BAM NEWS

As you know, BAM is working to develop comments on the proposed rules for an independent contractor certificate. Again, I always appreciate your input, e-mails and comments.
I received a great comment from a St. Cloud member sharing the opinion that the independent contractor certification is necessary and the documentation is good. I responded that I agree, but the issue is if they ask for too much information. By making the law more difficult to follow, there will be less compliance.  You don’t want to penalize the people who are following the law; you want to find a way to get to the individuals who are breaking the law. Finding the right balance should be the public policy objective.
As I write comments on behalf of the industry, your input would be very helpful. We’ve created a survey to help you get a better understanding of the documentation required and give you a chance to weigh in with your opinion. If you have not taken the survey, the link is here: http://www.votervoice.net/Groups/BAMN/Survey/?SurveyID=1170
As of this morning, over 200 of you have responded. I will post the survey results next week. REGULATORY: Independent Contractor Rule/BAM Goes To ALJ Hearing In order for BAM to provide an argument for changes to the proposed rules, we need to request an Administrative Law Judge Hearing. The hearing is already scheduled for Monday, May 12, 2008.
However, in order to have the hearing, we need 25 letters submitted to the department requesting a hearing.  We have asked all members of the BAM Board and local associations to assist us in submitting letters to request the hearing.  If you would like to help us in that effort, here is a draft letter you can use. It must be received by the Department by 4:40 PM on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. You can link to a copy of the letter at: www.bamn.org/documents/ALJLetterICRules.pdf
LEGISLATIVE:  All Quiet Before The Storm Its budget time at the State Capitol and the legislature and Governor is in a holding pattern while they work out a global deal on the budget. You will recall that the legislature has raided a number of funds that would have a significant impact on our business. They are raiding $14 million from the Workers Compensation Fund and $4 million from the Department of Labor & Industry Construction Code Fund. You will be happy to note that Governor Pawlenty did weigh in on some of the budget matters above by expressing his dissatisfaction citing “potential business cost increases” if the funds are raided by the legislature.