Small Biz Reg Watch vol 1, Issue 13

Terrence P. Murphy

August 12, 2015

Dear Neighbor,

Below are this week's featured regulations.  Remember, you can always check out the ARRC website for a more comprehensive list of rules and regulations from both the fedeal and state government.

As a small business owner, I know firsthand how the miles of red tape can strangle the life out of any business.  The goal of the small business regulatory watch is to make our state and federal government more transparent and business friendly.  I encourage you to speak out against any of the proposed rules and regulations you see that may adversely impact your individual business or field.

If I or my staff can ever be of help please do not hesitate to contact us.

Wishing you the best,

Dr. Terrence P. Murphy

This Week's Featured Regulations

New York State Register, Issue 30, July 29, 2015:

Qualifications for License Issuing Agents and Wildlife Rehabilitators (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation/ENV-30-15-0004-P)

  • The rule will remove regulatory requirements that exclude individuals with felonies from obtaining certain licenses and authorizations.
  • Public comments will be accepted for 45-days or up to September 12, 2015.   
  • Comments or further information:  Joseph Therrien, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY  12233-4752. 518-402-8987, email:joseph.therrien@dec.ny.gov

Federal Register, Volume 80, Issue 145, July 29 , 2015:

Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness(Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)/OSHA-2015-0006) 

  • The purpose of this rule making to amend OSHA’s recordkeeping regulations to clarify that the duty to make and maintain accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses is an ongoing obligation. The duty to record an injury or illness continues for as long as the employer must keep records of the recordable injury or illness; the duty does not expire just because the employer fails to create the necessary records when first required to do so. The proposed amendments consist of revisions to the titles of some existing sections and subparts, and changes to the text of some existing provisions. The proposed amendments add no new compliance obligations; the proposal would not require employers to make records of any injuries or illnesses for which records are not currently required to be made.
  • The public comment period ends on September 28, 2015.
  • Send comments/submissions to OSHA Docket Office, Docket Number OSHA-2015-0006, Technical Data Center, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-2625, Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2350
  • For further information contact:  General information and press inquiries: Press inquiries: Mr. Frank Meilinger, Director, Office of Communications, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-1999; email meilinger.francis2@dol.gov.
  • Technical inquiries: Mr. William Perry, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3718, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-1950; email perry.bill@dol.gov.

Federal Register, Volume 80, Issue 151, August 6, 2015:

Equipment Authorization and Electronic Labeling for Wireless Devices (Federal Communications Commission/RM-11673-P) 

  • The purpose of this proposed rule making is to update the rules that govern the evaluation and approval of RF devices.   The Commission proposed to combine two separate product approval programs—Declaration of Conformity and verification—into one product self-approval program. It also proposed to revise and clarify the rules that govern equipment certification, including those specifying when device changes necessitate a new FCC ID. These revisions would codify the current practices related to certification of modular transmitters for licensed services as well as the filing requirements for RF devices that incorporate multiple certified modular transmitters. They would also replace requirements that apply only to devices specifically classified as “software defined radios” (SDRs) with broadly applicable rules, based in part on the current Commission practices regarding software control of radio parameters, and would eliminate restrictions on hardware modifications of SDR devices.
  • The public comment period ends on September 9, 2015.
  • For further information or to send comments contact:  Brian Butler, Office of Engineering and Technology, Room 7-A267, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554.  202-418-2702.  Email:  Brian.butler@fcc.gov