Flashings

Economic Census deadline is approaching

This month, about 5 million U.S. businesses will receive 2002 Economic Census forms, and 130,000 construction companies were included on the mailing list. Those who receive the 2002 Economic Census, which is conducted every five years, are required to return the completed forms under Title 13, U.S. Code. The deadline is Feb. 12, 2003.

There are about 600 versions of the basic census form; the versions are structured according to companies and industries. For the first time, the census seeks to measure e-commerce, and many respondents now can file their forms electronically.

The Economic Census is used by federal agencies to measure economic activity; state and local agencies to develop economic and regional plans; and trade associations, chambers of commerce and business journals to project trends. The Economic Census will gather information from about 1,000 industries in 50,000 geographic areas.

If you received a form and need help, call the U.S. Census Bureau at (800) 233-6136 or visit www.census.gov/econhelp.

California passes family disability bill

On Sept. 23, California Gov. Gray Davis signed the Family Temporary Disability Pay Bill (SB 1661) to provide family temporary disability insurance (FTDI) to workers in the state. The bill, the first of its kind in the United States, will compensate workers for 55 percent of wages for up to six weeks of leave per year.

Under the current disability law, workers are eligible for disability coverage for nonindustrial injury, illness or pregnancy. The new program will give workers paid leave to care for an ill child, spouse, parent or domestic partner or for the birth, adoption or foster-care placement of a new child.

The program will be funded by an increase in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) tax, an employee-paid tax that is deducted from wages. The workers' SDI contribution rate will increase 0.08 percent Jan. 1, 2004, and workers will be eligible to receive FTDI July 1, 2004. The FTDI program requires workers to submit proof of eligibility.

FTDI is "an entitlement to pay from SDI, not an entitlement to leave and/or reinstatement." Therefore, FTDI does not require an employer to reinstate an employee after FTDI leave expires.

According to the law's provisions, California employers must receive information about the FTDI program by Jan. 1, 2004. The California Chamber of Commerce will include information in its Required Notice Kit for 2004. For more information, visit the California State Senate's Web site, www.sen.ca.gov, or California Chamber of Commerce's site, www.calchamber.com.

ICC consolidation is approved

On Jan. 1, 2003, the new International Code Council (ICC) will begin operating. During a joint annual conference, Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) Inc., International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) Inc. members voted to consolidate their services, products and operations into a new ICC.

ICC originally was formed in 1994 by BOCA, ICBO and SBCCI to develop a single set of model construction codes (I-Codes). The new ICC will expand its, as well as BOCA's, ICBO's and SBCCI's, technical and educational services, code standards and publications.

"The consolidation unites leading building safety experts under one common goal—to serve public health and safety," says Bob Heinrich, ICC's chief executive officer. "ICC will continue to service BOCA, ICBO and SBCCI with regional code products as municipalities and states transition to I-Codes that have no geographic boundaries."

Employee health benefits decrease at small businesses

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation's 2002 Employee Health Benefits Survey, small businesses are reducing or eliminating employee health benefits because of soaring health insurance premiums and the economic downturn. The study surveyed 3,262 public and private companies of varying sizes and industries.

This year, health insurance premiums increased 12.7 percent, the largest increase in 12 years. Small businesses with up to 50 employees experienced 14 percent increases. As a result, 43 percent of businesses expect to increase the amount employees contribute in 2003.

The study found 61 percent of small businesses offer employee health benefits, down from 67 percent in 2001. More than half of all business owners surveyed said health insurance was the "greatest cost concern for the company." As a result, many small businesses will be forced to increase employees' cost-sharing requirements by raising deductibles and co-payments while coverage is decreased.