The University of California is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for all members of the UC community. As a result of this commitment, the University is proposing systemwide policies on the following:

1. Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
2. Personal Protective Equipment 
3. Laboratory Safety Training
4. Minors in Laboratories and Shops

All ANR employees who wish to provide comments on these proposed policies may submit them to Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucdavis.edu by Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013.

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect: This policy describes the legal requirements that the University is obligated to implement and enforce. To help assure that any concerns of child abuse or neglect are promptly reported, the University is requiring internal reporting as well. Read the draft policy at http://link.ucop.edu/files/2013/01/Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Draft-Policy-12-19-2012.pdf. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): This policy describes the requirement of supervisors to select PPE for workers, inform their workers about their PPE decisions, provide the required PPE to their workers and ensure their workers comply with PPE policies. Read the draft policy at http://www.ucop.edu/risk-services/_files/safety-resources/personal-protective-equipment-2012-01-09.pdf.

Laboratory Safety Training: This policy identifies minimum training requirements applicable to all persons having unescorted access laboratory/technical areas. Read the draft policy at http://www.ucop.edu/risk-services/_files/safety-resources/lab-safety-training-2012-01-09.pdf.

Minors in Labs Policy: This policy governs the presence of minors in any laboratory or shop that uses hazardous chemicals, biohazardous or infectious materials, radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment, or where there are physical hazards including (but not limited to) compressed gases, high voltage, extreme temperatures, excessive noise, or lasers. Read the draft policy at http://www.ucop.edu/risk-services/_files/safety-resources/minors-in-labs-policy-2012-01-09.pdf.

UC Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Peter Taylor has announced that UC’s daily meal and incidental expense (M&IE) cap for travel within the continental U.S. has increased to $71. This change is based on the FY 2012 highest domestic per diem rate published by the General Services Administration for travel within the continental U.S.

Although the University’s cap amount is tied to the maximum Federal per diem, travelers may seek reimbursement only for their actual expenses in accordance with existing policy.  The Office of the President (OP) has asked all departments to remind travelers that only expenses actually incurred are reimbursable.  In addition, OP has advised that departments should require their travelers to submit M&IE receipts if it appears that the travelers are treating the cap as a per diem by routinely claiming the full M&IE amount.

The maximum meal rates for entertainment and business meeting meals have been increased in proportion to the M&IE rate for travel within the continental U.S.  The new rates are as follows:

The revised rates are effective for expenses incurred on or after March 1, 2012.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the person designated for your office:

Cooperative Extension offices: Cherie McDougald, director – Kearney Business Operations Center, (559) 646-6518 or cfmcdougald@ucdavis.edu

Statewide programs, research & extension centers, and ANR service units at the UC Davis campus: Nikki Humphreys, associate director – Davis Business Operations Center, (530) 754-8510 or nrhumphreys@ucdavis.edu

Oakland (OP) ANR administrative offices: Ben Chin, director – Financial Services, (510) 987-0704 or ben.chin@ucop.edu

Section 202 of the ANR Administrative Handbook, “Memberships in Organizations” has been revised to improve clarity and correct outdated information. These revisions do not change ANR’s existing policy and/or practice. The revised Section is available here. Questions regarding Section 202 may be directed as follows.

• Cooperative Extension offices - Cherie McDougald, director – Business Operations Center, (559) 646-6518 or cmcdougald@uckac.edu

• Statewide programs, research & extension centers, and ANR service units at the UC Davis campus - Nikki Humphreys, associate director – Business Operations Center, (530) 754-8510 or nrhumphreys@ucdavis.edu

• Oakland (OP) ANR administrative offices - Jennifer Bunge, associate director – ANR Budget Office, (510) 987-0102 or Jennifer.Bunge@ucop.edu.

If you would like to be informed directly of future changes to the ANR Administrative Handbook, register here.

The 2006 version of ANR Administrative Handbook Section 210, Insurance has been revised and reissued. It is now available at http://ucanr.org/sites/anrstaff/files/80471.pdf.

The revision to this section of the handbook is significant.

Existing policy has not been changed, but important additional information has been added. This revision will be of interest to most ANR employees, especially those who travel and/or who use their vehicle in the course of their ANR work.

Please contact ANR’s Office of Risk Services for additional guidance and support.