Today Governor Tom Wolf signed into law Senate Bill 880, which takes several actions with respect to the Keystone Exams and hints that this exam may be on its way to extinction. First, the bill postpones the requirement that Keystone Exams be used as a requirement for graduation until the 2018-2019 school year. It also eliminates the Keystone Exam as the benchmark to determine if a student should … [Read more...] about Keystone Exams Postponed As A Graduation Requirement and Maybe Gone Forever
What Happens to Stored Genetic Material? Part Two
In Part One, we discussed what happens to Stored Genetic Material if a couple should someday divorce or a partner passes away. In Part Two, let’s discuss Stored Genetic Material in the context of divorce. In Pennsylvania, this particular question has had an impact on the disposition of cryopreserved pre-embryos. In Reber v. Reiss, the Superior Court granted pre-embryos to a divorced spouse to … [Read more...] about What Happens to Stored Genetic Material? Part Two
Proposed EEOC Guidance Takes Aggressive Stance Against Retaliation: Documentation Still Best Protection in Discrimination Claims
Be forewarned that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has proposed guidance that would take a more aggressive stance against retaliation. As you may know, and by the EEOC’s own reckoning, retaliation is the most frequent type of alleged discrimination with which the EEOC deals. While this is only proposed guidance at this point, it shows where the EEOC would like to go with all … [Read more...] about Proposed EEOC Guidance Takes Aggressive Stance Against Retaliation: Documentation Still Best Protection in Discrimination Claims
Federal Court Provides Scrutiny on Manifestation Determination Hearings
The recent case of Bristol Township School District v. Z.B., No. 15-4604 (E.D.Pa., Dalzell, J., Jan. 14, 2016) provides a rare federal court ruling on the manifestation determination process required prior to disciplining a student with a disability and it also provides helpful reminders for school entities in carrying out this process. The Facts Z.B. involved a student with ADHD who was suspended … [Read more...] about Federal Court Provides Scrutiny on Manifestation Determination Hearings
As Tax Season Gets Officially Underway, Here is an Important Reminder for Adoptive Families About the Adoption Tax Credit
If you paid qualified adoption expenses or finalized an adoption during 2015, you may be eligible for an adoption tax credit. If your employer provided adoption assistance, you may be able to claim an exclusion from income. The maximum for each benefit, per child, for 2015 is $13,400.00. Individuals may be able to claim the tax credit as well as the income exclusion, but cannot claim a credit … [Read more...] about As Tax Season Gets Officially Underway, Here is an Important Reminder for Adoptive Families About the Adoption Tax Credit
Education Prevents Litigation: Understanding Employee Pay Before It’s Too Late
On January 7, 2016, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced that a tire and road service employer will pay more than $118,000 in unpaid wages and damages to 11 workers. During a DOL investigation, it was discovered that the employer paid its non-exempt workers a flat salary without regard to the number of hours that the employees actually worked, a practice that is strictly prohibited by the … [Read more...] about Education Prevents Litigation: Understanding Employee Pay Before It’s Too Late
