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December 7, 2020
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Featured Content
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OCA Joins the Coalition to Stop the Spread
OCA along with a number of other Ohio associations and business entities are members of the Coalition to Stop the Spread. Spearheaded by the Ohio Business Roundtable, this coalition was formed to provide resources to employers about how to respond to the pandemic. This effort is a coordinated statewide grassroots initiative designed to educate and motivate employees to champion safe health practices in their families, neighborhoods and communities.
The initiative is built on two core beliefs: First, employees trust their leadership to tell them the truth and second, that proven, tested behaviors will help protect employees’ families and their jobs. While millions of Ohioans are following workplace safeguards and are taking the necessary precautions in their daily lives, more needs to be done.
The Coalition is making a number of resources available to help employers encourage their workforce to champion healthy behaviors. On the Coalition's website you can find the following resources:
• Talking points to help employers discuss this challenge with employees.
• A sample message to employees that can be tailored to your specific situation.
• A fact sheet that clarifies common misunderstandings about COVID-19.
• Links to helpful resources shared by the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Hospital Association.
Feel free to use these resources as you see fit.
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News |
Tell President Trump and Congress to enact legislation this year to protect construction jobs by blocking a surprise federal tax increase of up to 37 percent on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness.
If Congress fails to act by the end of the year, thousands of construction jobs funded through PPP loans could be in jeopardy because, rather than 100 percent of PPP funds going to payroll, rent, utility payments, and mortgage interest, up to 37 percent will go to the IRS instead.
Click the "Take Action" button below and simply submit the pre-written message as is to President Trump and your members of Congress or customize it with personal information on how this issue impacts you and your employer.
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Enacted in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the PPP is one of the most impactful pandemic relief measures utilized by tens of thousands of construction firms to retain their employees amid the greatest economic disruption of our lifetimes. The terms of the PPP were supposed to be simple: if a qualifying small business takes out a federally guaranteed loan to pay its employees and cover other non-payroll expenses, the loan will be forgiven, tax-free.
While Congressional tax writers made clear that they intended for PPP loan forgiveness to be completely tax-free, the IRS disagreed. On April 30, in IRS Notice 2020-32, the agency decided that expenses associated with PPP loan forgiveness were not tax deductible. Then, on November 18, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2020-27. In that ruling, the IRS declared that expenses funded through a PPP loan are not deductible for this tax year if “the taxpayer reasonably expects to receive forgiveness of the covered loan on the basis of the expenses it paid or accrued during the covered period, even if the taxpayer has not submitted an application for forgiveness of the covered loan by the end of such taxable year.”
The effect of these IRS rulings are to transform tax-free loan forgiveness into taxable income, regardless of whether a business has applied for PPP loan forgiveness this year, raising the specter of a surprise tax increase of up to 37 percent (or higher, once state income taxes are included) on small businesses at the end of the year.
AGC urges support for legislation in the Senate (S.3612 sponsored by Sen. Cornyn (R-Texas)) and in the House of Representatives (H.R. 6821 sponsored by Rep. Holding (R-N.C.) and H.R. 6754 sponsored by Rep. Fletcher (D-Texas)) that would overturn the IRS’s position and ensure that PPP loan recipients are provided the full benefits intended in the CARES Act. AGC is asking Congress to not delay in enacting this legislation, and to pass it before the end of the year.
Taking action is easy. Simply click the below button to submit the pre-written message as is to your elected officials or customize it with personal information on how this issue impacts you and your company. If you would like to forward the alert to colleagues and friends, please wait for the instructions that will be included in the confirmation email after you take action.
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PUCO Nominating Council Seeks Applicants for Commissioner Position
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Nominating Council is seeking applications for the position of commissioner of the PUCO to fill a vacancy for the term ending on April 10, 2024. Applications must be delivered to the Nominating Council no later than 5 p.m. EST on Dec. 10, 2020. The PUCO Nominating Council is a broad based 12-member panel that screens candidates for the position of PUCO commissioner. After reviewing the resumes of all applicants, the Nominating Council will narrow the list to those most qualified for the position. On Dec. 21, 2020, the Nominating Council will meet virtually to interview the selected applicants and recommend four finalists to Gov. Mike DeWine. The governor will have 30 days to either appoint a commissioner from the list or request a new list from the Nominating Council. The PUCO is comprised of five commissioners appointed to rotating, five-year terms by the governor. The commissioners are responsible for regulating Ohio’s investor-owned public utilities. The full text of the commissioner position posting is provided below. For additional information about the PUCO appointment process please visit www.PUCO.ohio.gov. A copy of the position posting announcement can be viewed by clicking here.
Any questions should be directed to PUCO staff.
Ohio General Assembly Leadership Teams Named
In informal votes, members of the Ohio House and Senate elected leadership teams for the next two-year session beginning in January. In the Ohio Senate Matt Huffman (R-Lima) is expected to take the gavel as Senate President. Rounding out the majority leadership team is Jay Hottinger (R-Newark) as President Pro Tempore, Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) as Majority Floor Leader and Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) as Majority Whip. The Senate minority caucus has not yet elected its leadership team.
On the House side, Robert Cupp (R-Lima) is expected to continue as Speaker of the House. The rest of the leadership team will comprise of Tim Ginter (R-Salem) as Speaker Pro Tempore, Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) as Majority Floor Leader, Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township) as Assistant Majority Floor Leader, Don Jones (R-Freeport) as Majority Whip and Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) as Assistant Majority Whip.
The leadership team for the House minority caucus remains the same. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) will continue to serve as Minority Leader with Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) as Assistant Minority Leader, Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) as Minority Whip and Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) as Assistant Minority Whip.
Any questions on this or any other legislative item can be directed to Michelle Holdgreve, OCA Legislative Director at [email protected].
Biden Names Former OSHA Administrator to COVID-19 Taskforce
In a move heralded as a win for workplace safety, President-elect Joe Biden added a prominent workplace health expert to his Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board.
Dr. David Michaels is an epidemiologist and professor of environmental and occupational health at the George Washington University School of Public Health in Washington, D.C. He served as assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health from 2009 to January 2017, the longest serving administrator in OSHA’s history. Much of his research focuses on protecting the integrity of the science underpinning public health, safety, and environmental protections, according to the announcement.
The appointment comes after the nonprofit National Safety Council urged Biden to include a workplace safety expert on the task force, saying that having a workplace safety voice at the table alongside medical and health professionals is critical to combating the coronavirus crisis.
Construction industry health experts also expressed concern that Biden's original task force did not include an appointee specifically dedicated to the needs of COVID-19 safety in the workplace.
“It’s not part of our culture to think about work and health in this country. We don’t think about occupation as one of the social determinants of health,” said Jack Dennerlein, a professor at Northeastern University in Boston who studies occupational health and safety in construction, and who noted a lack of an occupational expert on Biden’s initial COVID-19 task force. “But if he really wants to get the economy running again, you’ve got to think about controlling it in the workplace so that workers can show up.”
The NSC praised the addition of Michaels to the team, saying that he brings a deep understanding of the safety challenges facing both workers and their employers.
Several OCA Chapter Scholarships Currently Available
OCA’s nine Chapters award scholarships at various times of the year throughout the state, totaling nearly $30,000. Scholarships typically range from $1,000 to $2,500 per award. Currently, four OCA Chapters are accepting scholarship applications. Students pursuing construction-related careers in Ohio’s heavy highway industry are encouraged to apply.
Current chapter scholarship applications available are:
Akron-Canton Chapter – click here for the application
Eastern Ohio Chapter – click here for the application
Toledo Chapter – click here for the application
Southwest Chapter - click here for the application
Please help us get this information out to our future workforce! If you know of students working or going to school in any of the above chapter areas that would benefit, please pass this information along. For more information about OCA Chapter Scholarships, please contact Director of Chapter Development Melanie Kitchen at [email protected].
ODOT Announces DBE Trucking Disclosure Affidavit - Begins January 1, 2021
As the final measure to close out the FHWA Conciliation Agreement regarding ODOT’s DBE Program, ODI will ensure that Prime Contractors are monitoring DBE trucking/hauling operations on projects with federal funding. ODOT is proposing the creation of a Trucking Disclosure Affidavit. This form will be completed by the Prime Contractor along with each pay estimate and will affirm DBE and non-DBE trucking utilized by each DBE firm performing those duties during that pay estimate period. ODOT is proposing to monitor trucking (updating PN007) with the following requirements for all ODOT-let projects bid after January 1, 2021. The requirements may be found here.
On behalf of ODOT’s Division of Construction Management and Office of Roadway Engineering, registration is currently open for the following sessions of Worksite Traffic Supervisor (WTS) Prequalification Testing.
• January 5 – Morning » Click here to register.
• January 5 – Afternoon » Click here to register.
• February 2 – Morning » Click here to register.
• February 2 – Afternoon » Click here to register.
• March 2 – Morning » Click here to register.
• March 2 – Afternoon » Click here to register.
Click here to access the PDF flyer.
Prerequisites – Do not register for WTS Prequalification testing until the prerequisites have been completed. Please see the online registration form and flyer for details.
Pre-registration is required for WTS Testing. Seating capacity is limited for each session, based on social distancing requirements due to COVID-19.
Please review the important updates and safety protocols as described per the links above.
Quick Links to On-line OCA Resources
• Current Ohio Contractor Magazine
• Safety Resources
• Labor & Employment Information
• OCA President's Commentary
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