News & Insight

Monthly Archives: July 2019

Chicago City Council Passes “Fair Workweek Ordinance”: Here’s What Restaurant and Healthcare Employers Need to Know

On July 24, 2019, the Chicago City Council unanimously approved the Fair Workweek Ordinance (the “Ordinance”), designed to enforce predictable shifts for lower wage employees across a wide range of industries. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a supporter of the bill, is expected to sign the Ordinance into law in the […]

  Jul 29, 2019  |  By    |   On Firm News

Important Notice on State Authorization of Distance Education Programs

In an unofficial federal register notice published yesterday, the Department of Education explained that as a result of the April 26, 2019 decision in National Education Association v. DeVos, No. 18-cv-05173-LB (N.D. CA April 26, 2019), which went into effect on May 26, 2019, the final state authorization regulations, published December 19, 2016 (81 FR 92236), took effect. These regulations contain important changes to Sections 600.2 (Definition of a “State authorization reciprocity agreement”), 600.9(c) (State authorization); 668.2 (Definition of “Distance Education”) and 668.50 (Institutional disclosures for distance or correspondence programs).

  Jul 23, 2019  |  By    |   On Client Alerts

First Annual Chicagoland Title IX Consortium Conference

 HMBR is a sponsor for the First Annual Conference of the Chicagoland Title IX Consortium on July 12, 2019.   The Conference will be held at National Louis University. Debbie Osgood will be giving the keynote address along with Peter Land of Husch Blackwell, and Caryn Bills of UIC,  entitled “Preparing […]

  Jul 10, 2019  |  By    |   On Education

Texas Passes Sexual Assault Legislation Impacting Postsecondary Institutions

On June 15, 2019, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott signed House Bill 1735, an Act relating to the prevention of and response to sexual misconduct at public and private postsecondary institutions, effective September 1, 2019. Joining other states that have passed sexual harassment laws for schools—such as California, Illinois, and New […]

  Jul 9, 2019  |  By    |   On Education

Legal Alert: Supreme Court Upholds Auer Deference for Agencies’ Interpretation of Their Own Regulations, But Reinforces Limits to Its Applicability (Kisor v. Wilkie)

In Kisor v. Wilkie, a splintered Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold its prior decision in Auer v. Robbins, under which courts have given deference to federal agencies’ reasonable interpretations of their own ambiguous regulations. However, in the holding penned by Justice Kagan—and joined in full by Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, […]

  Jul 9, 2019  |  By    |   On Education

When the Smoke Clears: The Impact of Illinois’ Legalization of Recreational Marijuana on Postsecondary Institutions and Employers

On June 26, 2019, Illinois joined ten other states and the District of Columbia in legalizing recreational marijuana. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (“Act”), which takes effect on January 1, 2020, allows Illinois residents who are 21 and older to legally buy, possess, transport, and use cannabis. Residents may […]

  Jul 8, 2019  |  By    |   On Education

Sheila Sokolowski Elected Shareholder

Sheila Sokolowski has been elected a shareholder of HMBR effective July 1st.  Ms. Sokolowski joined HMBR as a partner in the health care practice in 2010.  Since that time, she has expanded her practice to advise clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to merging health care data streaming platforms to […]

  Jul 3, 2019  |  By    |   On Data Privacy and Protection

Debbie Osgood Elected to Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) Board of Directors

Debbie Osgood has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI). ACI is a network of 27 private independent colleges and universities in Illinois.  ACI supports member institutions by helping to advance independent liberal arts and science education and helping underserved students succeed.  ACI […]

  Jul 3, 2019  |  By    |   On Education

Update: Official Gainful Employment (GE) Rule by U.S. Department of Education Published

As we posted on June 28, 2019, the U.S. DOE rescinded the Gainful Employment (GE) Rule and posted the official version today, July 1, 2019. Below is the link to the Federal Register for your files: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/01/2019-13703/program-integrity-gainful-employment In an Electronic Announcement issued on Friday, the Department provided: An institution that early implements […]

  Jul 1, 2019  |  By    |   On Client Alerts