New House health reform bill still excludes nonprofits 10/30/09

House Democratic leaders yesterday introduced the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR3962) that would extend health coverage to 96 percent of all Americans once it is fully implemented. Among its key components, the legislation would create a health insurance exchange through which individuals and many nonprofit and other employers could purchase health coverage, provide a government-run public insurance option, and impose individual and employer mandates. The small business credit was not revised to provide support for nonprofit organizations, despite a strong lobbying effort, but, according to Intendpendent Sector, tax staffers report that the House is “positively predisposed” to address the issue in a House-Senate conference. Details: http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/10/affordable-health-care.shtml.

Health reform floor debate begins soon, nonprofits fight for fair treatment 10/28/09

House Democratic leaders want to bring their massive health care overhaul legislation to the floor next week, if they can line up a majority behind a single 'public option' proposal. As the vote approaches, the National Council of Nonprofits and Independent Sector are urging nonprofits to get involved in their campaigns to help ensure that any health care reform measures provide incentives to nonprofit employers that are equivalent to those provided to for-profit employers.

Governor Acts on Legislation 10/21/09

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has completed action on the 872 bills passed by the Legislature this year, the fewest in more than 40 years. Schwarzenegger set a record for signing the fewest bills in a single year, approving only 632 of the measures that reached his desk in the 2009 regular session (three special sessions are scheduled for this fall). Schwarzenegger vetoed 240 bills, 27.52 percent of those sent to him – a sharp drop from last year’s record of 414 vetoes.

Are you fundraising online? 10/20/09

In the past, it wasn’t necessary for many groups to file registration papers outside of their home states. But with the advent of online fund raising, many organizations are probably violating laws in some states because they are collecting donations without letting state authorities know. Details: http://philanthropy.com/news/government/index.php?id=9876

Nonprofits excluded from health care reform 10/16/09

Health care reforms currently pending in the House help only small for-profit businesses with a tax credit, a solution that provides zero relief to nonprofit employers that bear the same burden of rising health care costs. By excluding nonprofit employers, the three versions of the House bill place a greater burden on nonprofits than on for-profit businesses. To help turn this situation around, contact klarsen@canonprofits.org.

Legislators pass funding bills for nonprofits and local government 10/15/09

The California State Senate passed measures Wednesday to restore funding to domestic violence shelters and help cities and counties borrow money to balance their budgets. Senators voted unanimously to approve a measure restoring $16 million cut from the budget for 94 nonprofit domestic violence shelters, forcing half a dozen shelters to close and others to reduce their services. The Senate vote also was unanimous on a measure to make it easier for cities and counties to borrow against future funding from the state to plug budget holes created when the state took $1.9 billion from local coffers this summer. Details: http://www.csac.counties.org/.

Help preserve nonprofit giving incentive 10/13/09

The IRA Charitable Rollover – which allows older Americans to make tax-free distributions to nonprofits from IRA accounts - expires December 31, 2009 unless reauthorized by Congress. California are key players in this decision. To find out more and take action. http://www.independentsector.org/programs/gr/IRArollover.html.

Legislators honor nonprofit workers 10/7/09

State Senator Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge), Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) and Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) included two “outstanding nonprofit executive directors” and two “outstanding nonprofit employees” among the awards they recently presented to 25 “exceptional businesswomen” from their respective districts. The women were honored for their contributions “to the economic growth and well-being of Southern California.” Details: http://dist21.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={010596EB-8442-4018-8FB9-D959D30D47F4}.

Nonprofits face pension crisis 10/5/09

Independent Sector, a national coalition public charities, private foundations, and corporate giving programs, has renewed its call for Congress to ease rules that require charities and other employers to make certain payments to “defined-benefit” pension funds. Many employers, including nonprofit organizations, that sponsor defined benefit pension plans will soon be required to make large catch-up contributions into their pension funds due to the decline in the financial markets and new pension funding rules that require the losses to be repaid within seven years. Details; http://www.independentsector.org/programs/gr/Pension_Plan_Funding_Relief.htm.