NEWSLETTER ISSUE 2 FEBRUARY 2018 As we are preparing for the 2018 Membership Directory, please make sure you supply us with your current information by returning your renewal application along with your yearly dues. This ensures that your listing will be correct in the directory and on our online directory. Take a minute to log on to check your listing today. www.slatebeltchamber.org

SBCC Upcoming Events 2/21: Meet & Greet with Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, Hampton Inn, Easton, 6-8 pm

3/15: SBCC Brag Party, 5-7 pm at the Chamber office. 4/17: Spring Business Luncheon at The Chandler Estate, Pen Argyl, 12 noon.

5/17: Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner, Tuscarora Inn & Conference Center, Mt. Bethel, 6 pm

There are still some programs opportunities to showcase your business…sign up to be a sponsor or host a mixer, business luncheon, breakfast or seminar.

New Members for January Genesis Hearing Systems Mary Barket/Alex Fontes

708 South Broadway Wind Gap, PA 18091

610-923-9451 Web Site: www.hearclearhc.com

Member address change!

Broad Excavating, Inc. Has moved to

183 OW Road, Bangor PA 18013 610-588-6941 or 610-509-9736

E-Mail: dave@broadexcavating.com Web Site: www.broadexcavating.net

Full service excavation & hardscape company.

Press Releases: The Slate Belt Heritage Center will hold their monthly historic presentation on Sunday, February 12th @ 2:00 PM. On behalf of the local Boy Scout Council, Perry Morris will speak on the “History of Scouting and also Camp Wygat”. Many men remember the popular Camp Wygat, situated in the Delaware Water Gap where summers and outings were spent learning and practicing camping skills. If you have ever attended Camp Wygat, you are invited to come and share your story. The event is free and open to the public. The Heritage Center is located at 30 North 1st Street, Bangor, Pa. For additional information please contact: Karen Brewer @ 484-894-5661. 2/7 & 2/14: Life Coaching & Art Journaling Series at “A Clean Slate” Start the new year with new life changing goals! 1/20: Families First 8th Annual Benefit Snow Ball Dinner Dance Mission of Love Food Pantry is in need of a box truck. Anyone interested in assisting in finding one or making a donation should contact Pastor Pons at 570-807-7794.

PA Chamber: Workers’ Compensation Costs to Increase Following Dept. of Insurance Approval of PCRB’s

Unprecedented Mid-Year Cost Hike Filing HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Gene Barr issued the following statement regarding the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance’s approval of the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating

Bureau’s mid-year loss cost increase filing, with a Feb. 1 effective date. The unprecedented action by the PCRB called for an overall average change in loss costs of +6.06 percent. The filing was deemed necessary as a result of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in the Protz v. Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board case, which threw out Impairment Rating Evaluations. IREs, a feature of the workers’ compensation process since 1996, are conducted by physicians designated by the Department of Labor & Industry who utilize guidelines from the American Medical Association to assess an injured employee’s level of impairment in order to determine their disability status. The Court’s holding was essentially based on a technicality and legislation has been introduced to address the decision and stave off cost increases. “As we warned when the PCRB first issued its mid-year loss cost increase filing, employers should be aware that they could see their workers’ comp costs increase early in the new year. While impacts will vary, the PCRB testified at a September House Labor and Industry Committee hearing that the overall impact on employers that carry workers comp insurance policies is expected to be at least $165 million. This figure does not account for employers that self-insure, which means the overall impact on Pennsylvania’s business community is likely to be significantly greater. “The PCRB’s filing and the Department of Insurance’s subsequent approval clearly demonstrate the need for swift legislative action. The PA Chamber is strongly urging the General Assembly to act on H.B. 1840 or companion legislation in the Senate, S.B. 963 – legislation to reinstate the impairment rating evaluation process with the Supreme Court’s concerns addressed.”

PROTECTED: TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES NEW AHP RU LES • On January 15, 2018 • AHP, DOL, ERISA, MEWA

President Trump’s October 12, 2017, Health Care Executive Order called for the Department of Labor (DOL) to consider regulatory changes to make it easier for small businesses to group together to self-insure or purchase large group health insurance through association health plans (AHPs). In response, earlier this month the DOL issued a proposed regulation to potentially modify the definition of an “employer” under section 3(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to make AHP formation easier. This proposal is not final, and the Trump Administration is accepting public comments on it through March 6, 2018, but it could bring some changes to the small group market in the years ahead. Group health plans made up of employees of two or more unrelated employers are referred to in federal law as multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs), and AHPs are inherently MEWAs. Under current law, small businesses group that band together to buy health insurance through a MEWA are typically still considered to be distinct small employers for health insurance purchasing purposes. That means they have to abide by state and federal requirements for small employer health plans, including premium rating rules and buying plans that meet their state’s essential health benefits benchmark standard and include any other state-mandated benefits. However, the new rule would change the way the states and the federal government define distinct “employers” for the purposes of MEWA rules to make it much easier for the members of an AHP to be considered a single large employer for health plan purchasing. Previously, the Department of Labor has taken the position that for a group or association to constitute a single “employer,” the group must be a “bona fide” group or association of employers with a common interest, which may not be just to provide health insurance. Also, the members of the group must exercise substantive common control over the activities and operation of the health plan, and sole proprietors with no other employees could not participate. The new rule would modify the common interest test, to allow businesses in the same trade, industry, line of business, or profession, or those that have a principal place of business within a state or metropolitan area that can include more than one state to band together as a single employer for health insurance purchasing purposes. It would also allow participation by self-employed people with no employees under certain circumstances. The proposed rules contain nondiscrimination provisions intended to prevent adverse selection. They would require AHPs to treat all participating businesses and employees fairly and on the same terms. The regulation would prohibit conditioning group membership on any health conditions, as well as ban discrimination in contributions or premiums or cost-sharing. It is important to note that this proposal is not yet final and that the DOL has both requested comments on the rule in its entirety and specifically asked for more information about many different elements, including the potential impact on state regulation, the nondiscrimination provisions and the treatment of sole proprietors. The DOL elected to respond to

President Trump’s executive order via the regulatory process, which requires public input, rather than merely making these changes through guidance, which does not. After public comments are received and reviewed, then the administration will announce its next steps. Kistler Tiffany Benefits will keep our broker partners informed about potential new options for small employers that could result once any regulatory changes are finalized. By Jessica Waltman, Special Contributor Jessica Waltman is a health reform strategist, with more than 20 years of experience in health insurance markets and health policy. She is the former Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, for the National Association of Health Underwriters.

Tips for Preparing Your Business for Winter Weather Check your business property for downed tree limbs and branches. Weather, such as wind, heavy rain, ice and snow, and cause branches to fall, which could cause damage to the property and potentially cause personal injuries. Inspect property, especially walkways and parking lots, for proper drainage to alleviate flood hazard potential. Inspect all handrails, stairwells and entryways to address and correct potential slippery or hazardous areas. Install mats or non-slip surfaces and post caution signs where water could be present. Ask your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional about starting an Emergency Ready Profile for your business. (Article provided by Servpro)

Business Program Excites Local Students There is an award-winning summer program that since 1979 has been exciting the imaginations of high school students throughout Pennsylvania about the world of business and private enterprise. That program, Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW), will be marking its 40th storied year this July and August. PFEW was founded specifically to teach rising high school juniors and seniors about the American private enterprise system and what it means to our country. PFEW now annually holds five sessions in July and August, serving nearly 2,200 students on the campuses of Lycoming College and the Pennsylvania College of Technology, both located in Williamsport, PA.

The focus of each session is to group the participants into management teams of junior executives who have inherited underperforming imaginary companies. These teams, under the guiding hands of volunteer “executives-on-loan” called Company Advisors, operate their firms for a computer simulated three-year period of time. They work with balance sheets, statements of income, marketing and advertising concepts, etc., and must react to a variety of external factors as well. Sound familiar?

The Chamber is proud to support PFEW and encourages our local companies and civic organizations to provide sponsorship for our students and, if possible, volunteers for the sessions. Every student attends PFEW on a fully tax-deductible $575 scholarship (the actual value of the scholarship is about $1,500) which is provided by a local firm, foundation, civic organization, or individual. PFEW is also an approved Educational Improvement Organization through the PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. Each student wears the name of their sponsor throughout the week and writes them after graduation to report on what they have learned.

If you would like to learn more about this award-winning program and how you can help, please call the Chamber directly or contact Scott Lee, vice president of marketing & development for the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education at (814) 833-9576 ext. 8, or e-mail him at scott@pfew.org. PFEW is open to all current sophomores and juniors in Pennsylvania and information on attendance, as well as program applications, can be found on the PFEW website. Questions can be directed to Amber Goss, Schools Manager for PFEW, by calling her office at (814) 833-9576 ext. 6, or emailing her at amber@pfew.org.

One Year Directors Paul Donovan, Jr., Lucy Flinn, Fred Curcio, Deb Pettinari, Steve Hurni, Bryan Gault, Mike Ortoski Two Year Directors Rosemary Albert, Mary Marshall, Jewel Williamson-Burns, Nadine Moyer, Joann Ginder, Chuck Niclaus, Jeff Ott, Adolph Marth

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Gift Certificates are available at the SBCC office year round for many of our area businesses!

SBCC Mission Statement: To promote and enhance positive business activity and growth in the Slate Belt region with special emphasis on community involvement. SBCC, 187 Blue Valley Dr., Bangor, PA 18013 610.588.1000 info@slatebeltchamber.org www.slatebeltchamber.org PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

Jewel Williamson-Burns, CLU, FIC Financial Associate Jewel.williamson-burns@thrivent.com 610-746-0344

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Debbie Pettinari, Agent 106 S. Broadway Wind Gap, PA 18091 Phone: 610-881-4433 Debbie.pettinari.wz73@statefarm.com State Farm, Bloomington, IL 1211999