Computer technology and the law

Recent articles by Rochester, New York, attorney Nicole Black posted on the Internet addressing the use of computer technology and the law.

● Round Up: Document Assembly Software, Legal Tech Adoption, and Cybersecurity

● N.Y. Bar opines on online lawyer-client matching services

● The importance of technology competence when communicating electronically

● Round Up: Law Practice Management Software, Clubhouse, Remote Work Ethical Guidance & More

● The internet is forever, so behave accordingly

Ms. Black posts a law blog, Sui Generis, at https://nylawblog.typepad.com/suigeneris/

COBRA Coverage Under The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

In an article posted on the Internet by The National Law Review,* Attorneys Matthew A. Secrist and Gregory J. Vivilani of the firm of Squire Patton Boggs opine:

"Many employers that have Section 9501 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the 'ARPA') requires employers to extend offers of free COBRA coverage to certain individuals for the period from April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021.

"The law also requires employers to extend offers of COBRA coverage to other individuals whose right to COBRA coverage previously ended.

"In an effort to help offset the costs of providing free COBRA coverage, the law makes available tax credits that may be taken against employer Medicare taxes. The tax credits are based on the COBRA premiums that would have been payable by the qualified beneficiary for the relevant free COBRA coverage.

"This portion of the law has an unusual twist. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Secretary of the Treasury, the tax credits are provided to the following persons:

   > If the plan is a multiemployer plan, the multiemployer plan itself. 

   > If the plan is fully or partially self-insured, to the employer that sponsors the plan (including state and local governmental employers)

   > If the plan is not described above, to the insurance company"

* Read More on Free and Extended COBRA Coverage Here

 NYPPL has linked this article posted on the Internet by The National Law Review pro bono.

 

Computer printers may be an agency's weakest link in terms of cybersecuity

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, state and local governments rapidly shifted employees to remote work. Many agencies may retain remote work permanently in some form as recent research conducted by the Center for Digital Government revealed that almost 75 percent of state and local government respondents expect a hybrid of remote and in-office work to be the norm for their employees going forward.

The Center asks "Are your printers the weakest security link in this new highly distributed workplace environment?"

The Center and HP will host an interactive discussion that will explain what the permanent shift to hybrid work means for endpoint security on March 31 at 11 a.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Eastern. This 45-minute webcast will will focus on why securing your organization’s printers is just as important as protecting PCs, laptops and mobile devices connected to your network. Topics to be discussed include:

Assessing current endpoint security risks and develop a holistic plan to mitigate them;

How managed print services can close dangerous security vulnerabilities in your printer fleet; and

What to look for in hardware, software and firmware to strengthen print security and performance.

Featured Speakers:

    Michael Howard, Head of Security and Analytics Practice, HP
    Paul Knoblich, General Manager US Public Sector Print, HP
    Deborah Snyder - Moderator, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Registration is complimentary, and all attendees will have the opportunity to download a certificate of attendance at the completion of the webinar on March 31, 2021.

NYPPL has linked this notice posted on the Internet by Government Technology pro bono.