April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. This issue affects more families than you might imagine, since all families experience stressful events that can increase the risk of abuse or neglect. Research has identified that the possibility that a child will experience abuse or neglect increases as the number of stressors placed on the family increase. Stressors can include parental depression, … [Read more...] about All Families Can Be Superheroes
The Recordings on the Bus Go Round and Round…. An Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Criminal Wiretap Law Authorizes Audio Recordings on School Vehicles.
Earlier this year, Governor Tom Corbett signed into law Act 9 of 2014 (“Act 9”), an amendment to the Pennsylvania Wiretap and Electronic Surveillance Control Act. This amendment expressly authorizes the use of audio surveillance equipment on school buses or school vehicles for disciplinary or security purposes and provides important clarifications of the law. This new legislation was, in part, … [Read more...] about The Recordings on the Bus Go Round and Round…. An Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Criminal Wiretap Law Authorizes Audio Recordings on School Vehicles.
Must Employers Offer Domestic Partner Health Insurance Benefits Post-Windsor?
Following the Supreme Court’s June 26, 2013 decision in United States v. Windsor, declaring the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) unconstitutional, employers have been rethinking employee benefits programs under expanded definitions of “spouse” and “dependent”. Although Windsor has employers thinking more broadly, it does not itself require employers to provide same-sex partner health insurance … [Read more...] about Must Employers Offer Domestic Partner Health Insurance Benefits Post-Windsor?
Proposed Changes to Wage and Overtime Pay Regulations of FLSA – Good or Bad for Businesses?
Last week, President Obama directed the Department of Labor to update the regulations that define which workers are entitled to minimum wage and overtime protection under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). His directives to raise the salary threshold and to revamp the “primary duty” test within the FLSA will likely have a significant impact on the business models that have been in place for most … [Read more...] about Proposed Changes to Wage and Overtime Pay Regulations of FLSA – Good or Bad for Businesses?
No Extension to 1-year Return Rule Under the Hague Convention
U.S. Supreme Court ‘s March 5 decision in Lozano v. Alvarez held that equitable tolling principles do not apply to the 1-year provision for mandatory return of the child. Proceedings Under the Convention The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, signed by the United States in 1988, establishes a procedure for parents to petition to return a child to his or her … [Read more...] about No Extension to 1-year Return Rule Under the Hague Convention
Same-Sex Couples in Pennsylvania: “Wed-Locked?”
Same-Sex Couples’ Legal Rights In Pennsylvania As of today, seventeen states plus the District of Columbia recognize gay marriage; eight of these states legalized gay marriage in 2013. Several states have also expanded the legal rights available to same-sex couples through domestic partnerships and civil unions. This trend has gained momentum since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June, 2013 to … [Read more...] about Same-Sex Couples in Pennsylvania: “Wed-Locked?”