CPC HEARING INVOLVEMENT CANCELED Due to the severe weather and blizzard conditions predicted for today and tomorrow, Child Performers Coalition (CPC) has decided to CANCEL our involvement in the Department of Labor hearing currently scheduled for Monday, December 27th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am.  We have received no indication from the Department of Labor and have no reason to believe that we will be notified if the New York State Government Offices close due to severe weather.  It is our understanding that if the hearing goes forward as planned, a clerk will simply note the testimony and contact information of all those who offer a public comment.  Jeffrey Shapiro, Attorney for the DOL and force behind the new rule, has indicated he is "out of the office" until January 3, 2011.  Given the circumstances, it is not worth risking our safety.  CPC plans to attend and testify at the second hearing scheduled for Monday, January 10th from 10 am to 1 pm and encourages all those concerned to do the same.  By the DOL's own notations the hearings are NOT MANDATORY and are simply an opportunity for those concerned to voice their support or opposition to the proposed rule language publicly.  It is extremely important to submit your concerns in writing to bcejjs@labor.ny.gov as the DOL has to submit public commentary along with their final proposed rule language and their Regulatory Impact Statement to the Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform for the Governor's final approval.  Public commentary has been extended until January 18th. We invite you to be an active part of our Coalition and encourage you to reach out to other members of our child performer and production community.  Please check out our web site by clicking our logo above as well as our two prior newsletters for more information.  We will be posting a comparison of the old language and the new language at 5 pm on our web site.  Thank you.