AWB’s Annual Spring Board Meeting coming to Spokane on May 21-22
Don’t miss AWB’s Annual Spring Board Meeting at Spokane’s Davenport Hotel. Hear a keynote address from Charlie Cook, a respected authority on U.S. election and political trends, and enjoy the presentation of AWB’s Community Service Awards. To register, please contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org, or go here to register online

Another $100 million added to projected budget shortfall
The Senate Ways and Means Committee updated its six-year budget outlook earlier this month. While the numbers haven’t changed much, they added the 2008 supplemental budget, bumping 2009-2011 spending by $608 million. Going into the next biennium, lawmakers face a $2.5 billion shortfall, with just $783 million in the hard-to-tap budget stabilization account. There are a few more revenue forecasts between now and the first of the year, but there’s little reason to suspect dramatic changes. Good news most likely looks like a shortfall of only $2 billion. And then there’s the education lawsuit, working family tax credit, and all that other stuff folks want to spend money on. Read more about this and other issues affecting your bottom line at Olympia Business Watch.

Public hearings this week on L&I’s heat stress rule
The Department of Labor and Industries has scheduled public hearings around the state this week to discuss the proposed rule on outdoor heat stress. Dates scheduled are: April 29 in Bellingham, April 30 in Yakima and Richland, May 1 in Spokane, and May 2 in Seattle. These are excellent opportunities for employers to hear about proposed requirements to reduce heat-related illness on the job and to express concerns to the department. Written comments are due May 2. Although the department has incorporated a number of improvements suggested by the business community, AWB maintains that the rule is unnecessary. We believe a coordinated education, awareness and training program would be a better approach. For more information, please contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at GrantN@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

Forklift safety: ‘Train the Trainer’ workshop on June 4
This seminar will teach experienced forklift operators how to conduct proper safety training for their employees. Upon completion, attendees will also receive a CD-ROM with a PowerPoint slide show and a PDF manual they can reproduce to use in training their own employees. Click here to register online, or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at JenniferC@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

AWB needs to hear your comments on the Puget Sound Partnership
At our last AWB Puget Sound Partnership Subcommittee meeting on April 4, one of the issues discussed was the need for AWB members to review and comment on the draft Puget Sound Partnership Topic Forum Papers, which are now available for review here. Opportunities are available to comment both online and in person by attending a number of forums and workshops scheduled for April 22 through May 5. Go here to see a complete schedule. The Puget Sound Partnership is soliciting input to help develop an action agenda. Comments will be summarized and shared at the Sound Symposium on May 28 at the Washington Trade and Convention Center in Seattle. AWB members are requested to review the draft topic papers and submit comments at least two days prior to the scheduled topic forum on each individual draft paper. Send your comments to AWB’s Chris McCabe at ChrisM@awb.org or Grant Nelson at GrantN@awb.org. Members are encouraged to attend the Sound Symposium in person, as well.

AWB Climate Change Subcommittee Meeting May 14
Members are invited to participate in the next meeting of the AWB Climate Change Subcommittee on May 14 in Olympia. Agenda items include an update from the Washington State Department of Ecology on the status and next steps of the Western Climate Initiative, the Climate Advisory Team and the governor’s climate legislation (HB 2815), which passed last session. Possible legislation coming up in 2009 will also be discussed. For more information, please contact Grant Nelson at GrantN@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

L&I posts fact sheets on new workplace leave laws
During the 2008 legislative session, AWB has reported on the passage of two new paid family leave laws. One of these — granting a “reasonable period of leave” for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking — went into effect on April 1. The other one — granting up to 15 days of leave for spouses of armed services members called to deployment, on deployment, or on leave from deployment — goes into effect on June 12. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has published two useful fact sheets that can be accessed by clicking here for the changes in domestic violence leave policy or here for changes in military family leave policy. For more information, please contact Kris Tefft at KrisT@AWB.org or (360) 943-1600.

Department of Revenue rolls out streamlined sales tax tools and workshops
The Washington State Department of Revenue has developed a variety of tools to help retailers change the way they determine local sales taxes on shipped or delivered goods, as required by legislation that take effect on July 1. The department has also scheduled a series of workshops around the state beginning April 16 to help businesses encourage out-of-state sellers to begin collecting taxes on sales to Washington customers. (Note: These are workshops offered by the Department of Revenue, not AWB.) For more information on the tools and to register for one of the 20 workshops to be held from April through June, please click here.

Washington Policy Center Annual Health Care Conference to be held on May 13
The annual Washington Policy Center Health Care Conference will be held on May 13 at the SeaTac Doubletree Hotel. The lunchtime keynote speaker will be Grace Marie Turner of the Galen Institute. Turner is a member of the National Advisory Council of Healthcare Research and Quality and a recent member of the President’s Medicaid Commission. She will address the presidential candidates’ health care plans, the latest trends in consumer-driven health care, and other issues relating to medical innovations — including what to expect in 2009. David Hom, chairman of Value-Based Health Innovations, will also be on hand to discuss Value-Based Health Benefit Design, a concept that’s sweeping the country and capturing the attention of many employers. For more information or to register online, please click here or contact Anna Carroll at ACarroll@washingtonpolicy.org or (206) 937-9691.

2008 Small Business Resource Guide CD-ROM now available
The 2008 Small Business Resource Guide is now available on CD-ROM. This invaluable resource contains critical tax information — including forms, instructions and publications — to small businesses. It also provides important information from a variety of government agencies, non-profit organizations and educational institutions. View it online at here, or order a copy of the CD at here or by calling (800) 829-3676.

AWB now accepting nominations for new board members: Deadline May 2
Is there a business leader you’d like to nominate for AWB’s board of directors? If so, please send your nominee’s name and contact information to AWB’s Dick Walter at (360) 943-1600 or DickW@awb.org by May 2. Selection of new board members will be finalized at AWB’s Annual Spring Board Meeting on May 22.

Green Industry Thrives on Greenbacks - See this week’s President’s Perspective at www.awb.org

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