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Friday, April 9, 2021
The American Rescue Plan of 2021: COBRA Subsidies and Paid Leave
In the upcoming issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal, Edward Phillips and Brandon Morrow write about the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package signed by President Biden on March 11. Their new column about it, "The Law at Work," won't be published until May 1, but the information is so timely we're giving you a preview.
THE ACT INCLUDES two major provisions likely to have an impact on employers (and employees). First, employer-sponsored health insurance plans must offer 100% subsidized COBRA continuation coverage for the period April 1, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2021, for “assistance eligible individuals.” Second, while ARPA does not extend the paid leave mandate found in the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA), it does extend the availability of payroll tax credits to those employers who voluntarily provide paid leave for COVID-19-related scenarios. Here are the details.
TBJ Columnist is the 'Go-To Guy' for Legal History
As TBJ's "History's Verdict" columnist, Russell Fowler is the go-to guy when it comes to the state's legal history -- and is becoming somewhat of a celebrity, too. A recent article in the Hamilton County Herald documents the historical treasurers that can be found in Fowler's Legal Aid of East Tennessee office, where he has created a personal museum. His collection includes many signatures of justices and jurists, including that of U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan, who dissented in the Plessy v. Ferguson case. His most recent Journal column is "Black Monday and the Court-Packing Plan," which for an account of such old cases and constitutional doctrine, is very timely indeed. [Photo by David Laprad | Hamilton County Herald]
Revisit All the Opportunities in the Special ATJ Issue
Take a look back over the Journal's special Access to Justice issue! The March-April issue is filled with articles about how the legal community has pressed on during this pandemic year. Read "Access to Justice in the Time of COVID-19." Also read about opportunities for pro bono service that you might tap into, and the inspiring stories about this year's Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Richard B. Gossett; the Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney of the Year Kaitlin Beck; and the Law Student Volunteer of the Year Gerald Bradner. Also in this this issue, the Supreme Court's Anne-Louise Wirthlin writes about what 2020 was like for the Access to Justice Commission and what is to come.
IP Law Forum 2021 Goes Virtual Over 2 Days
The TBA Intellectual Property Section is presenting a two-day virtual program for its 2021 Annual Forum. “Taking IP Law Back to the Future” launches on April 15 with sessions on saving your patent from Section 101, conflicting local patent rules and maintaining professionalism and ethics in a post-COVID practice. Day two kicks off on April 22 with sessions on copyright protection for utilitarian works, trademark updates for 2021 and non-fungible crypto tokens. Each day’s programming will run from 12:45 to 4 p.m. CDT with a virtual happy hour at 4 p.m. Register for Day 1 only, Day 2 only or the full two-day program.
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