Chancellor for Civil Affairs' Office 

Recently, we researched and reexamined our approach to conducting background checks across the board. We determined that the background checks conducted for volunteers and as part of the recheck program should include a US Federal Criminal Record Check, which currently are conducted on new employees. This change will be effective for background checks conducted on or after March 1, 2025.

All parishes should be aware that the Minnesota minimum wage rates will increase effective January 1, 2025. Earlier this year legislation was passed that eliminated the lower minimum wage rate for small employers. The new Minnesota minimum wage rates effective at the beginning of the year will be as follows.

On November 15, a Federal Court in Texas blocked the recent U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule that increased the salary threshold for exempt workers to $844 per week as of July 1, 2024, and the second increase to $1,128 per week that was to go into effect on January 1, 2025.