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Employee Benefits: What's On The Horizon?
OCTOBER 3, 1996
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
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| 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
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| 9:00 - 9:10 a.m. |
Welcome / Opening Comments |
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Albert E. Easton, Co-Chairman
NYEBC Albany Conference Committee |
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| 9:10 - 9:55 a.m. |
Legislative and Regulatory Update |
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David A. Pratt, Albany Law School
Dr. Pratt opens the morning session with a discussion of recent legislation and regulations affecting retirement benefits and other employee benefit plans. Particular emphasis will be on pension reforms enacted as part of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 and the planning opportunities which they present. |
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| 9:55 - 10:40 a.m. |
Mergers and Acquisitions: Their Effects on Benefits |
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Lonnie S. Tomlin, Group Insurance Agency of Healthcare Association of NYS Services Inc.
This session will focus on a discussion of the types of plans that may be affected and the due diligence that is necessary prior to any merger or acquisition. The discussion will also include potential problems of which to be aware and alternatives for dealing with the different types of plans. |
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| 10:40 - 10:55 a.m. |
Break |
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| 10:55 - 11:40 a.m. |
Employment Relations: EEO, ADA and Workers' Compensation |
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Hugh Carlin, Esq., Gross, Shuman, Brizdle & Gilfillan
Gary Gleba, Esq., Albrecht, Maguire, Heffern & Gregg P.C.
Mark Hamberger, Esq., Hamberger / Weiss
Where are we now and where are we headed? The presenters will discuss current issues under NY Workers' Compensation Law, sexual discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and NY Human Rights Law, and disability discrimination under the American With Disabilities Act. The panel will analyze recent court decisions impacting employers and employees and discuss the steps employers should take to minimize the risk of litigation. |
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| 11:40 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. |
Health Benefits Panel |
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Diane Bergman, Capital District Physicians' Health Plan
James Conlon, Milliman & Robertson Inc.
Craig Duncan, NE Health
Members of the panel will discuss new initiatives in managed care and their likely effect on health costs in the immediate future. There will also be an open discussion of the likely future of the financing of health care delivery in the Capital Region and in New York generally. |
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| 12:40 - 1:45 p.m. |
Lunch |
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| 1:45 - 2:45 p.m. |
Workshop (Choose I, II, III or IV) |
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| 2:45 - 3:00 p.m. |
Break |
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| 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
Workshop (Choose I, II, III or IV) |
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- WORKSHOP I: Retirement Plans for Tax Exempt Employers
Brian P.Goldstein, Esq., Helm, Shaplio, Anito & McCale, P.C.
Mr. Goldstein will discuss retirement programs for tax exempt organizations. Topics to be covered will include the myriad of rules applicable to 403(b) annuities and related traps for the unwary, ERISA coverage of 403(b) annuity programs, the IRS Tax Sheltered Annuity Voluntary Correction Program, the use of Code §457 plans and qualified plans, pending legislation, and plan sponsor compliance programs. This workshop is recommended for both plan sponsors as well as advisors who work with tax exempt organizations.
- WORKSHOP II: Employment Issues: EEO, ADA and Workers' Compensation
Hugh Carlin, Esq., Gross, Shuman, Brizdle & Gilfillan
Gary Gleba, Esq., Albrecht, Maguire, Heffern & Gregg P.C.
Mark Hamberger, Esq., Hamberger / Weiss
The workshop presenters will use hypothetical fact situations commonly encountered by employers to illustrate current legal issues. They will discuss practical steps for employers to take to comply with the laws and minimize their risk of liability. Consideration will be given to the expanding legal rights and obligations of employers and employees as discussed in the morning presentation.
- WORKSHOP III: Retirement Plan Designs of Tomorrow
Joan Gucciardi, Gucciardi Benefit Resources Inc.
Defined contribution plans are increasingly being designed to mimic defined benefit plans, of course, without PBGC premiums, valuations, and enrolled actuaries. Cross-tested, age-weighted, and target plans will be addressed, as well as the "come-back" of defined benefit plans.
- WORKSHOP IV: Employee Handbook: Help or Hindrance?
Amelia M. Klein, Esq., Bond, Schoeneck & King LLP
In this workshop we will explore the need for an employee handbook, discuss various provisions commonly contained in employee handbooks, and distinguish those provisions that may help an employer in the context of a litigation from those that may cause problems. Actual case studies will be utilized to facilitate the discussion.
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