Fines for Non-Compliant Businesses, President Meets with Restaurants

MAY 18, 2020

State Proposes Rules to Enforce Fines for Non-Compliant Businesses

On Friday evening, Governor Pritzker's administration filed emergency rules creating a Class A misdemeanor for businesses that are operating in violation of the Governor's Executive Order. A Class A misdemeanor in Illinois can include a maximum punishment of 364 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500.

This rule was promulgated by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and will be officially published by the Secretary of State’s Office this week.

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 20, and could consider the rule. It would require 8 of the 12 members of JCAR to vote “no” in order to block the rule from taking effect.

Click here to read the rules. Click here to read more from WTTW.

President Trump Meets with Restaurant Industry Leaders

Earlier today, restaurant industry leaders, including representatives from from the National Restaurant Association and Independent Restaurant Coalition, pushed President Trump to advocate for expanded restaurant industry relief and fixes in the PPP program.

National Restaurant Association Interim President & CEO Marvin Irby and Association Board Chair Melvin Rodrigue were among the restaurant leaders who met with President Donald J. Trump today to discuss how the industry has been impacted by job losses and closures related to COVID-19, and to hear from President Trump about his plans for industry recovery in the days ahead.

Irby shared that the industry has lost more than 8 million jobs and over $240 billion in industry revenue as a result of COVID-related closures.

“Restaurants were the first industry to close as a result of COVID mandates and will likely be one of the last to fully reopen and return to traditional full-service, on-premises operations in the months ahead. It is vital that we all work together to help restaurants and employees get relief and rebuild,” Irby said.

“The restaurant industry is the second-largest private sector employer in the country, and we have lost more jobs and more revenue than any other industry as a result of this pandemic,” said Rodrigue, who is also CEO of Galatoire’s New Orleans. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Administration and Congress to find the best opportunities to support the recovery of the industry and the U.S. economy.”

Other attendees at the meeting included Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin; National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow; Jose Cil, CEO of Restaurant Brands International; Niren Chaudhary, CEO of Panera Bread; Will Guidara, Make It Nice Hospitality; Sean Feeney, Grovehouse Hospitality; James Bodenstedt, MUY! Companies; Tilman Fertitta, Landry’s; Tim Love, Texas-based chef, operator and TV personality; and, Thomas Keller of Thomas Keller Restaurant Group.

Read more from The Washington Post and Fox News .

Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application Now Available

On Friday, the Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury , released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application.

The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities.

The form and instructions include several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including:

Options for borrowers to calculate payroll costs using an “alternative payroll covered period” that aligns with borrowers’ regular payroll cycles
Flexibility to include eligible payroll and non-payroll expenses paid or incurred during the eight-week period after receiving their PPP loan
Step-by-step instructions on how to perform the calculations required by the CARES Act to confirm eligibility for loan forgiveness
Borrower-friendly implementation of statutory exemptions from loan forgiveness reduction based on rehiring by June 30
Addition of a new exemption from the loan forgiveness reduction for borrowers who have made a good-faith, written offer to rehire workers that was declined
The PPP was created by the CARES Act to provide forgivable loans to eligible small businesses to keep American workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. The documents released today will help small businesses seek forgiveness at the conclusion of the eight week covered period, which begins with the disbursement of their loans.

Click here to download the PPP loan forgiveness application and instructions.

Add Your Voice: Help Move Restaurants into Phase 3 of Restore Illinois

Under the current Restore Illinois plan, restaurants and bars throughout the state will be unable to resume dine in operations until their region reaches Phase 4, or June 26 at the very earliest. This approach underestimates the restaurant industry’s ability to reopen and operate safely with enhanced public health measures in place.

The IRA is calling on the Governor and leaders in the General Assembly to urge them to allow restaurants to resume dine in operations with limited capacity during Phase 3. We will continue to advocate on this crucial issue as the General Assembly enters session next week.

Make your voice heard in our ongoing efforts to save Illinois restaurants.

TELL ILLINOIS LEADERS: MOVE RESTAURANTS INTO PHASE 3

IRA Members at Third Party Delivery Services Subject Matter Hearing

Earlier today, the City of Chicago's Joint Committee on Finance and License and Consumer Protection hosted a virtual subject matter hearing on the subject of third party delivery service fees charged to restaurants and diners.

IRA President & CEO Sam Toia, IRA First Vice Chairman Sam Sanchez of Old Crow Smokehouse, IRA Executive Committee member Scott Weiner of The Fifty/50 Group, and IRA member Chef Beverly Kim of Parachute participated in the hearing and their shared their perspectives on a variety of issues that restaurants face with third party delivery services.