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ISSA Advocacy Recap—Florida to Vote on Minimum Wage, Vermont Preps for Hike
October 16, 2020Welcome to the ISSA Advocacy Recap, our regular roundup of the latest public policy issues impacting the cleaning industry. This week’s recap touches on a proposed constitutional amendment to the hourly minimum wage in Florida, the state of Vermont increasing its minimum wage, the EPA seeking to speed up long-lasting coronavirus disinfectants, ISSA’s summary of state-by-state liability protections, and more.
Florida to Vote on Minimum Wage, Vermont Preps for Hike
A constitutional amendment on Florida’s ballot this November would increase the state’s hourly minimum wage from US$8.56 to $15 by October 2026, WFTV 9 reported. Meanwhile, according to NECN, Vermont will raise its minimum wage to $11.75 on January 1, $12.55 on January 1, 2022, and then index the rate to inflation moving forward.
EPA Seeks to Speed up Long-Lasting Coronavirus Disinfectants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday a faster process for approving new products that can keep surfaces clean of coronavirus for several days and could result in chemical companies getting products to market faster, Bloomberg News reported. Products that make claims of long-term effectiveness will move “to the front of the line” for agency review under the draft guidance, Alexandra Dunn, EPA’s assistant administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution said. The announcement comes as the Trump administration is racing to push ahead new treatments and protections against the virus. ISSA welcomes feedback from its members about this draft guidance for possible inclusion in its comments to the EPA regarding the guidance. Please send your feedback to [email protected] by October 30, 2020.
ISSA Provides Summary of State-by-State Liability Protections
ISSA has been tracking and advocating at both the state and federal levels for liability protections for essential businesses that have taken precautions to protect their employees from the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. These businesses face the threat of lawsuits alleging that someone contracted COVID-19 on their premises, the costs of which could be significant to fight. A number of states have already acted to limit COVID-19-related liability, through the introduction and passage of legislation and executive orders. “ISSA continues to monitor and advocate for reasonable liability protections on behalf of the cleaning industry,” said John Nothdurft, ISSA Director of Government Affairs. “And we will engage even further on this important issue for our members in 2021.”
Other links of interest:
Mnuchin: White House Willing to Compromise on Testing in COVID Bill
Jobless Claims Reach Highest Level Since August
Take Action Now: Tell Congress to Pass COVID Relief
Michigan Legislature Approves Legal Liability Bill