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17 Apr

Posted at 09:14h in Industry News, Regulatory
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On April 20, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS will publish a temporary final rule to amend certain H-2A requirements to help U.S. agricultural employers avoid disruptions in lawful agricultural-related employment, protect the nation’s food supply chain, and lessen impacts from the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. Due to travel restrictions and visa processing limitations as a result of actions taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, as well as the possibility that some H-2A workers may become unavailable due to COVID-19 related illness, U.S. employers who have approved H-2A petitions...

16 Apr

Posted at 13:26h in Industry News, Regulatory
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This afternoon, Governor Laura Kelly issued Executive Order #20-23 extending the statewide “stay home” set to expire April 19, to midnight May 3. The Governor’s Order directs all individuals within the state of Kansas to stay in their residences unless performing an essential activity including but not limited to: Performing, or going to or from work at a business or organization to perform, an essential function as identified in the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF). The KEFF includes businesses that maintain supply chains for essential functions and critical infrastructure as defined by a...

16 Apr

Posted at 06:51h in Industry News, Regulatory
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Courtesy: American Feed Industry Association The American Feed Industry Association is a not-for-profit organization that represents the feed industry in industry-wide events, national and state legislation, etc. Last Friday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an enforcement guidance with details on how employers should record occupational illnesses, specifically cases of the COVID-19. Last Friday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an enforcement guidance with details on how employers should record occupational illnesses, specifically cases of the COVID-19. In areas where there is ongoing community transmission, employers – other than those in the...

14 Apr

Posted at 10:21h in Industry News, Regulatory
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Governor Laura Kelly has issued Executive Order 20-22 which extends the previous Executive Order 20-09, which expired on April 12, 2020. The Order maintains the 10% weight wavier up to 90,000 lbs for trucks hauling essential goods and supplies. The new Order expires on May 15, 2020, or until the statewide state of disaster emergency on COVID-19 expires. Governor Laura Kelly's Executive Order 20-22 (view by clicking the button below or HERE) allows a 10% weight waiver for motor carriers of essential services and food supplies. For our members’ clarification of the...

09 Apr

Posted at 08:20h in Industry News
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In observance of Good Friday, tomorrow April 10, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association's (KARA) office in Topeka will be closed. KARA staff will be monitoring phone calls. Should you need to contact a member of the staff in the event of an emergency, or if it is a time-sensitive issue, please call the association office (785.234.0463) and follow the directions on the phone system to reach a staff member. We thank you for your membership and hope you have a great weekend....

09 Apr

Posted at 08:08h in Regulatory
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Courtesy: American Feed Industry Association The American Feed Industry Association is a not-for-profit organization that represents the feed industry in industry-wide events, national and state legislation, etc. The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued new enforcement guidance on the use of respiratory protection equipment certified under international standards or other jurisdictions during the coronavirus disease pandemic. OSHA’s memorandum provides additional interim guidance to compliance safety and health officers for enforcing the Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR § 1910.134) and certain other health standards, with regard to supply shortages...

08 Apr

Posted at 12:44h in Industry News, Regulatory
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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is granting a temporary exemption from requirements regarding expiration of TSA security threat assessments (STAs) for Hazardous Material Endorsement (HME). For the duration of this exemption, a state may grant an extension of up to 180 days for an HME that expired or would otherwise expire between March 1, 2020, and the end date of this exemption, even if the individual was unable to initiate or complete the required STA before the expiration date. If the state grants an extension, the individual with an expired HME must initiate...

08 Apr

Posted at 12:43h in Regulatory
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Consistent with Governor Laura Kelly’s Executive Order 20-13, the Office of the Kansas Secretary of State has extended the deadline for businesses to file annual reports for 2019. The extended deadline is now July 15, 2020. As a friendly reminder, many business filings can be made online at sos.kansas.gov. In addition to annual reports, online filings include apostille or authentication of documents, business formation documents for corporations, LLCs and domestic limited partnerships, registered agent or registered office changes, business dissolution or cancellations, and certificate of good standing requests. You can also...

03 Apr

Posted at 06:40h in Advocacy
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In a press conference broadcast on Facebook Live, Governor Laura Kelly announced the signing of House Substitute for Senate Bill 173, enacting the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, Friday afternoon. The bill, much debated in conference committees during the legislative session, sets forth the state's next 10-year transportation plan. Of special interest to Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA), the plan includes a new $15 million, three-year, 70/30 cost-share grant program for improvements to short line rail and rail siding owned or leased by industry. "We applaud the Governor and the Legislature’s work in...

02 Apr

Posted at 12:49h in Industry News
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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the CARES act, creating the Paycheck Protection Program under the Small Business Administration (SBA). This guaranteed loan program authorizes approximately $350 billion in forgivable loan funding for small business payroll (including 1099 employees) and other monthly expenses. Under this program: Eligible recipients may qualify for a loan up to $10 million determined by 8 weeks of prior average payroll plus an additional 25% of that amount. Loan payments will be deferred for six months. If you maintain your workforce, the SBA will forgive...

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