This "Breaking Benefits News" e-alert provides information about recent developments in legislation impacting areas of Employee Benefits and/or Executive Compensation that can affect your business.

U.S. Department of Labor Publishes New COBRA Group Health Plan Notices Requiring Immediate Employer Action By: Lesley A. Russo , Jill E. Hall and Lenna R. Chambers The U.S. Department of Labor issued model notices this morning to help group health plans comply with the new COBRA requirements enacted as part of the recent federal stimulus legislation known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("ARRA"). The notices can be found by clicking on the following link to the Department of Labor's website. Notice of the newly enacted premium assistance program, special election period, and where applicable, the option to elect different health plan coverage, must be provided by April 19, 2009 in order to comply with ARRA. Please contact one of the following members of the Benefits Group with any questions about the notices or ARRA's COBRA provisions: Lesley A. Russo lrusso@bowlesrice.com 304-347-1717 Jill E. Hall jhall@bowlesrice.com 304-347-1128 Lenna R. Chambers lchambers@bowlesrice.com 304-347-1777

Disclaimer
Material contained in The Benefits Brief by Bowles Rice is provided as informational and not legal advice.  No person should act or rely upon the information contained in this publication without seeking the advice of an attorney.

Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, information contained on the website may become outdated.  Anyone using these materials should always research original sources of authority and update this information to ensure accuracy when dealing with a specific matter.

This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship.  Internet subscribers and online readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.

Material in this e-publication should be considered advertising.

Circular 230 Notice
With respect to federal tax issues, no advice, statement or information contained in this communication is intended to be, or written for the purpose of being, (a) relied upon by a taxpayer as the exclusive basis to avoid penalties under the Internal Revenue Code, or (b) used in connection with the promotion, marketing or recommendation of any tax shelter product or tax shelter transaction.