.by Ann Price, Partner

In a press release on May 17, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced that the final rule changing legal test for determining whether employees are exempt from overtime under the “white collar” regulation will be effective on December 1, 2016. The key provisions of the final rule are that it:

• Roughly doubles the salary threshold from $23,660 to $47,476 per year, or from $455 to $913 per week. This is a few thousand dollars less that the proposed rule indicated.
• Will automatically update the salary threshold every three years, beginning on January 1, 2020, based on the 40^th percentile of full-time salaried workers in the lowest income region of the country. The proposed rule would have updated the salary threshold annually.
• Raises the “highly compensated employee” threshold, which allows for the application of a relaxed “duties” test, from $100,000 to $134,004 per year. This is almost $12,000 more than the proposed rule indicated.
• Will allow employers to count nondiscretionary bonuses, incentives, and commissions for up to 10% of the salary threshold.
• Makes no changes to the “duties” test.

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Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. partner Jason Boulette will present “Key Labor and Employment Issues in the Healthcare Sector” to the University of Texas CLE’s 28th Annual Health Law Conference in Houston.

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Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. partner Mike Golden will present “Technology and Ethics” at the 23rd Annual Texas Bar CLE Advanced Medical Torts Course in Sante Fe, New Mexico. The presentation is scheduled for 2:45pm on Friday, March 18, and is eligible for CLE credit. Additional information>>>

Changes are on the way for the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The legal test for determining whether employees are exempt from overtime under the “white collar” regulation will change sometime in 2016. Employers need to take steps now to ensure they can comply when the change becomes effective. The exact change will not be known until the final regulation is published by the Department of Labor. However the proposed rule published on July 6, 2015 makes clear that the minimum amount of compensation necessary for an exemption will increase significantly and may double.

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Concealed carry by license holders has been the law of the land in Texas since 1995. Effective January 1, 2016, licensed handgun holders in Texas may lawfully carry their holstered handguns in an open manner in many public places.  It is still illegal to carry a handgun on certain types of premises. For example:  schools, collegiate and professional sporting events, bars, polling places, correctional facilities, government buildings, and secured areas of airports.

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Steven Garrett – Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law

Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) announced that Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. Associate Attorney Steven Garrett received Board Certification in Labor & Employment Law.

Board Certification is a voluntary designation program certifying Texas attorneys in 22 specific areas of law.

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Tanya DeMent receives Board Certification in Labor & Employment Law

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) announced that Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P Associate Attorney Tanya DeMent received Board Certification in Labor and Employment Law.

Board Certification is a voluntary designation program certifying Texas attorneys in 22 specific areas of law.

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Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. partner Mike Golden will present “Ethical Use of Social Media in Recovering Damages” to the 8th Annual Texas Bar CLE’s Damages in Civil Litigation Course. The presentation is scheduled for 1:15pm Friday, February 5th at the Hilton Park Cities in Dallas. Additional information>>>

Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. partner Ann Abrams Price will present a session entitled “Employment Law Update: Exempt or Non-Exempt; Employee or Independent Contractor” to the 53rd Annual Joe Vincent Management Seminar of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas.  The presentation, which will review how significant changes proposed by the Department of Labor affect independent agencies, is scheduled for 8:30am Tuesday, January 26th at the Austin Renaissance Hotel. Additional information>>>

Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. partner Jason Boulette will present “Getting Online Information into Evidence” to the 24th Annual Advanced Employment Law Course meeting, cosponsored by the Texas Bar CLE and the Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. The presentation, eligible for CLE credit, is scheduled for 2:45 pm on Friday, January 15th at the Westin Galleria hotel in Dallas.