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American Dental Education Association


Volume 3, No. 41, May 8, 2024

DOL Releases New Overtime Rule
 
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule [ [link removed] ] aimed at ensuring fair compensation for lower paid workers who work more than 40 hours a week. This rule will require employers to provide time-and-a-half pay for qualified salaried employees who exceed the 40-hour threshold and who are below a certain salary threshold. The new rule will be implemented in two stages, with the first stage beginning on July 1. In July, the threshold will rise to an annual salary equivalent of $43,888, up from the current threshold of $35,568. On Jan. 1, 2025, the threshold will increase further to $58,656.
 
By raising the salary threshold, an estimated 4 million lower paid, salaried workers who were previously exempt from overtime protection will become eligible as of July 1. The Biden administration believes that this move represents a significant step towards addressing wage inequality and ensuring that workers are compensated fairly for their time and effort.
 
Another important provision in the rule would require automatic updates to salary thresholds effective every three years starting on July 1, 2027, based on current wage data at the time. This means employers will need to reassess exempt classification every three years.

Biden Administration Delays Final Rule That Would Ban Menthol Cigarettes
 
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced [ [link removed] ] that it would delay the release of the final rule banning menthol cigarettes. Despite the attention garnered by the proposed ban on menthol cigarettes and extensive feedback received during the public comment period, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra acknowledged that “there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time.”
 
The administration's failure to meet its self-imposed March deadline for a decision on the ban raised concerns that the White House might delay the rule until after the election to avoid political backlash. Menthol cigarettes are the only flavored cigarettes still allowed on the market.
 
Public health groups advocating for a ban on menthol cigarettes applied significant pressure on the Biden administration to release the final. However, the administration faced opposition from tobacco companies and civil rights groups concerned about potential unintended consequences. These opponents argued that banning menthol could lead to a black market for menthol cigarettes, disproportionately impacting minorities, and possibly exacerbating over-policing in Black communities where menthol smoking is prevalent.
 
The further delay of the final rule suggests that finalizing the rule post-election remains a possibility.

15 States Sue Biden Administration Over Title IX Regulations
 
Fifteen states have now filed suit against the Biden Administration’s recently released Title IX regulations. At issue is the regulations' broadened scope of Title IX to include sexual orientation and gender identity. The states filing suit have contended that the regulations infringe upon protections for women and girls [ [link removed] ] , contradict state laws that ban transgender students [ [link removed] ] from using locker rooms or bathrooms that align with their gender identity and, although the regulations don’t address transgender athletes, the plaintiffs have stated they would force states to allow transgender athletes to compete against athletes who align to their gender identity. The states have contended that the new rules amount to an unconstitutional rewrite of the law and have asked the courts to delay the rule’s effective date or vacate and set aside the rule entirely.
 
Four separate lawsuits have been filed:
 • Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana and Idaho have filed in the Western District of Louisiana [ [link removed] ] .
 • Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia and West Virginia have filed in the Eastern District of Kentucky [ [link removed] Release Attachments/1 - Complaint Package.pdf ] .
 • Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina have filed in the Northern District of Alabama [ [link removed] ] .
 • Texas has filed in the Northern District of Texas [ [link removed] IX Complaint FIled.pdf ] .

Multiple governors have directed school districts in their states to ignore the regulations [ [link removed] ] .

Wisconsin Technical Colleges Submit Plans for Additional Oral Health Program Funding
 
Prior to the end of its 2024 legislative session, the Wisconsin State Legislature passed legislation [ [link removed] ] that would allow the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) to provide up to $20 million in funding in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium for technical college programs to expand the state's oral health care workforce. The state’s technical colleges have now submitted their requests and plans [ [link removed] ] for the funds. In total, 14 of the state’s 16 colleges submitted. The Wisconsin Technical College System has estimated the new funds will create approximately 200 new program spots annually.

ADEA Advocacy in Action
This appears weekly in the ADEA Advocate to summarize and provide direct links to recent advocacy actions taken by ADEA. Please let us know what you think and how we might improve its usefulness.
 
Issues and Resources
 • ADEA report [ [link removed] ] on teledentistry
 • ADEA report [ [link removed] ] on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Dental Schools
 • ADEA policy brief [ [link removed] ] regarding overprescription of antibiotics
 • For a full list of ADEA memos, briefs and letters click here [ [link removed] ] .

Key Federal Issues [ [link removed] ]

ADEA U.S. Interactive Legislative and Regulatory Tracking Map [ [link removed] ]

Key State Issues [ [link removed] ]

The ADEA Advocate [ [link removed] ] is published weekly. Its purpose is to keep ADEA members abreast of federal and state issues and events of interest to the academic dentistry and the dental and research communities.
 
©2024
American Dental Education Association
655 K Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: 202-289-7201
Website: www.adea.org [ [link removed] ]

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B. Timothy Leeth, CPA
ADEA Chief Advocacy Officer
 
Bridgette DeHart, J.D.
ADEA Director of Federal Relations and Advocacy
 
Phillip Mauller, M.P.S.
ADEA Senior Director of State Relations and Advocacy
 
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[email protected] [ mailto:[email protected] ]

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