The 2013 Legislative Session is past the half way point and the focus has been on the Governor's legislative package thus far.  The Senate has debated and passed stricter gun control regulations and repeal of the death penalty.  The House of Delegates will take up these two issues during the second half of the Legislative Session. 

MADA introduced SB 886 and HB 1139 to address the amount of warranty reimbursement dealers receive from the manufacturer for both parts and labor.  MADA is also planning on amending this legislation to include language permitting dealers to use a vendor of their choosing for goods and services required by the manufacturer.  Ideally, this amendment will allow dealers to use local vendors that may provide a significant cost savings over manufacturer required vendors.  These bills have hearings scheduled in the next couple of weeks, and MADA may be asking dealer members to contact their legislators.

Finally, Governor O'Malley followed the path of the Virginia Governor by introducing a transportation package to raise money for the transportation trust fund.  The Governor's bill seeks a tax increase on the price of wholesale gasoline and an index for inflation.  The gas tax is not popular with many legislators, so the legislature may seek alternative funding means.  MADA is going to work this package very hard to ensure the trade difference is not taken away from dealers as it is a valuable tool in making car sale transactions happen.

Please be ready to assist MADA in their lobbying efforts if MADA asks you to contact your local legislator on behalf of the franchised car and truck dealer industry.

For any questions regarding the latest happenings on State Circle, please contact Travis Martz at the office, 800.526.7423 or by email tmartz@mdauto.org. We will include updates in all subsequent issues of On the Move.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule implementing two important expansions of Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protections that go into effect on March 8, 2013. All covered employers are required to display the notice in a conspicuous place where employees and applicants for employment can see it. Failure to display all required State and Federal posters can lead to fines of up to $17,000.

The first expansion to the FMLA will provide families of eligible veterans with the same job protected FMLA leave currently available to families of active military service members; and it also enables more military families to take leave for activities that arise when a service member is deployed. The second expansion to the Act modifies existing rules so that airline personnel and flight crews are better able to make use of the FMLA's protections.

Posters that include all mandatory changes and postings required of State,  Federal and OSHA regulations can be purchased online through the Pennsylvania Auto Dealers Association [PAA] website.  This poster includes all of your State, Federal, and OSHA mandatory posting requirements.  For further information about the updated poster, please call PAA at 1-800-692-7295 and ask to speak with Aaron, Lori, or Kim.

You may also retrieve the standard FMLA updated PDF file directly from the DOL's website.

NADA University recently launched the 2013 Dealership Workforce Study at the recent Convention in Orlando. The project invites all NADA and ATD member dealers to submit a variety of dealership business information in order to provide NADA with the data necessary to produce another informative report later this year.

Please visit www.nadaworkforcestudy.com to register today or call 1.800.557.6232. for more information. 

There is NO COST to participate in the 2013 NADA Dealership Workforce Study. All participant s

• A complimentary Dealership-specific BASIC REPORT 
• A complimentary Comprehensive INDUSTRY REPORT

Participants will also have the opportunity to purchase an ENHANCED REPORT, with franchise specific market data, for a nominal fee. The study will end on April 30, 2013.

The next dates for ASE testing are April 1-May 31, 2013.  Registration is now open online and will close on May 21, 2013.  

To register for an exam or for more information, please visit ASE's website.

#1: Social Media Policy Update - The Rules Have Changed Again!

Date/Time: Thursday, March 14 at 1pm Eastern

Presenter: Penelope Phillips, J.D. of Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt 

Cost: $149.00 per person              

Blanket policies prohibiting public and online discussions of work, other employees and/or superiors need to be adjusted in light of recent NLRB rulings and advisories.

Join labor attorney, Penny Phillips, J.D. for a discussion of the new rules for social media policies and what car dealers in particular need to do to stay in compliance.

You will learn:

• What the new NLRB rulings mean for car dealers
• How social media policies have evolved in the last two years
• What's legal and what's not for using social media sites in making hiring decisions
• What are the dealership's rights?
• What changes in your social media policies are needed now.

#2: What Variable Department Managers Need to Know About the Financial Statement... 

Date/Time: Thursday, March 21 at 1pm Eastern

Presenter: Sandi Jerome of The Super Controller Group

• The true difference between the Financial Statement Gross and the Sales Gross  
• Ways to prevent this difference in reporting
• The Top Five Ways you "Lose" gross
• All about "Adjusted Selling Gross" - understanding Variable Expenses
• How to use the data to improve Net Profit - how to control Variable Expenses  

    Click Here to Register Today!