57.12 Howe Enterprise August 5, 2019

Page 16

howeenterprise.com

Monday, August 5, 2019

Sick leave mandates - round two “Small businesses need the flexibility to work with their employees and offer benefits to keep them competitive,” wrote Andy Ellard of Manda Grace Watson Machine Company to members of the Texas House State Affairs Committee earlier this year. “A one-size-fits-all government mandate is not the answer.” Ellard echoes the sentiments of many small business owners across the state. The cause for their concern? An onslaught of onerous local ordinances that are threatening the ability of Texas business owners to operate freely.

defense against these overreaching city ordinances lies in court decisions and actions taken by state officials. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened in litigation initiated by a lawsuit of San Antonio business groups against the city of San Antonio, regarding a sick leave ordinance that was set to go into effect at the beginning of August. This intervention was not the first time that the Attorney General’s office had become involved, either. In a letter addressed to the San Antonio mayor and city council last year, the office firmly stated that “Texas law preempts a municipal paid sick leave ordinance,” regardless of any action taken by the council.

Recently, a Bexar County district judge approved an agreement made earlier this month between San Antonio business groups and city attorneys to delay implementation of that paid sick Their worries are justified. If leave ordinance until December. Texas cities are successful in passing these measures—such as This will allow more time for the forcing employers to provide paid ordinance to be refined. sick leave as a benefit—then small Last year, a court of appeals business owners will struggle to deemed a similar ordinance by the make ends meet while fulfilling city of Austin to be these requirements. unconstitutional. Likewise, businesses operating in According to Attorney General Ken Paxton, “San Antonio, Austin, multiple jurisdictions will face Dallas and other cities cannot be compliance issues as they try to allowed to pass their own laws deal with a mishmash of simply because they dislike state regulations spread out across law or disagree with the judgment numerous municipalities. of the state’s elected It is important to keep in mind that representatives.” the addressing of this problem is not an attack on workers. Paid sick It is imperative to remember that leave is considered a benefit for a the situation at hand is not about the state overpowering local reason, and it is in no way an control. Instead, it is about inherently bad thing. ensuring the rights of individuals and private organizations to Many employers maintain a conduct business as they see fit— competitive edge by providing and free from government benefit packages (which may interference. include paid sick leave) and by working with their employees Texas is an excellent state for when situations such as illnesses conducting business. This still arise. holds true, despite the recent trend of city governments drastically Unfortunately, this edge is lost when all businesses are required to over-stepping their boundaries. The good news is that business provide the same thing for their employees. Whenever government owners like Andy Ellard of Manda interferes with the natural ebb and Machine Company—and their employees—can look to state flow of the marketplace, it disincentivizes both employers and officials and courts to defend their freedom to prosper. their employees by hampering innovation and limiting creative ways that the two can benefit each Grace Watson is a legislative fellow at the Texas Public Policy other. Foundation. But there’s hope. The best line of

Page #16

Howe ISD free and reducedprice meals info Howe ISD announced its policy today for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the attached current income eligibility guidelines. Each school/site or the central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by anyone on request. Starting on August 20th, 2018 Howe will begin distributing letters to the households of the children in the district about eligibility benefits and any actions households need to take to apply for these benefits. Criteria for Free and ReducedPrice Meal Benefits The following criteria will be used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits: Income 1. Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels Categorical or Automatic Eligibility 2. Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Program Participant 3. Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster 4. Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start Income Eligibility For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must fill out free and reduced-price meal application and return it to your child’s campus. Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information: 1. Names of all household members 2. Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member 3. Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number,

check the box for “No Social Security number” 4. Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct Categorical or Program Eligibility Howe ISD is working with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible. Howe ISD will notify the households of these children that they do not need to complete an application. Any household that does not receive a letter and feels it should have should contact the office at your child’s school. Any household that wishes to decline benefits should contact Brett Williams, Director of Operations Howe ISD. Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may also be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year. Determining Eligibility Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Brett Williams, Director of Operations will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Official’s eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Kevin Wilson, Superintendent of Schools, 903-532-3228. Unexpected Circumstances If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the attached current income eligibility guidelines.


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57.12 Howe Enterprise August 5, 2019 by The Howe Enterprise - Issuu