June 11, 2020
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
Legislature Approves COVID-19 Liability Protections for Businesses and Individuals
The Iowa House and Senate have both approved legislation that will significantly limit the threat of frivolous lawsuits aimed at businesses and individuals regarding COVID-19 claims. SF2338 was passed by the House late last Friday night 52-44, while the Senate passed it 31-18 late Wednesday night. This is a very significant win for ABI and the business community at large because it will help give businesses the certainty they need to reopen and hire Iowans without the fear of facing a lawsuit in bad faith. ABI would like to thank Rep. Gary Carlson and Sen. Zach Whiting for their leadership floor managing this very important legislation. The bill will be sent to the governor for her review. We will be working to ensure this legislation is signed into law.

Businesses May Operate at Near Full Capacity
On Wednesday, Gov. Reynolds signed a proclamation that will largely reopen all businesses in the state. The  proclamation , which will be effective tomorrow at 8 a.m. and go through Thursday, June 25, allows restaurants, bars, fitness centers, salons, theaters, race tracks and other retail establishments to operate at a much larger capacity, and they must follow social distancing guidelines and other public safety measures from the Iowa Department of Public Health. The governor has been methodical in her approach to reopening the state and making her decisions based on the data presented to her.

More Public Policy Committee Meetings Open for Registration
The dates for the Economic Growth and Tax Committee meetings are set, and registration is now available for ABI members.  Economic Growth  will take place Tuesday, August 18, and  Tax  will meet Thursday, August 20. Both meetings will be in Des Moines at ABI. Meetings begin at 11:30 a.m. with lunch, followed by construction of ABI’s policies. This is an excellent opportunity for your company to help formulate ABI’s public policy positions for 2021.

Federal Spotlight: Trump Signs PPP Flexibility Law
Last Friday, President Trump signed legislation that eases the current rules of the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act.  H.R. 7010 , the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, does a number of things to help businesses who take advantage of the program. The bill extends the timeframe in which loan recipients must use their loans from eight weeks to 24 weeks or the end of the year, whichever comes first. The bill also changes the percentages in which loan recipients must use their funds. Previously, a person must have used at least 75% on payroll and were allowed to use up to 25% on non-payroll expenses. That now changes to a 60%-40% ratio. Several ABI members have been able to take advantage of the PPP, and we’re pleased Congress and the president have enacted this measure.

Initial Unemployment Claims Continue to Remain Lower
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) announced there were 10,112 initial unemployment claims filed by individuals for the week of May 31 through June 6. That number is slightly higher than last week, but still a vast improvement from what we’ve seen over the course of the last three months. In another positive sign, there was $40 million paid out of the unemployment trust fund for the same week, which is approximately $10 million less than the week prior. The number of continuing weekly unemployment claims was 162,562, which is down by about 3,000 from last week. The top sectors that saw the most initial claims filed included manufacturing (2,080); those not identified by industry including the self-employed, independent contractors, etc. (1,421); and health care and social assistance (1,010). Read IWD's  news release .
ABI UPDATE
Manufacturers Call on Iowa Policymakers to Protect Industry
On Tuesday, June 9, Iowa Association of Business and Industry President Mike Ralston and National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons called for thoughtful liability protections to ensure the manufacturing industry can continue to drive the renewal of America’s economy. The organizations support policymakers’ efforts in Des Moines and Washington, D.C., to protect manufacturers from baseless bad-faith COVID-19 lawsuits.

In April, the NAM released its “ American Renewal Action Plan ,” which provides a comprehensive list of policy recommendations to guide the country through the stages of response, recovery and renewal. This plan includes a comprehensive set of  pandemic liability policy recommendations .

“Everyone wants to get the economy open in a way that protects Americans’ health and well-being, which is why manufacturers have been leading the way to protect their workplaces and safeguard employees. Throughout this crisis, manufacturers have been working to do the right thing, providing vital supplies and essential products. Letting manufacturers now become the target of inappropriate lawsuits will stall our economic recovery,” said Timmons. “Iowa leaders can prevent this. Smart liability protections will ensure manufacturers can continue leading—and get more Iowans back to work.”

“Iowa manufacturers and their employees have been hard at work throughout this pandemic, doing all they can to keep themselves and Iowans healthy and to keep the economy moving. To now have them be the victims of improper legal action is simply wrong. ABI calls on Iowa legislators to act on this issue important to manufacturers and all Iowa businesses,” said Ralston.

Manufacturing Conference Workshop Proposals Due June 30
The deadline to turn in workshop proposals for the 2020 Advanced Manufacturing Conference is June 30. Email  Holly Mueggenberg for a proposal form.

Preferred topics include: 
  • Response to COVID-19
  • Digital transformation
  • Generational dynamics
  • Manufacturing best practices
  • Strategic safety practices
  • Building a culture of innovation
  • Manufacturing technologies
  • Workforce
  • How to attract high school students to manufacturing
  • Industry 4.0

The conference is September 30 at The Meadows Event Center in Altoona.
FROM THE DESK OF...
Are Your I-9s Ready for the New Normal?
Lori Chesser
Immigration Attorney
Davis Brown Law Firm

As you think about adjustments to your business related to COVID-19, it is time to make sure your I-9s are “healthy” and your I-9 process matches your new normal. Audits and enforcement have been suspended during the national emergency but will likely return with a vengeance given high unemployment rates and preparations the government has made to handle large audits.

To manage this risk, the first question is whether you will continue to work remotely, bring all employees back on site or have some combination of both. The answer will determine how you prepare I-9s going forward as well as how you make sure any I-9s completed during lockdown are compliant. Read more .
MEMBER NEWS
Get the Guide: How the Organizational Effects of COVID-19 Can Change Your Strategy
As economies reopen, many organizations have turned to how they should operate in the wake of the next normal. In a time of great operational uncertainty, how organizations can reopen and reposition themselves will be critical to their long-term success. Eide Bailly recently created a guidebook to help organizations think through reopening, and more importantly repositioning their organizations in the next normal. Get the guide .

EMC Announces Additional Pandemic Relief Donations
On Tuesday the EMC Insurance Foundation announced $525,000 in additional pandemic relief funding to assist families and small businesses struggling due to COVID-19. The dollars will go to two organizations: 1) $450,000 to Feeding America for school food pantries and other child hunger programs and 2) $75,000 to support the  Small Business Recovery Grant Program  offered through a consortium of public and private entities in Central Iowa. Read the full news release .

Buy ABI Program Update: Let UPS Help You Come Back Strong
As safer at home measures start to relax and we focus on rebuilding, lean on your ABI UPS Savings Program to address logistics challenges and deliver the tools and resources you need to help your business come back stronger than ever. To learn more visit: www.savewithups.com/iowaabi . Or call: 1-800-MEMBERS (636-2377), 8 a.m.-5 p.m., to speak with a member care specialist.
Upcoming Webinars Hosted by Members

The Impact of COVID-19: Cost of Care Impacts for Self-Funded Employers
Friday, June 12 | 1-2 p.m. | Gallagher |  Register

20 Minutes of Tech: Endpoint Protection for Remote Workers and Securing Data Offsite
Tuesday, June 23 | 11 a.m. | CEC | Register

Benefits During Breaks-in-Service, Leaves and Re-Hire Issues
Tuesday, June 23 | 2 p.m. | LMC Insurance & Risk Management | Register
GOVERNOR'S CLUB SPONSORS