As taken from the Library of Congress THOMAS legislative information site.

HR RESOURCES

• ASHHRA – American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration
• SHRM – Society for Human Resource Management
• HRMA – Human Resource Management Association
• NM DOL - New Mexico Department of Labor
• EEOC - Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• OSHA - Occupational Safety & Health Administration
• NM Workers' Comp Administration
• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• DOL Poster Requirements
• NM State Legislature - Bill Finder, Bill Watcher, Find Your Legislator
• OFCCP - Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
• USERRA poster -  Poster finalized in December of 2005

HEALTHCARE RESOURCES

• American Medical Association
• American Academy of Dermatology
• American Psychiatric Association
• Greater Albuquerque Medical Association
• American Society of Radiologic Technologists
• American Academy of Physician Assistants

• Assisting Drs to Obtain Health Information Technology
• Child Healthcare Affordability
• Comprehensive Healthcare Reform
• Disability Benefit Fairness
• Educating Heathcare Professionals on Substance Abuse 
• FMLA Enhancement Act
• FMLA Expansion
• FMLA Fairness
• FMLA Inclusion
• FMLA Protection
• Health Workforce Act
• Healthcare incentive & minimum wage break 
• Healthcare Retraining
• Labor Management Accountability
• Occupational Safety Fairness Act
• SSN tax breaks for those with cancer & other terminal illnesses
• Workplace Religious Freedom
• Workplace Wrongful Death Accountability Act
• Youth Worker Protection

Federal Legislative Alert

Please call or write your Senators and Representative and urge them to cosponsor H.R. 1634/S. 772, the Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act.

Organizations are increasingly interested in promoting healthy living programs for their workforces as one strategy for addressing rising health care costs.  Employees that engage in fitness programs and activities are generally more productive, have lower incidences of workplace injuries, lower health care costs, and are healthier overall.  The WHIP Act would enable employers to help their employees focus on healthier habits and fitness, resulting in a healthier lifestyle and fewer health-related expenses.

H.R. 1634/S. 772 would enable an employer to deduct the cost of subsidizing or providing off-site fitness center benefits for their employees.  Under current law, businesses are permitted to deduct the cost of on-site workout facilities, but not the cost of fitness center benefits.  The WHIP Act would provide parity to employers who subsidize or provide off-site fitness center benefits for their employees.

In addition, the WHIP Act would exclude this wellness benefit from being considered taxable income for employees.  Under current law, employees who receive the off-site fitness center subsidy are required to pay income tax on the benefit.  More often than not, if employees have to pay taxes on a benefit offered by their employer, employees will choose not to participate in the benefit.  To encourage employees to participate in this benefit offering, H.R. 1634/ S. 772 would ensure that the wellness benefit from off-site fitness facilities is not taxed as income for employees.

~ SHRM

OTHER FEDERAL BILLS & THEIR STATUS