"America will rise to meet this challenge or any other. Our health care workers already are. In this bill we give them the tools to do the job
. And we give families the financial support they need to get by, until this time of trial and tribulation is over."
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- Representative Adam Schiff on the CARES Act.
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COVID-19 Policies Going After Businesses
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State
The State of California is currently looking at labor proposals that could harm businesses at a time of extreme economic uncertainty. These proposals include:
- Recognizing union representatives as essential workers,
- Force business owners to meet and confer with unions despite social distancing,
- 14 days of sick paid leave without the need of a doctor's note,
- Expanding statewide moratorium on evictions to include foreclosures and utility shutoffs for at least 60 days,
- Continue job-based coverage benefits for laid-off employees,
- Presumption of contracting COVID-19 during employment for workers' compensation.
Let the Legislature know how these measures would negatively impact businesses and employees across California!
Click
here for more info on the labor proposals.
State Legislative Recap
Governor Gavin Newsom signed an Executive Order which gives a 90-day extension to file and pay state and local taxes. This extension is for all businesses filing a return that is less than $1 million in taxes. The order also gives a 60-day extension for filing a claim for refund.
County
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have introduced a
motion to respond to the ongoing pandemic. The motions includes a provision requiring employers to
guarantee 10 days of supplemental paid sick leave to employees for COVID-19 related reasons. The motion would also
establish a "right of recall" for recently laid off workers, giving them priority in rehiring and worker retention policies. Businesses would also be required to
implement workplace health and safety measures for essential workers,
including paid time for hand-washing and protective gear.
City Legislative Recap
On March 30, Mayor Eric Garcetti signed an
Executive Order which halts all new rent increases on units subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO).
Last week, t
he Los Angeles City Council approved several ordinances in response to COVID-19, including an ordinance
requiring businesses with 500 or more employees to provide 10 days of paid sick leave
to employees. While VICA commends the City Council for amending the motion to not include small businesses, several concerns remain with the ordinance as written.
VICA has sent a letter to Mayor Garcetti requesting necessary changes to the paid sick leave ordinance. The recommended changes include:
Call 213-978-1028 and email Mayor Garcetti's office to let them know this ordinance needs further deliberation by the City Council!
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ADDITIONAL COPIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE!
CONTACT US TO RESERVE YOUR 2021 AD SPACE EARLY!
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VICA Supports
Postponement
of Property Tax Payment Deadline
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VICA joined CalTax in a letter requesting Governor Newsom to postpone the deadline for the payment of locally assessed property taxes. Californians will be required to pay the second installment of these property taxes on April 10, with a 10 percent penalty if they fail to pay. However, counties have limited options in waiving penalties for non-payment. Additionally, the administrative costs of applying for these waivers would prove to be onerous for taxpayers, especially during our current economic crisis. That is why VICA believes it would be the best course of action to relieve taxpayers by extending the deadline to July 15.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 7
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Via Webex Video Conference
Sue Bendavid
Lewitt Hackman
Join VICA for a special webinar with VICA's
Labor & Employment Co-Chair Sue Bendavid as she covers
employer concerns
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Webex information will be e-mailed to all those that are registered.
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Support Increased Access to Care Through Telehealth
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 VICA supports Assembly Bill 2007 (Salas), which would allow the establishment of a patient relationship with a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or Rural Health Clinic (RHC) at any time, including during an initial visit that includes telehealth in real time or through store-and-forward. A number of health centers across the nation have either begun using telehealth, are in the process of implementing a telehealth program, or are actively exploring its feasibility. Telehealth programs are especially critical in rural areas, where many residents can face long distances between home and health provider, particularly specialized providers.
AB 2007 would improve access to care by clarifying that, in addition to providing services via telehealth, community health centers would be allowed to establish a patient through real time or store-and-forward telehealth services. This simple clarification will increase access to vital and cost-effective health care services for thousands of patients in disadvantaged communities across California.
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THURSDAY, APRIL 9
4 to 6 p.m.
Via Webex Video Conference
Virtually meet other prominent business leaders from the community.
The Webex information will be e-mailed to all those that are registered.
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What the CARES Act Means for Your Business
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On March 27, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion economic relief bill, passed both houses of Congress and was signed by President Trump. The package includes provisions designed to provide aid to businesses who are struggling due to the economic slowdown caused by COVID-19. The CARES Act created two Small Business Interruption Loan Programs - The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program and the Paycheck Protection Program.
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program provides low-interest disaster loans of up to $2 million for small businesses. Small businesses are defined as businesses with 500 employees or less, or businesses that are considered small under Small Business Administration (SBA) Size Standards. These loans have a maximum 30-year repayment term. Click here to see if your business is eligible to apply for an EIDL.
The Paycheck Protection Program is designed to help small businesses keep employees on their payrolls. The Paycheck Protection Program allows SBA-approved lenders to provide forgivable loans of up to $10 million for small businesses and not-for-profit organizations affected by the pandemic. These loans are guaranteed 100 percent by the SBA. Approved lenders can begin processing applications today, and the program will be available until June 30, 2020. Click here to see if your business is eligible, find approved lenders, and apply for a loan.
The CARES Act also includes the following provisions:
- Creates the Employer Retention Tax Credit that is 50 percent of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible business which has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (this credit is not available to businesses who have received a Small Business Interruption Loan);
- Carrybacks for net operating loss that can offset income for the tax years 2018 to 2020;
- Deferment of payment for the employer portion of payroll taxes until the end of 2020, with the payment of the first half of the deferred amount due on December 31, 2021, and the second half on December 31, 2022;
- Allows taxpayers who are subject to interest limitation rules to deduct business interest expense for up to 50 percent of adjusted taxable income (ATI) for the 2018 and 2019 tax years (this provision does not include partnerships, which are still limited to 30 percent of ATI);
- Provides advance refunding of credits to offset the amount an employer has paid to employees in emergency sick paid leave, family and medical leave as required by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
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Not-For-Profit Committee (4/2)
Sponsored by
Pacific Federal
- Jan Masaoka (California Association of Nonprofits) presented on the impact of Not-For-Profit organizations on the California economy.
- Eric Swenson, Managing Director of RSJ/Swenson, discussed how organizations can navigate the COVID-19 crisis from a leadership and HR perspective.
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Member Messages:
Get Your Message in VICA Weekly!
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VICA members can promote their business, events and news in VICA Weekly. Member messages are available for $50 per week or $175 for four weeks. Messages are text-based and may not contain more than 70 words. A logo may be added for an additional $5 per week. For more information or to schedule your member message, contact
[email protected]
or
call (818) 817-0545.
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