Massachusetts
Hospitals Launch Education Drive on Mandatory Insurance
Massachusetts hospitals and community health centers are launching a drive to educate business owners and employees, particularly at smaller firms, about the significant responsibilities and costs they will face under the state's mandatory health insurance expansion. The groups are holding community breakfasts, providing brochures and posters in 14 languages and first aid kits with the slogan "Massachusetts Health Reform: More Than Just a Band-Aid." Beginning July 1, businesses with more than 10 workers must pay 33% of insurance premium costs for their employees, or make sure 25% of their workers are participating in an employee-sponsored plan.
Source: The Boston Globe

Vermont
State Panel Makes Recommendations on Retaining Young Workers
The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development released a report last week that the state hopes will provide direction in the fight to attract and retain young people in Vermont. The "Growing Vermont's Next Generation Workforce" report by the Next Generation Committee, recommends a branding effort that would bring a "green" energy industry to the state, reaching out to former Vermonters and forging stronger connections with universities and colleges.
Source: The Rutland Herald

Louisiana
Business Leaders Say Grads Lack Training
Large and small firms in Louisiana desperately need better-trained high school graduates, businessmen recently told state educators. Business leaders testified before the High School Redesign Committee of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, which sets policies for about 700,000 public school students statewide. It is in the early stages of implementing sweeping changes in public high schools, including a tougher curriculum.
Source: The Advocate

Tennessee
State Reports Early Success for Health Insurance Program
Only three weeks after Tennessee's new state-sponsored discount insurance health plan for businesses was offered, the state reports it has already signed up more than 1,000 Tennesseans. Known as CoverTN, the plan offers subscribers up to $25,000 of health care coverage, including preventive and basic medical treatments and prescription drugs, at a fraction of the cost of other insurance. The cost of the coverage must be split equally among the worker, the employer, and the state.
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press

Michigan
Gas Prices, Economy Threatens Boating, Related Industries
High gas prices and a rocky economy are threatening to beach Michigan's recreational boating industry this summer, with marinas and other businesses fishing in a smaller pool of customers. Last year, boat slip rentals at the state's 30 marinas dropped 9.6%, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. Marina operators blame the declining number of boaters on low lake levels and high gas prices—which could reach $3.30 a gallon this year. Ed Mahoney, director of the Recreational Marine Research Center at Michigan State University, said a dip in boating hurts tourism, employment, lodging, and other businesses that rely on recreational boaters.
Source: The Detroit News

Montana
Immigration Bills Fail in Legislature
Efforts to target Montana companies that employ unlawful immigrants are all but dead this legislative session, and one Republican legislator says some members of his own party who "sold out" to business groups are partly to blame. Sen. Jim Shockley (R-Victor) said he was particularly upset with House Republicans who voted recently against his bill that would have allowed the state to not award contracts to companies that hire workers they either know, or should have known, to be unlawful immigrants.
Source: Associated Press

California
Farm Labor Unions Seek to Curtail Secret Ballots
More than three decades after the state's landmark Agricultural Labor Relations Act took effect, a bill in the Legislature could dramatically alter how farm labor unions secure contracts in California. The newly introduced legislation could curtail the use of secret ballots when farmworkers vote on union representation. The legislation comes after the once-powerful United Farm Workers Union, which is sponsoring the legislation, has faced embarrassing losses among California farmworkers voting on union representation.
Source: The Los Angeles Times

Washington
Lawmakers Reach Agreement on Paid Family Leave
Lawmakers on Friday reached a final agreement on a controversial proposal to give parents paid family leave to bond with newborn or newly adopted children. The legislation calls for a new state-run insurance program that will offer workers up to five weeks of paid leave a year at a salary of $250 a week to care for newborn or newly adopted children. The benefits would take effect in the fall of 2009. Earlier versions of the bill also would have allowed paid leave for serious personal illnesses or to care for an ailing relative and would have imposed a 2-cent-per-hour payroll tax on all workers. Democratic leaders have put off a decision on how to pay for the new program until next year.
Source: The Seattle Times