SF 2389 TIME-21 (Successor to SSB 3267) Requires the Treasurer to credit $346 million from registration fees to the TIME-21 fund. Registration: Replaces the use-tax fee with changed registration fees. Makes truck registration fees the same as car registration fees for model years from 2010. Does not affect trucks already registered under the current truck fee schedule. Cars: Changes the rate schedule for registrations. Makes the minimum registration fee $75 but allows owners paying a lower rate to continue to do so for that car. Other: Raises the fees for farm trucks and trailers

HF 2608 CHOICE OF DOCTOR (Successor to HSB 771) Gives an employee the right to pre-designate a doctor, who has treated the employee previously, to treat the employee for a work-related injury. Allows the employer to choose a doctor if the employer does not pre-designate a doctor. Requires that the employer give written notice to the employee about this right and that a failure to do so allows the employee to pick any doctor. Allows the employer or employee, if dissatisfied with the care from the doctor selected, to explain the dissatisfaction in writing. Allows the parties to agree to alternate care, or allows the dissatisfied party to appeal to the commissioner for alternate care. Treats the appeal for alternate care as a contested case. Requires a decision in 10 days for a telephone hearing or 14 days for an-person hearing. Allows an employee to obtain an opinion on disability when no significant improvement is expected from an injury. Allows the employer to seek an opinion from a doctor of the employer’s choosing. Applies to injuries after January, 2009.

HF 2610 EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES (Successor to HSB 717 – Changes made in italic) Creates an Identity Theft Division in the DIA for enforcement purposes. Requires the DIA to design forms for employers to use. Employment: Requires employers to verify the identity of each new employee hired to work in the state by examining a driver's license or id from Iowa, SD, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois or Wisconsin, within ten days after hiring. Requires the employer to certify under oath having examined the id, to photocopy the id, and to keep the photocopy for at least a year after the employee leaves. Establishes civil penalties. Makes perjury under this provisions a Class D felony. Allows for judicial reviews within 30 days of the action. Allows non-residents with drivers licenses from other state to get a state id. Identity Theft: Includes attempting to obtain employment and other benefits in the crime of identity theft. Makes identify theft an aggravated misdemeanor if the value of the identity theft cannot be determined. Independent contractors: Establishes criteria for determining the status of a person as an employee or contractor. Requires the Labor Commissioner to create posters in English and Spanish on the criteria and requires a contractor found to violate these provisions to use the posters. Allows complaints by interested parties, but makes knowingly file a false complaint a simple misdemeanor. Includes additional provisions, including remedies. Allows for judicial reviews of an action taken by the Labor Commissioner, but requires the review to be within 30 days of the Commissioner’s actions. Other: Adds provisions on agencies sharing data. Gives the DWD various reporting duties. Makes the provisions severable.

SF 2386 ENERGY EFFICIENCY GOALS (Successor to SF 2083) Creates a statewide energy savings goal of 1.5% per capita, per year 2011 to 2021. Establishes a three-year phase-in period to develop strategies for the goal. Directs the Office of Energy Independence, with assistance from advisory councils created in the bill, to coordinate strategies. Establishes reporting requirements, requirements for utilities and a pilot project. Contains other provisions on achieving the energy use reduction goal.

Regards,
Paula Siewert, CAE
President
Northwestern Lumber Association
800-469-9078