HCAOA The Voice Winter 2017-18

10 HCAOA The Voice PUBLIC POLICY Public Policy HCAOA Dialogues with Trump Administration on Apprenticeship Program ON SEPTEMBER 22, HCAOA STAFF met with officials from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that are helping execute President Trump’s recent Executive Order to expand apprenticeship programs. The meeting was positive and HCAOA is now reviewing the guidelines to determine if HCAOA or its member organizations could participate in the new initiative. https:/ www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/ HCAOA Illinois Submits Request for Opinion Letter to U.S. Department of Labor TOGETHER THE LEADERSHIP OF HCAOA ILLINOIS and HCAOA have engaged the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to get much needed guidance regarding the compensability of certain hours for caregivers, who are regularly scheduled to work shifts of 24 hours or more, including sleep time, breaks, and travel time. Obtaining this guidance from DOL is of critical importance to the industry in light of recent litigation trends impacting our membership. See copy of the letter HERE. HCAOA previously reported on the move by DOL to reinstate the issuance of opinion letters in a press release DOL sent out in June of this year. The action now allows the department’s Wage and Hour Division to use opinion letters as one of its methods for providing guidance to covered employers. HCAOAMeets with Wage and Hour Division on FLSA Companion Care Exemption ON SEPTEMBER 26, HCAOA STAFF met with officials from the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division to urge the Trump Administration to redress the companion care exemp- tion under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). HCAOA sited the changes in the availability of live-in services as well as the loss of continuity of care as reasons for revisiting the issue which went into effect in late 2015. Agency staff indicated that the meeting was informative and that once the division has an administrator, they would be able to determine whether they will take any action. President Trump nominated Cheryl Stanton on September 1, but as of yet, Congress has not scheduled a hearing for her confirmation.