On March 31, 2021, New York legalized the recreational use of marijuana for individuals over the age of 21 The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) generally legalized cultivation, distribution, use, and possession of recreational marijuana in New York State Important for New York employers, MRTA amends Labor Law Section 201-d, which protects employees’ right to engage in certain recreational activities outside of work Section 201-d generally prohibits employers from [...]

How do we determine what is law, what is the government’s interpretation or application of a law, or what is just the government’s opinion? Consider the source. STATUTES: Laws Passed by a Legislature, Usually by Congress Statutes are binding law and can create new rights or obligations. The Immigration and Nationality Act is a statute. Statutes may be challenged in court if they are unconstitutional, either as written or as applied by the government. REGULATIONS: Rules Setting [...]

 On March 12, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed a new law that allows employees in New York to take up to four hours of paid leave time, per vaccination, to get vaccinated for COVID-19, which takes effect immediately and will expire on December 31, 2022 We previously published a summary of this new law here: https://www.lgtlegal.com/news/Newly-Enacted-COVID-19-Vaccination-Leave-Effective-as-of-March-12-2021_344-news.htm The New York Department of Labor has recently published guidance on this [...]

On Tuesday, March 30, 2021, the PPP Extension Act was signed into law.  This gives small business owners the opportunity to apply for a PPP Loan until May 31, 2021.  Here is a link to the SBA’s Press Release on the PPP Extension Act of 2021:  SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman’s Statement on President Biden signing the PPP Extension Act of 2021 into law. The Attorneys at Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP are available to provide advice and counsel concerning [...]

The H-1B electronic registration period closed at noon (ET) on March 25, 2021. Registrants and their legal representatives have started to receive H-1B selection notices from USCIS over the weekend. USCIS plans to send out formal communications to inform the public regarding if and when the selection period has closed in the coming days. A registrant’s USCIS online account will show one of the following statuses for each registration: Submitted: The registration has been submitted [...]