California Grower Foundation
In This Issue
Anniversaries

Buena Tierra Vyds (1972)
Chateau Boswell (2007)
Clark-Claudon Vyds (2005)
Frediani Vyds (1975)
Gallo Vyds (1974)
Harris Vyds (1973)
James Creek Vyds (1997)
Kelham Vyds (2004)
Madrigal Vyd Mgmt (1989)
Treasury Wine Estates (1972)

Welcome New Members
Madrigal Family Winery
Kerwin Estate, LLC

Thank you for your membership!

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Member News, September 2013

Live Well, Work Well

The Live Well, Work Well Newsletter is a monthly newsletter featuring interesting topics in employee health and wellness. This month's content features information on flu shots, cholesterol levels and back-to-school shopping. Please click here to print and post the bulletin in English and in Spanish or contact us to request color reprints for your employees.

CGF Board of Directors 2013-2014

Thank you to everyone who voted in CGF's recent Board election. This year, we welcome two new additional Directors, Greg Funk and Mark Oberschulte.  CGF's Board of Directors for 2013-2014 are:
Chris Cordano,
Chairman
Beckstoffer Vineyards
Michael Wolf,
Vice Chairman
Michael Wolf Vineyard Services, Inc.
Mike Hobart,
Treasurer
Gallo Vineyards, Inc.
Nanette Nelson,
Secretary
non-member
Moji Saavedra
Treasury Wine Estates
Leo Ainsworth
Judd's Hill
Hank Wetzel
Hoot Owl & Alexander Valley Vineyards
Greg Funk
Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines
Mark Oberschulte
T&M Agricultural Services
Health Care Reform; Exchange Notices, State Requirements, New Resources
Exchange Notices

As a reminder, employers must provide employees with a notice concerning coverage options available in the new health insurance marketplaces, aka exchanges by October 1, 2013 and to newly hired employees within 14 days of the date of hire. This notice must be provided to all employees, whether or not the employer provides them with access to a group insurance plan. CGF has provided all employers with a template notice and instructions.  Please call us with any questions.

 

State Group Insurance Reform and Shorter Waiting Period

The Affordable Care Act is a federal law, meaning that federal agencies, namely the Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services, are primarily responsible for the law's overall enforcement. However, ACA also creates significant responsibilities for state governments. A number of ACA's key health care reforms will be carried out at the state level. California law (AB 1083) contains provisions reforming the state's group insurance market mostly mirroring ACA. In an important notable exception, eligibility waiting periods for small and large group health insurance cannot exceed 60 calendar days in California. This 60-day waiting period limit is more restrictive than ACA's 90-day limit on waiting periods. For all practical purposes, this means that coverage must begin the 1st of the month following a 30 day waiting period. Many employers will need to amend their policies in 2014 to comply with this new, shorter time frame.

  

Reform Resources

If you haven't been to CGF's website lately, please stop by frequently. The Health Care Reform page is under construction now and in a matter of days will include new and improved resources for Employers and Employees, in English and in Spanish. 

IRS to Recognize All Legal Same-Sex Marriages for Federal Tax Purposes

On Aug. 29, 2013, on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the IRS and the Treasury issued a ruling that same-sex couples who are legally married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriages will be treated as married for all federal tax purposes, regardless of whether the couple lives in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage or not. The ruling applies to all federal tax provisions where marriage is a factor, including filing status, claiming personal and dependency exemptions, taking the standard deduction, employee benefits, contributing to an IRA and claiming the earned income tax credit or child tax credit. Additionally, employees who purchased same-sex spouse health insurance coverage from their employers on an after-tax basis may treat the amounts paid for that coverage as pre-tax and excludable from income. To read more,  click here. 
Upcoming Events
Hosted by Agricultural Personnel Management Association 
9:00 am - 3:30 pm, registration includes lunch 
Classes may be taken individually or complete the series to obtain certificate 
All classes to be held at the Napa County Farm Bureau, 811 Jefferson St., Napa 
10/29/13 #104 Managing Employee Compensation 
11/21/13 #106 Human Resource Development 
12/16/13 #107 Information and Cost Analysis in HR Mgt 
January 2014 date to be determined #108 Management and Leadership for HRM Professionals 
ELECTIVES (one required for program certification),
dates TBD 
#202 Workers' Compensation in California: History, Law and Application 
#203 Safety and Health Regulations and Requirements in Agriculture 
This series also offered in Stockton
Click here for the full schedule
 
Free Quit Smoking Classes 
Clinic Ole 1141 Villa Lane, 2nd Floor, Napa 
Monday Evening Classes 6:15 - 7:30pm 
Call 253-6100 Ext. 132 to enroll 
AgSafe offer Sexual Harassment Prevention webinars 
First Tuesday and Thursday of every month 
For class times and prices, contact AgSafe at 
(209) 526-4400 
HealthCare Napa Events 
Many Napa County residents have questions about the changes to health care system and health care coverage coming down the line over the next six to twelve months as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is implemented. To help Napa County residents figure out what's happening, a collaborative of local organizations will be presenting HealthCare Napa, a series of outreach and education events to be held at various locations across the County over the coming months: 
9/3/13 4:00pm - 6:00pm - Napa County-City Library 
580 Coombs Street, Community Room, Napa 
9/10/13 4:00pm - 6:00pm - Napa County-City Library: American Canyon Branch 
300 Crawford Way, American Canyon  
10/8/13 4:00pm - 6:00pm - Calistoga Community Center 
1307 Washington Street, Calistoga 
For more information contact Akon M. Walker, Staff Services Analyst at 707-253-4265 or email akon.walker@countyofnapa.org

Hosted by AgSafe 
Wednesday, November 20, 2013 8:00 am - 5:00 pm 
Hilton Sonoma, Santa Rosa 
Have a safe and successful Harvest season!

California Grower Foundation | e-mail: bbarlow@calgrower.org |  Website: www.calgrower.org

176 Main St, Suite C St. Helena, CA 94574

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