Employment Benefits Series Free MCLE 8/16

Wednesday, August 16, 2017, Noon to 1:00pm, What to Expect From a Health Plan Investigation

Presented by Christine Kerley, J.D.
Benefits Advisor with the U.S. Department of Labor

1 Hour free Participatory MCLE Credit

This presentation, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), gives a general background about EBSA and its role in regulating employer-sponsored health plans. The presentation also provides information about the type and scope of health plan investigations, along with correction procedures and compliance resources.

This is one in a series of free MCLE programs on employment benefits at the Library. The next program in our Employment Benefits Series will be on Thursday, September 14 on COBRA. Learn more here.

Employment Benefits Free MCLE 8/9

Wednesday, August 9, 2017, Noon to 2:00pm, ERISA Fiduciary Responsibilities

Presented by Christine Kerley, J.D.
Benefits Advisor with the U.S. Department of Labor

2 Hours free Participatory MCLE Credit

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), developed this presentation to assist attendees in understanding their role and responsibilities in protecting employees’ retirement benefits and to avoid problems in managing retirement plans. In addition, the presentation provides information on EBSA’s voluntary compliance programs which allow self-correction of certain violations of the law.

This is one in a series of free MCLE programs on employment benefits at the Library. Learn more here.

 

Lexis Advance Free MCLE – Part 2

Wednesday, August 2, 2017, Noon to 1:00pm, Lexis Advance Training Part 2:
Drinking from a Fire Hydrant: Basic Legal Research in the Age of Technology
Presented by Rebecca Cattich, Esq., Solutions Consultant, LexisNexis
1 Hour of free Participatory MCLE Credit
Learn the fundamentals of Lexis Advance. The topics covered will include: using the interface, selecting sources, using citations and party names, refining searches, working with sections of a case , and other Lexis Advance topics. This program will build on basic topics introduced in the July 13 program.
Download this free Lexis Advance user guide.

Free MCLE Employment Benefits Series

Since June the Library has been hosting an ongoing Lunchtime Speaker series on employment benefits with the U.S. Department of Labor. Topics range from retirement plans for small businesses to ERISA fiduciary responsibilities.  The Employment Benefits Series is presented by Christine Kerley, J.D., who has worked with EBSA (U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration) since 2006, during which time she has held positions as Investigator and Benefits Advisor. She has conducted investigations and informal reviews dealing with a wide range of ERISA compliance issues. Ms. Kerley is a member of the California State Bar, and holds a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego and a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

All programs also provide free participatory MCLE, and there are three more on the way!  See below for a listing of past and upcoming MCLE seminars:

Past Programs:

• Program 1: Choosing a Retirement Solution for Your Small Business Client (June 14)
• Program 2: What It Means to Be a Group Health Plan Fiduciary (July 19)

Upcoming Programs:

Wednesday, August 9, 2017, Noon to 2:00 PM: ERISA Fiduciary Responsibilities

2 Hours free Participatory MCLE Credit

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), developed this presentation to assist attendees in understanding their role and responsibilities in protecting employees’ retirement benefits and to avoid problems in managing retirement plans. In addition, the presentation provides information on EBSA’s voluntary compliance programs which allow self-correction of certain violations of the law.

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Wednesday, August 16, 2017, Noon to 1:00 PM: What to Expect From a Health Plan Investigation

1 Hour free Participatory MCLE Credit

What to Expect from a Health Plan Investigation gives a general background about EBSA and its role in regulating employer-sponsored health plans. The presentation also provides information about the type and scope of health plan investigations, along with correction procedures and compliance resources.

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Thursday, September 14, 2017, Noon to 1:00pm, Health Benefits Under COBRA

1 Hour free Participatory MCLE Credit

This presentation will cover basic information about COBRA, including eligibility, qualifying events, notice and disclosure regulations, duration of coverage, and common COBRA administration mistakes.

Upcoming Free MCLE Programs 7/25 and 8/2

We have some wonderful free MCLE Lunchtime Speaker Programs coming up! Be sure to add the following two programs to your calendar, and check back with our Speaker’s Guide, website, Facebook, or Twitter to stay up to date with new programs. All of our MCLE seminars are free and open to the public. Registration is not required, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Stay tuned for news about more dates in our ongoing Employment Benefits series presented by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Library. We hope to see you there!

Tuesday, July 25, 2017, 12 to 1pm

California’s Maligned Environmental Law:

An Overview of the California Environmental Quality Act, its Public Impression, and its Ongoing Importance, with a Focus on Large-Scale (and Controversial) Projects

Presented by:
Tom Engels, PhD, Principal, Horizon Water & Environment
Rob Peterson, PhD, CEQA Project Manager, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Jonathan Koltz, Legal Counsel, CPUC

1 hour free Participatory MCLE Credit 

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Wednesday August 2, 2017, 12:00 – 1:00PM

Lexis Advance Training, Part 2:
Drinking from a Fire Hydrant: Basic Legal Research in the Age of Technology

Presented by Rebecca Cattich, Esq.
Solutions Consultant, LexisNexis

1 Hour of free Participatory MCLE Credit

This program will build on basic topics introduced in the July 13 program, but patrons who did not make it to Part 1 are welcome to come.

Free Environmental Law MCLE

Tuesday, July 25, 2017, Noon to 1:00pm, California’s Maligned Environmental Law:
An Overview of the California Environmental Quality Act, its Public Impression, and its Ongoing Importance, with a Focus on Large-Scale (and Controversial) Projects
Presented by:
Tom Engels, PhD, Principal, Horizon Water & Environment
Rob Peterson, PhD, CEQA Project Manager, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Jonathan Koltz, Legal Counsel, CPUC
1 hour free Participatory MCLE Credit
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is California’s premier environmental law, and a model for similar laws across the country.  Although it’s revered by many, it’s also often derided as a boondoggle that gives undue leverage to NIMBYs and special interest groups.  Governor Brown, for example, has called attempts to ease its restrictions “the Lord’s work.” CEQA requires consideration of environmental impact on the development of “projects,” and requires the consideration and screening of a wide range of alternatives.  It has been controversially invoked as a drag in a wide range of situations, from creating new bike lanes to building large-scale utility projects.

In this hour-long program, Tom Engels, PhD, a principal at Horizon Water and Environment; Rob Peterson, PhD, a CEQA project manager at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC); and Jonathan Koltz, a lawyer with the CPUC, will provide a brief overview of the CEQA process, discuss why CEQA’s policy goals can be poorly perceived—and why those perceptions might not be entirely accurate—and explain why CEQA remains a vital tool for informing both the government and the public about the projects subject to the law.  They will provide examples from their work at the CPUC, with a focus on how staff have approached the complex process of reviewing, and finding alternatives for, large utility infrastructure projects with price tags that typically exceed $100 million and that affect thousands of Californians.

Free MCLE on Group Health Plan Fiduciary Responsibilities

Wednesday, July 19th, 2017, Noon to 1:00pm, What it Means to be a Group Health Plan Fiduciary
Presented by the Christine Kerley, J.D.
Benefits Advisor with the U.S. Department of Labor
1 Hour free Participatory MCLE Credit
The U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) developed this presentation to help attendees understand how the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA apply to group health plans, and to help them avoid problems in managing such plans. The program will cover some of the basic responsibilities in setting up and operating a plan and some of the possible pitfalls.

Christine Kerley has worked with EBSA since 2006, during which time she has held positions as Investigator and Benefits Advisor.  She has conducted investigations and informal reviews dealing with a wide range of ERISA compliance issues. Ms. Kerley is a member of the California State Bar, and holds a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego and a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. This is the second in a series on employment benefits presented by the U.S. Department of Labor and the San Francisco Law Library. MCLE materials will be provided at the program.

Check for details on additional upcoming programs in this series:
August 9, ERISA Fiduciary Responsibilities
August 16, What to Expect From a Health Plan Investigation
September 14, Health Benefits Under Cobra