Dear Clients and Friends,
Below please find the third edition of Stearns Weaver Miller's COVID-19 Legal Compass, highlighting timely 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 3, 2020 and April 9, 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
: The
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
(CARES Act) was passed and signed into law on Friday March 27, 2020. The $2 trillion economic relief package will provide much needed stimulus to individuals, business and hospitals in response to the economic distress caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation provides immediate cash relief for individuals, a broad lending program for small business, targeted assistance for hard-hit industries, expanded unemployment insurance, $150 billion for local and tribal governments to cover COVID-19-related costs, and $130 billion for medical and hospital industries, including for medical supplies and drug and device shortages. Congress is expected to work on providing additional funding for the small business loan programs, as well as begin working on another stimulus legislative package, in the coming weeks. Please see our recent update for more details.
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Federal Reserve Unveils Emergency Programs: The Federal Reserve announced emergency programs that could provide more than $2 trillion in loans to businesses of all sizes, as well as to state and local governments. The programs, created to keep the economy afloat, will be backed by $165 billion from the CARES Act, as well as $30 billion that the Treasury Department had previously committed.
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When Can Exposed Essential Workers Return to Work?: The CDC has provided interim guidance with precautions and protocols for critical infrastructure workers who may be permitted to continue working safely, even following potential exposure to COVID-19. The return to work is conditioned that the workers are asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.
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RECENT STATE OF FLORIDA GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
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State and Local Government Agency Power: State of emergency declared through May 8 that covers all of Florida and gives broad powers to state and local government agencies. Click for more.
Pursuant to this order, various government agencies and departments have released emergency orders. A comprehensive listing of Florida government agency orders that we have collected to date is summarized in an easy-to-read matrix.
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Documentary Stamps for SBA Loans: The Executive Order suspended the assessment and collection of documentary stamps required under Chapter 201, Florida Statutes, for all notes and other written obligations made pursuant to Title I of the CARES Act. Click for more.
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Municipal Elections in Pasco County: The Executive Order delayed the municipal elections scheduled for April 14, 2020 for the cities of San Antonio, Dade City, and Zephyrhills in Pasco County. A subsequent Executive Order will be issued with the rescheduled date of the municipal elections. Click for more.
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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 9, 2020 |
RECENT TREND IN EMERGENCY ORDERS: FACE MASKS
In light of the recent CDC Guidance on cloth face coverings, many local governments are either urging or requiring the use of face coverings by persons in certain locations, such as grocery stores and pharmacies. The local governments are suggesting citizens reserve surgical masks and N95 respirators for health care providers and instead use homemade masks, scarfs, or other cloth coverings.
Additionally, Stearns Weaver Miller has started a database of local governments' virtual meeting participation instructions and permitting service changes. You may review this database in our comprehensive listing.
If you have questions about whether your business qualifies as essential or how these orders affect you as an employer,
email us!
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