NYSRA Update: COVID-19 Outbreak | April 2, 2020

Good News
  • The generosity of this industry never ceases to amaze me. We are hearing tremendous stories of hospitality owners and operators stepping up to feed health care workers, unemployed staff, and school children. We would like to compile these stories and share them with our hospitality community. If you or your restaurant are doing something like this and you’d like to share, send the information to abiv@nysra.org.
  • Here is a good news story we posted today: https://www.uticaod.com/opinion/20200402/our-view-allies-now-allies-after-coronavirus-battle
 
  • The New York State Restaurant Association Educational Foundation has donated 40 boxes of Ecolab Nitrile Gloves and 15 containers of Ecolab Food Contact Sanitizing Wipes they had for the now canceled ProStart Competition to Albany Medical Hospital. We are pleased they could be put to good use.

State
  • The New York Department of Labor has released an FAQ document surrounding the state’s unemployment insurance benefits during the Covid-19 crisis. You can read more here
  • The NYS Department of Finance (DFS) has temporarily suspended onsite physical audits by insurers. In view of that, we want to remind you about NYSIF’s Secure Audit Upload feature, which allows policyholders or their representatives to conveniently and securely upload their audit records, eliminating the need for an on-premise audit. Simply go to nysif.com/auditupload and upload the required audit documents. Please contact the NYSRA office and ask for Kevin Cook, Sarah Cook or Jennifer Romanski if you have any additional questions on how to complete your audits.
  • CDPHP (a health insurance carrier in the Albany area) will not be terminating coverage for nonpayment at this time.https://www.cdphp.com/members/wellness/common-health-topics/cold-and-flu/corona-virus/coverage

State Budget
  • Included in the State Budget is a measure NYSRA has long supported, to legalize e-bikes and scooters. The measure creates three classes of e-bikes: pedal-assist bikes, throttle-powered bikes that can go up to 20 mph and throttle-powered bikes that can go up to 25 mph. E-scooters, which max out at 15 mph, were also included in the bill. It gives localities the authority to determine how and where the different classes of bikes are used.
  • An amendment by Assembly Republicans to allow state reserve funds totaling $890 million to be used for small business loans with 0% interest was defeated.
  • The State Budget includes a provision providing for Paid Sick Leave. It takes effect 180 days after it is signed into law and calls for the NYS Dept. of Labor to issue regulations.
  • Businesses with four or fewer employees will provide 40 hours of unpaid leave, unless the net income exceeds $1 million during the previous calendar year, then the employer must provide 40 hours of paid sick leave.
  • For employers with between 5 and 99 employees in any calendar year, each employee shall be provided with up to 40 hours of paid sick leave.
  • For businesses with 100 employees or more, 56 hours of paid sick leave must be provided.
  • Employees would begin to earn the leave as soon as they’re hired, at least an hour for every 30 worked.
  • New York State is extending its health exchange open enrollment period for an additional 30 days, through May 15, for uninsured individuals. People can sign up at the New York State of Health website
  • The Enacted Budget prohibits the distribution and use of expanded polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, single-use food containers. The statewide ban will go into effect by January 1, 2022.

Federal
  • We received an alert from the IRS that scammers are trying to take advantage of business owners applying for SBA loans. If you get a call, text, or email saying they need information in order to send you the economic impact payment, it’s a scam! The BBB has excellent info on SCAMS related to Coronavirus. Please check it out!
  • A business owner received a scam email after applying for an SBA Disaster Loan, with a false loan number and asking for IRS tax info to complete the loan application.
  • Another small business owner received an email stating she needed to provide her credit card number and $97 to complete the loan application.
  • The National Restaurant Association’s COVID-19 Resources page has been updated to accommodate additional resources and facilitate navigation. The new Directory lists resources for restaurant industry businesses and employees including training and certification aids, cost relief and revenue resources, health care options, and job opportunity sites.

Communications