What's New at CAPLAW

 

• Now Available! 2010 CAPLAW National Training Conference Information!

 

• New! Financial Management Monthly Conference Call, part of the CAPLAW Financial Network and facilitated by CAPLAW financial consultant Kay Sohl.

 

• Updated! Davis-Bacon Act compliance tools and trainings, part of CAPLAW's Online ARRA Toolkit.

 

• Updated! CAPLAW's updated Bylaws Toolkit is just what you need to make your organization’s bylaws clear, effective, and up-to-date. 

 

• View CAPLAW's Sample Internal Controls Review Checklist to be used for CSBG risk assessment.

   

• New CAPLAW Publication! Right on the Money: An Annotated Guide to the Federal Cost Principles for Nonprofit Grantees.

 

• Visit CAPLAW's IRS & 990 Form Information page.

 

 

 

• Read a summary of the January 25, 2010 Citizens United call hosted by the Alliance for Justice.  The call aimed to clarify the impact the Citizens United decision will have on your organization's planned electoral activities.

   

• DOL Revises Weatherization Wage Determinations The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently revised the wage determinations for residential weatherization workers for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. CAAs should familiarize themselves with the new wage determinations but should wait to implement them until the U.S. Department of Energy has amended its Weatherization Assistance Program ARRA grant agreement with their state and the state has in turn amended its contract with the CAA.

 

• New OMB Guidance on ARRA Jobs Reporting

In response to confusion about how to calculate and report estimates of jobs created and/or retained with Recovery Act funds, the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued new guidance on ARRA jobs reporting. This guidance applies to ARRA reports due January 10, 2010.

 

• Congress Extends COBRA Premium Subsidy
  Congress recently extended the COBRA premium subsidy created by ARRA. The new legislation extends the premium reduction eligibility period for two months until February 28, 2010 and increases the maximum period for receiving the subsidy to 15 months (from nine months). To learn more, read the U.S. Department of Labor's fact sheet on the extension.

 

• View the complete Weatherization Assistance Program Procurement Tool Kit in CAPLAW's Online ARRA Toolkit.  The toolkit aims to assist Grantees as much as possible in ramp up efforts for the Weatherization Assistance Program.

 

• Read the Office of Head Start's program instruction in response to a number of questions raised by Head Start grantees in recent years concerning allowable and unallowable charges to Head Start grants for facility acquisition, major renovations, rent, and related topics.

   

• OCS Issues Guidance on Corrective Action, Termination and Reduction of CSBG Funding

The federal Office of Community Services recently issued Information Memorandum 116 to ensure a consistent understanding of legal requirements and procedures for termination and reduction of CSBG funding. The IM provides a sample tool for states to use to document their actions.

 

• Watch an IRS Seminar for Tax-Exempt Organizations and Earn CPE Credit. The IRS seminar "Weathering the Storm: Helping Exempt Organizations in Troubled Times" provides a brief overview of issues confronting exempt organizations in light of the current economic climate. Topics include: best practices in organization governance, using the new Form 990 to promote your organization and increase transparency, conducting business activities without jeopardizing your exempt status, treating non-cash gifts and donated property correctly, and merging and terminating exempt entities.

 

• Learn about the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 which took effect on November 21, 2009.

   

 

 

Legal Update Newsletter, September 2009

Inside this issue:

• Update on Davis-Bacon and Weatherization*
• CAPLAW's National Conference Highlights
• Primer on ARRA Reporting
• Head Start Grantee Wins Reimbursement Dispute
• Impact of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act on CAAs
• CAA Wins Disallowance Case
• New CAPLAW Resources!

 

Download a PDF version of the September 2009 Newsletter

 

*The online version of this article has been revised to reflect recent updates.  PDF and print versions of the newsletter still reflect original printed information.

 

All Savannah Photos and Resources Courtesy of www.visitsavannah.com