A C D F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V W
CCH® State Law Changes are updated at least semi-monthly. They are brief summaries of information contained in Human Resources Management State Employment Law and Employment Practices Guide, CCH InternetSM Research Network™ (IRN) subscription products. You must be a subscriber to these products to access the IRN links in the monthly compilations.

November 30, 2004 Update
AlabamaTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
AlaskaTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
ArizonaTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
ArkansasTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
CaliforniaTop of Page

Health Insurance Benefit Coverage Law
Under the Health Insurance Act of 2003 (Ch. 673 (S. 2), L. 2003, enacted October 6, 2003), certain employers would have been required to provide health insurance to their employees as a benefit starting in 2006. The law was put before California voters on November 2, 2004, however, and the legislation was rejected, thereby negating its effect (Proposition 72, November 2, 2004).
ColoradoTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
ConnecticutTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
DelawareTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
D.C.Top of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
FloridaTop of Page
Minimum Wage Law
On November 2, 2004, Florida voters approved a measure that establishes a state minimum wage of $6.15 per hour, to be effective six months after enactment.

Preemployment Inquiries Law
Background check provisions relating to certain school workers have been amended (Ch. 2004-295 (S. 2986), L. 2004).

GeorgiaTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
HawaiiTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
IdahoTop of Page
Fair Employment Practices Law
Governor Dirk Kempthorne has signed an executive order to implement the Idaho Code of Fair Employment Practices for state employees (Executive Order No. 2004-05).
IllinoisTop of Page
Child Labor Law
The state's child labor law has been amended with respect to employer reporting of minors' work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses (H. 6648, L. 2003).
IndianaTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
IowaTop of Page
Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The English version of the state's unemployment poster has been updated. Also, the job safety and health poster has been updated.
KansasTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
KentuckyTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
LouisianaTop of Page
Holiday and Vacation Law
The state has amended its legal holidays law to designate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday as a mandatory legal holiday in the state, to be observed on the third Monday of January of each year or in conjunction with the day of the federal observance (Act 740 (H. 20), L. 2004).
MaineTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
MarylandTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
MassachusettsTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
MichiganTop of Page
Minimum Wage Law
Until April 30, 2005, the living wage rates for Washtenaw County are as follows: $9.42 per hour with employer-provided health care benefits, and $11.06 per hour if the employer does not provide health care benefits.
MinnesotaTop of Page

Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The English versions of the state's minimum wage and age discrimination posters have been updated.

Unemployment Insurance Law
The taxable wage base in Minnesota for 2005 increases to $23,000 from $22,000 in 2004.

MississippiTop of Page
Child Support Enforcement Law
The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act has been amended (S. 2851, L. 2004).
MissouriTop of Page

Preemployment Inquiries Law
The state's background checks law has been amended with respect to certain people who work with children (H. 1453, L. 2004).
MontanaTop of Page
Disability Law
On November 2, 2004, Montana voters approved a medical marijuana law. The law does not, however, require employers to accommodate the medical use of marijuana in any workplace (Initiative No. 148).

Health Insurance Benefit Coverage Law
On November 2, 2004, Montana voters approved a medical marijuana law. The law does not, however, require health insurers to reimburse costs associated with the medical use of marijuana (Initiative No. 148).
NebraskaTop of Page
Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The English versions of the state's minimum wage and job safety posters have been updated.
NevadaTop of Page
Minimum Wage Law
In the November 2, 2004, general election, Nevada voters approved a ballot measure to increase the minimum wage through amendment of the Nevada Constitution; however, Section 2 of Article 19 of the Constitution requires such an amendment to be approved one more time by voters in 2006 before the measure can take effect. Nevada voters said "yes" to Ballot Question No. 6, which calls for a new section to be added to Article 15 of the Nevada Constitution that would require employers to pay $6.15 an hour to employees if the employer does not provide health benefits, but would require the employer to pay employees $5.15 an hour if health benefits are in place. The measure also calls for the minimum wage rate to increase along with any increases in the federal rate over $5.15 an hour or, if greater, by the cumulative increase in the cost of living as measured by the Consumer Price Index (Ballot Question #6, November 2, 2004).
New HampshireTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
New JerseyTop of Page
Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The English version of the state's Conscientious Employee Protection Act poster has been updated.
New MexicoTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
New YorkTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
North CarolinaTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
North DakotaTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
OhioTop of Page

Preemployment Inquiries Law
The state's background checks law has been amended with respect to certain people who work with children (H. 106, H. 117, and H. 306, L. 2003).

Criminal Background Checks Law
Persons having contact with children, mentally disabled and elderly are required to submit fingerprints and undergo a criminal records check. Title 1, Chapter 109, Section 109.572, as amended by H.B. 306, L. 2003, effective July 23, 2004 and H.B. 117, L. 2003, effective Sept. 3, 2004. ¶36-23,600.11.

Criminal Background Checks Law
The law pertaining the employment of employees in foster homes has been amended. Title 21, Chapter 2151, Section 2151.86, as amended by H.B. 117, L. 2003, effective Sept. 3, 2004. ¶36-23,600.31.
OklahomaTop of Page

Family, Medical and Parental Leaves Law
State employees may use compensatory time to account for authorized absences covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (S. 1385, L. 2003).

Plant Closing Law
The provisions relating to reductions in force affecting state employees have been amended (S. 1385, L. 2003).

Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The state's minimum wage posters have been updated.
OregonTop of Page
Minimum Wage Law
The City of Portland has adjusted its fair wage rate.
PennsylvaniaTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
Puerto RicoTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
Rhode IslandTop of Page
Health Insurance Benefit Coverage Law
The Rhode Island Health Care Reform Act of 2004 contains new provisions regarding health plan loss information and employers' rights (Ch. 406 (S. 3103), L. 2003).
South CarolinaTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
South DakotaTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
TennesseeTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
TexasTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
UtahTop of Page

COBRA Law
The state's COBRA law has been extensively revised (Ch. 108 (H. 207), L. 2004).

Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The English version of the state's job safety poster has been updated.

VermontTop of Page
Holiday and Vacation Law
Vermont will recognize Memorial Day on the last Monday in May (previously, May 30) (Act 83 (H. 183), L. 2003).
VirginiaTop of Page
Wage Payment Law
The law has been amended to allow for payment of wages or salaries by credit to a prepaid debit card or card account from which the employee is able to withdraw or transfer funds (Ch. 358 (H. 472), L. 2004).
WashingtonTop of Page

Health Insurance Benefit Coverage Law
The state has amended its law relating to access to health insurance for small employers and their employees (H. 2460, L. 2003).

Jury Duty and Court Attendance Leave Law
The law relating to leave for crime victims and witnesses has been amended
(S. 6472, L. 2003).

Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The state's minimum wage poster has been updated.
West VirginiaTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004
WisconsinTop of Page

Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The Spanish version of the state's fair employment poster has been updated. The health care worker retaliation poster has also been updated.

Violence in the Workplace Law
The state's antistalking law has been amended (Act 222 (A. 738), L. 2003).
WyomingTop of Page
No Updates as of November 30, 2004

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