Earlier this month, the state announced delays in the implementation of identity theft law regulations that were set to take effect on January 1, 2009. The Chamber had lobbied top state officials for implementation delays in order to allow sufficient time for businesses to update data privacy procedures and become compliant. This announcement was a very positive step.

Challenges remain, related to provisions dealing with encryption, inventory, and third-party verification (which require companies to ensure that all vendors are in full compliance with the regulations – including those located far from Massachusetts). The Chamber testified last week before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure on these challenges, and will continue to work on these issues with affected companies, legislative leaders, the attorney general's office, and senior administration officials in the weeks ahead.

The Chamber continues to work with top state officials to maintain a regulatory climate that encourages collaborative research and product marketability within the life sciences. In August, Governor Patrick signed into law a health care cost containment bill that contained stringent marketing and public reporting requirements for the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.

Since the bill became law, the Chamber has been working to ensure that these reporting requirements do not hinder research. Over the past several months, we have shifted our advocacy to the Department of Public Health (DPH), which is charged with drafting and administering these regulations. DPH is currently developing and planning to promulgate emergency regulations, effective January 1, 2009, at a December 10th meeting of the Public Health Council. Following the Public Health Council deliberation and vote, there is expected to be a public hearing/comment process on the emergency regulations in early 2009.

The Chamber remains concerned that parts of these new regulations could hinder medical research, clinical trials, and product commercialization in Massachusetts. As such, the Chamber will continue working with state elected and appointed leaders, including the DPH, throughout the implementation process to help ensure that the forthcoming marketing and disclosure regulations reflect the perspectives of the industry and complement our collectively held goal of growing Greater Boston's life sciences cluster.

Each month, the Chamber releases a monthly jobs update to administration officials, legislators, key policy-makers, and Chamber members, informing them of the state's latest job numbers, emerging trends in job creation, and the state's current employment numbers in relation to our 2002 peak. Beginning this month, highlights of the jobs update will be included in the monthly Public Policy Update. 

The Chamber's October 2008 Monthly Jobs Update shows that Massachusetts lost 7,000 jobs last month.

Other key findings include:

• Massachusetts posted 0.1% job growth over the last 12 months.

• Only two of 12 regions added jobs over the last 12 months - Greater Boston and Metro West.

• State falls to 99,800 jobs below previous peak.

• State professional, scientific, and technical services jobs up 3.5% last 12 months; far outpaced U.S. rate and ranked 4th among states.

Compare this month against previous jobs reports here.