CURRENT NEWS AND
REGULATORY UPDATES

On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the Act) into law.

On March 11, 2020, the IRS issued Notice 2020-15, which allows high deductible health plans (HDHPs) to pay for COVID-19 testing and treatment without a deductible.

The Department of Labor (DOL) has released updated versions of its model COBRA General Notice and model COBRA Election Notice, both with an expiration date of Jan. 31, 2023.

Feb. 1 is the annual deadline for many employers to post their OSHA Forms 300A from the previous year.

Since the Clearinghouse became operational on Jan. 6, 2020, the online system has experienced technical difficulties with queries.

On Dec. 27, 2019, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced it is doubling the minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing for commercial motor vehicle drivers.

On Dec. 20, 2019, President Trump signed into law a spending bill that prevents a government shutdown and repeals the following three taxes and fees under the Affordable Care Act (ACA):

The new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will be operational Jan. 6, 2020.

On Dec. 2, 2019, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2019-63 to extend the due date for furnishing forms under Sections 6055 and 6056 for 2019 from Jan. 31, 2020, to March 2, 2020.

Companies operating commercial vehicle fleets have until Dec. 16, 2019 to switch from an Automatic On-Boarding Recording Device (AOBRD) to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) registered Electronic Logging Device (ELD).