Dear Clients and Friends,
Below please find the fifth edition of Stearns Weaver Miller's COVID-19 Legal Compass, highlighting government updates, alerts on critical topics, and resources to help you navigate and adapt to this rapidly changing environment.
All actions described below have been ordered or updated between April 17, 2020 and April 23, 2020. We have done our best to include significant, timely information, although new orders and actions are being introduced continuously.
View a comprehensive listing of the government actions pertaining to COVID-19 that we have collected to date.
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RECENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
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Economic Relief and Assistance
: On April 24, 2020, President Trump signed
HR 266
, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, to provide a new round of COVID-19 aid funding. The $484 billion relief package includes $321 billion for the depleted Paycheck Protection Program created as part of the CARES Act (including $60 billion set aside for loans made by community-based banks and smaller lenders), $60 billion in loans and grants for economic disaster assistance through the Small Business Administration, $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion for COVID-19 testing. Please see our previous update for more details on the CARES Act.
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Paycheck Protection Program Guidance Issued
: The Treasury Department has
issued
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) related to loans made under the Paycheck Protection Program. Part of the document is addressed to borrowers that are large, public companies. FAQ #31 indicates that a borrower should carefully review the required certification that "current economic uncertainty makes the loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Applicant."
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Reopening
: On April 16, 2020, President Trump released
proposed guidelines
for returning the country to operation in a three-phased approach. The guidelines are to be implemented based on each state governor's discretion on a statewide or county-by-county basis. For each phase, guidelines are provided for individuals and employers. More detailed considerations are provided for specific types of employers (e.g., senior care facilities and hospitals, large venues, gyms and bars).
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Guidance for Elective Medical Procedures
: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued
recommendations
encouraging states or regions where there is a low incidence of COVID-19 to begin providing nonessential medical services and procedures.
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RECENT STATE OF FLORIDA GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
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Court Operations Workgroup: The "Workgroup on the Continuity of Court Operations and Proceedings During and After COVID-19" was established to develop recommendations to continue and re-establish court operations across Florida. Click for more.
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Governor's Re-Open Florida Task Force: Governor Ron DeSantis has created a task force to help guide the state as it weighs the decision to reopen amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Click for more.
View an easy-to-read matrix of the Florida government agency orders that we have collected to date. Highlighted actions are new (April 17-23) since last issue.
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RECENT COUNTY AND CITY GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
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| Photo Source - Florida's COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard, Florida Department of Health, Division of Disease Control and Health Protection, April 23, 2020 |
LOCAL GOVERNMENT GETS VIRTUAL
As we proceed through the uncertain health emergency, many local governments are finding ways to continue with government business by meeting virtually. Our
comprehensive listing
includes a virtual meeting database, as well as the latest update on Local Government Actions.
This week, our team presented a webinar wherein we discussed the practical and legal challenges presented in a virtual land use public hearing and the best practices to proceed in these virtual times. You can view the webinar here!
If you have questions about a stalled development application or an upcoming virtual public hearing,
email
us!
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