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June 2020
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Chief Executive Officer's Notes
Chris Reardon 
Upcoming Events
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SPCB has approved this class for 1 hour of Technical Branch 1 or 3 for FR or OPR. _______________________________________________________________________
SPCB has approved this class for 1 hour of Rules & Regulations for Applicators, Field Reps and Operators. _______________________________________________________________________
SPCB has approved this class for 1 hour of Technical Branch 2 for FR or OPR -OR- 1 hour IPM for all license types _______________________________________________________________________ This event is sponsored by SPCB has approved this class for 1 hour of Technical Branch 1 -OR- 3 for FR or OPR. _______________________________________________________________________ This event is sponsored by SPCB has approved this class for 1 hour of Technical Branch 2 for FR or OPR _______________________________________________________________________ This event is sponsored by SPCB has approved this class for 1 hour Rules & Regulations for all licenses -OR- 1 hour of IPM for all license types. This class will qualify for 1 HSA documented training hour. This hour must be renewed every time you renew your license to be able to treat school campuses. For more info, visit https://apps.cdpr.ca.gov/schoolipm/ _______________________________________________________________________ This event is sponsored by SPCB has approved this class for 1 hour of Technical Branch 2 for FR or OPR -OR- 1 hour of IPM for all license types _______________________________________________________________________ PCOC 4th Quarter Board of Directors Meeting WE WILL HOST OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON MONDAY, JUNE 22 AND TUESDAY, JUNE 23 AND OUR VIRTUAL BOD MEETING ON THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020.
Affiliate Corner
Comings & Goings
A new PCOC Minute is here  In this PCOC Minute, we discuss our Virtual CE Classes. Don't forget to sign up for our Virtual Classes HERE Make sure to check out the Pest Control Operators of California YouTube channel for this new PCOC minute and for past and future PCOC Minutes. PCOC Monthly Insurance/Safety Tip
Some states such as California, Wisconsin and New Jersey have taken steps to provide workers compensation benefits for workers infected with COVID-19 by making it a rebuttable presumption that the infection occurred at work. In Wisconsin and several other states, the rebuttable presumption applies only to health care and emergency response workers. Other states, such as California, have issued orders covering all “essential” employees. In California, “essential” means “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers,” which includes workers in grocery stores, banks, transportation services, utility and communications industries, and many more people. Businesses and many legislators have resisted these efforts and in Illinois, for example, the state workers compensation agency got a judge to agree to invalidate a legislative rule that would have presumed all COVID-19 cases involving essential workers to be work-related.
OSHA Logs Employees Suing Employers While workers compensation is a “no-fault” system, exceptions exist, such as when the employer intentionally or negligently causes harm to the employee. This is what’s such a great concern for many businesses that want to open back up sooner than later. Employees could allege wrongful death or illness due to COVID-19 arising out of the employer’s intentional misconduct. (See our article in this edition “Employers Liability and COVID-19.”)
Senate Attempts to Limit COVID-19 Liability These concerns and lawsuits from the general public are why business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and legislators like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have been trying to get blanket immunity for businesses to protect them from COVID-19 lawsuits. McConnell has stated that the Senate will not pass any new stimulus legislation to help the economy unless Congress passes liability restrictions to protect businesses from being sued over allegations that it aided in transmitting the virus. Some Senate Republicans, however, such as Lindsay Graham, a South Carolina Republican, have indicated support for putting in place certain workplace standards, giving workers recourse but providing employers a defense. The aim is to facilitate the reopening of the locked down U.S. economy without creating a “litigation heaven” for attorneys, as Trump has warned. Witnesses at a recent Senate hearing, representing both labor and businesses, made the proposal to create a set of guidelines for businesses to reopen, suggesting the rules could come through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. When the Centers for Disease Control tried to issue reopening guidelines for daycare centers, restaurants, theaters and other businesses, however, the administration blocked the move, saying they were overly specific. “It seems to me that one primary goal out of this hearing is to get the standards in place for business,” said Graham. “The big hole in the puzzle right now is the standards.” “Just Another Ploy” Democrats characterize these attempts to limit liability for COVID-19 losses as just “another ploy to strip workers of their protections — at a time when they and the public already face grave danger.” “Before this pandemic, businesses had to act responsibly and follow federal safety guidelines,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein of California. “It’s hard to see why they shouldn’t have to do the same in the face of a deadly virus.” Many tort law scholars contend that since it would be hard to establish just when the virus was contracted, given it has a 14-day latency before symptoms appear, proving how the infection occurred would be difficult. Unless in the case of health care workers or first responders — or an allegation of an employer’s intentional disregard. For more information, please contact the Insurance professionals of EPIC’s PCOC Insurance Program. Call us at: 877.860.7378, or, email us at propest@epicbrokers.com. Also, check out our website by clicking here. Paul Lindsay
Member News
We are saddened to hear that William Jones, Jr. has passed away. He passed away on May 11, 2020 at his home in Aptos with his family by his side. He was 85. William was born on September 29, 1934 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He grew up in El Paso, Texas and attended New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, where he studied Entomology. He served in the United States Marine Corp. William pioneered pest control in the late 50s and early 60s. He owned and operated Cardiff Pest Control for 30 years. He retired in 1998. William was an Honorary Member of PCOC because of his hard work for PCOC. He was also a former member of the SPCB.  Recently, we received an email from one of our Members, Sean McGough with Suncoast Pest Management: "We appreciated very much the weekly updates we received from PCOC keeping us up to date on all the many changes going on in these crazy times. There was times of confusion there when we weren’t even sure we were considered essential services that PCOC was there to answer questions. As far as I’m concerned the membership is priceless and I’m very happy to have PCOC working for us as an advocate" Thank you Sean for the kind words!
Did You Know???
PCOC is selling our new bumper stickers!
 They are $10 (plus tax and postage) each!! They measure 9.25" x 2.5" Please contact Sarah at sarah@pcoc.org to order yours today!!
New Members
Frequently Requested Information
Frequently Asked For WebsitesDepartment of Fish & Game Department of Food & Agriculture California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) DPR on Facebook DPR on YouTube (see "playlists" for videos pertaining to new surface water regulations) DPR on Twitter DPR LinkedIn Healthy Schools Act Structural Pest Control Board Find Your Legislator NPMA's QualityPro Accrediation Application 
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