U.S. Senate passes the Families First Coronavirus Response Act:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
On 3-18 the US Senate passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. A news article about that can be found here:<\/span> https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/senate\/488264-senate-passes-houses-coronavirus-bill-sending-it-to-trump<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Small Business Administration Administrative Declaration of an Economic Injury Disaster for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n The U.S. Small Business Administration issued a notice of an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for all counties in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on 3-18. More information about what this declaration means can be found here:<\/span> https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/service-details\/small-business-administration-disaster-loans<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Applications can be filled out here:<\/span> https:\/\/disasterloan.sba.gov\/ela<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Today, Governor Baker signed a bill the<\/span> Massachusetts State Senate<\/span><\/a> passed this morning to allow workers impacted by COVID-19 to access the unemployment benefits they need right away.<\/span> https:\/\/karenspilka.com\/updates\/2020\/3\/18\/bill-to-ease-access-to-unemployment-insurance-signed-into-law<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0Today, Governor Charlie Baker announced a series of new measures to adapt childcare operations, enhance the Commonwealth\u2019s healthcare system\u2019s capacity, assist small businesses, and support unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 outbreak.<\/span><\/p>\n Childcare Operations: <\/b>Governor Baker issued an Executive Order requiring all early education centers and family childcare providers to close, starting Monday March 23 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) also issued emergency procedures to set forth a process for opening Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs during the COVID-19 outbreak to provide priority access for families of emergency personnel, medical staff, and others critical to confronting COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n Read the Executive Order here:<\/b> Early Education and Care Order<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs: <\/b>Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs will be the only child care programs able to operate during the COVID-19 outbreak. Families who work to maintain the health, safety, and welfare of all Commonwealth citizens will receive priority access to emergency childcare programs and these centers should only be used by people who must go to work. Vulnerable children will also receive priority access and space will be made for people who must go to work but aren\u2019t necessarily emergency personnel.<\/span><\/p>\n Public Health Orders: <\/b>Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel has signed three public health orders today which do the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Extending the Licenses of Certain Licensed Professionals: <\/b>Governor Baker signed a new emergency order to ensure that licensed professionals do not have their licenses or registrations lapse due to unforeseen problems with renewal during the COVID-19 emergency. Specifically, under this order, occupational or professional licenses of individuals that are in good standing and that would otherwise be up for renewal during the COVID-19 emergency shall be extended for 90 days after the end of the public health emergency. This order does not affect license extensions that have already been granted in earlier emergency orders.<\/span><\/p>\n Read the Emergency Order here:<\/b> Extension of Professional Licensure Order<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Small Business Relief: <\/b>The Baker-Polito Administration today announced administrative tax relief measures for small local businesses which have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, especially in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. This tax relief includes postponing the collection of regular sales tax, meals tax, and room occupancy taxes that would be due in March, April and May so that they will instead be due on June 20. Additionally, all penalties and interest that would otherwise apply will be waived.<\/span><\/p>\n Department of Environmental Protection suspends bottle redemption enforcement<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Out of an abundance of caution due to the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Attorney General\u2019s Office are suspending enforcement of the requirements for retailers to accept beverage containers that have a deposit effective immediately until further notice or until the current state of emergency is terminated. Many grocers, supermarkets, and other retail operations have indicated that they are overwhelmed with an unprecedented volume of customers purchasing provisions. Temporarily suspending enforcement of these requirements will allow individual retailers to assess their operations and, if necessary and appropriate, shift staffing to enable smoother operations. This action will also limit any contamination that potentially could occur from staff handling used beverage containers. Consumers are encouraged to hold on to their deposit containers for redemption at a later date or to recycle those containers with existing household recycling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Division of Banks guidance for financial institutions working with customers affected by COVID-19<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n The Massachusetts Division of Banks recognizes the potential for COVID-19 to adversely affect the customers and operations of financial institutions. The Division encourages financial institutions to take steps to meet the financial services needs of affected customers and communities<\/span> https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/files\/documents\/2020\/03\/16\/COVID-19%20DOB%20Industry%20Statement%2003-16-20.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) sends survey to municipal police and fire chiefs<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS)<\/span> is tracking all PPE\u2019s (Personal Protective Equipment) and resources from public safety entities. In partnership with MA Chiefs of Police and MA Dept of Fire Services, EOPSS sent a survey to municipal police and fire chiefs asking them to identify their PPE supplies and needs. If one of your chiefs did not received this email, please have them contact MCOPA or DFS, at:<\/span><\/p>\n Chief Mark K. Leahy, Executive Director Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association:\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n mleahy@masschiefs.org\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Office: (774) 293-2587<\/span><\/p>\n Cell: (508) 922-8370<\/span><\/p>\n Peter J. Ostroskey, State Fire Marshal, Department of Fire Services<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n peter.ostroskey@mass.gov<\/span><\/p>\n Office:\u00a0 (978) 567-3111<\/span><\/p>\n Massachusetts to Temporarily Suspend Bottle Redemption Enforcement<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Out of an abundance of caution due to the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Attorney General\u2019s Office are suspending enforcement of the requirements for retailers to accept beverage containers that have a deposit effective immediately until further notice or until the current state of emergency is terminated.<\/span> https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/news\/massachusetts-to-temporarily-suspend-bottle-redemption-enforcement<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LEGISLATURE<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
STATE GUIDANCE<\/b><\/h3>\n
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