In this issue of the
Monday Morning Messenger
, check out the association's status update on the Railroad Commission's LP Gas Safety Rule changes.
Read our
On the Hill
section to find out what early Christmas present you're getting from Congress and the White House.
The new overtime rule is about to go into effect at the first of the year. Learn more if the overtime rule applies to your employees in the
Regulatory Reminder
of the morning.
Also, those of you who our National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) members who have a son or a daughter that is a high school senior or an undergrad can look into applying for college scholarships from NPGA. Check the details in our
Member Perks
section.
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MEMBERS ONLY
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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- In Brief
- Top Story: LP Gas Rules
- Alt Fuel Tax Credits
- Regulatory Reminder
- Member Perks
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CALENDAR
December 24-25, 2019
TPGA
& PSC Closed
January 1, 2020
TPGA
& PSC Closed
January 1, 2020
New Overtime Rule
Takes Effect
January 6, 2020
Mandatory Use of the
FMCSA Drug Clearinghouse
Required
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Railroad Commission of Texas
Approves Adoption of New LP Gas Safety Rules
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On December 17, 2019, the Railroad Commission met & adopted proposed changes to the LP Gas Safety Rules. The official rules changes will be adopted and reflected in the January 3, 2020
Texas Register
.
The new rules including new editions of the NFPA's (the 2017 edition of NFPA 58 & the 2018 edition of NFPA 54), will take effect on
September 1, 2020
with the exception of the deregulation of container manufacturers, which will go into effect June 1, 2020. After June 1, 2020, container manufacturers will no longer have to be licensed by the Commission, only register and provide verification of insurance verification.
TPGA will send a full analysis overview of the rule outcome once the rules are officially published in the January 3, 2019
Texas Register
and we've had time to consult Commission staff with any questions.
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RRC Holiday Closure:
In observance of the Christmas holidays, the Railroad Commission of Texas will be closed Monday, December 23, 2019, through Friday, December 27, 2019, and will reopen on Monday, December 30, 2019.
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! Alternative Fuel Tax Credits Extended !
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Congress and Senate have passed the extension of several lapsed tax credits through a Government Spending Bill.
It extends key alternative fuel tax incentives that have been expired since the end of 2017. Specifically, it extends:
• the alternative fuel excise credit retroactively for 2018 and 2019 and through December 31, 2020; and
• the alternative fuel infrastructure credit retroactively for 2018 and 2019 and through December 31, 2020;
You can't start applying for the credit yet.
TPGA will release more guidance on how to apply for these retroactive and prospective tax credits once information is released from the IRS in the New Year.
The bill also:
• includes $40 million for the DOE Clean Cities program;
• includes up to $781 million to alt fuel corridors program; and
• includes $87 million for the EPA Diesel Emission Reduction grants
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Employment Regulatory Reminder
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Reminder: New Overtime Rule
Effective January 1, 2020
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by Bill Cook, Human Resources Associates
Beginning on January 1, 2020 the new minimum salary for an Exempt employee will increase to $684 per week ($35, 568 annually).
In addition, the minimum salary exemption for highly compensated employees which has been $100,000, will be increased to $107,432. To reach the minimum salary level, employers may include non-discretionary bonuses, incentive payments and commissions that are paid at least annually, to satisfy up to 10% of that minimum.
The DOL estimates that 1.3 million employees will now be eligible for overtime. They recommend that employers take a closer look at the employees currently classified as Exempt to assure that they are properly classified. The options many employers now have is to raise salary levels to $35,568 or begin paying overtime or to ensure employees do not work more than 40 hours per week.
Aside from the obvious compensation and payroll tax implications, the impact of this may be significant for employers who include overtime compensation in the calculation for their retirement plan contributions. It could also bring about complications if the exclusion of overtime pay causes the plan to become discriminatory in favor of highly compensated employees.
If you are planning to review the FLSA status of your employees, these DOL rules may be useful. All Exempt employees must be classified under one of the following "white collar" areas,
CLICK HERE
.
!WHO IS NOT EXEMPT FROM OVERTIME?!
The
exemptions
provided by FLSA Section 13(a)(1) apply only to “white collar” employees who meet the salary and duties tests set forth in the regulations. The exemptions do not apply to manual laborers or other workers who perform work involving repetitive operations with their hands, physical skill and energy. FLSA-covered, non-management employees in production, maintenance, construction and similar occupations such as carpenters, electricians, mechanics, plumbers, iron workers, craftsmen, operating engineers, longshoremen, construction workers and laborers are entitled to minimum wage and overtime premium pay under the FLSA, and are not exempt under the Part 541 regulations no matter how highly paid they might be.
QUESTIONS?
Call the Texas Propane Gas Association and we can consult an employment expert on your questions. Also, National Propane Gas Association members have complimentary access to employment experts through NPGA
Member Perks
service, HR University.
Reprinted with permission with H & R Associates, HR University.
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NPGF Scholarship Foundation
Accepting Applications
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Students are home on winter break and it's the perfect time for qualifying National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) member children to tackle the NPGF Scholarship Application.
Last year, the NPGA gave 95 scholarships to exceptional students all across the country totaling $128,000.
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Application deadline is February 15, 2020.
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