especially in swing districts, to push for them to oppose Democratic leadership from providing a floor vote on this dangerous bill. A fact sheet on the proposed legislation is available here, ABC Delaware will be holding a seminar for contractors outlining this legislation on March 19 at 8:30 a.m.  The cost is free but you must register by clicking here.

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On January 15, pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act, the U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule to adjust for inflation the civil monetary penalties assessed or enforced by the department, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, for 2020. This final rule went into effect on January 15, 2020. As provided by the Inflation Adjustment Act, the increased penalty levels apply to any penalties assessed after the effective date of this rule.

States that operate their own Occupational Safety and Health Plans are required to adopt maximum penalty levels that are at least as effective as federal OSHA's.

Below are the maximum penalty amounts adjusted for inflation as of January 15, 2020, according to OSHA's website.

For more information, click OSHA's website.

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