from ASAE Associations NOW magazine

U.S. LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS OFFER COVID-19 ASSISTANCE

With uncertainty over job security, evictions, insurance coverage, and the future of businesses, the legal needs of the American people have grown due to COVID-19. In response, several organizations have risen to meet the demand.

The Lawyers for Good Government Foundation (L4GG) announced the launch of its Small Business Remote Legal Clinic, offering pro bono legal consultations for small business owners to help them understand and act upon the options available under the COVID-19 stimulus package and other grant and loan programs that may be available to them.

L4GG says it has put together a coalition of 34 law firms in 30 cities across the U.S. to help staff the remote legal clinics.

In a similar vein, the American Bar Association has created a nationwide task force of volunteer lawyers and judges to address the growing legal needs of American citizens. ABA says the group will identify legal needs arising from the pandemic, make recommendations to address them, and help mobilize volunteer lawyers and legal professionals for people who need help.

According to ABA, the task force—chaired by James J. Sandman, former president of the Legal Services Corporation—includes experts in disaster response, health law, insurance, legal needs of families, criminal justice, domestic violence, civil rights, and social justice.

The California Employers Association (CEA) put on a second webinar covering the following topics: 

• What is the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Emergency Paid Sick Leave:  who must provide, how much leave is required, what can this leave be used for and how much are employees entitled to be paid.
• Emergency Family Medical Leave:  who must provide, how much leave is required, what can this leave be used for and how much employees are entitled to be paid.
• Tax Credits for employers
• Unemployment Insurance updates
• Posting and other administrative requirements

CLICK HERE for a recording of this webinar

CLICK HERE for a copy of the PowerPoint and CLICK HERE for a copy of the FAQs, both from the US Department of Labor. 

To access additional webinar recordings, fact sheets, and FAQs from CEA:

https://www.employers.org/pages/additional-resources/

Monday, March 30^th, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a major initiative to expand the health care workforce to fight COVID-19.  He also provided an update on the state’s response to the pandemic.   The press conference concluded at approximately 12:50 PM.

Newsom opened the press conference by stating that in the past 4 days, there has been a doubling of COVID-19 hospitalizations and a tripling of intensive care unit (ICU) patients in California.  More specifically, the number of coronavirus hospitalizations is now 1,432.  The number of coronavirus patients in ICU beds is nearly 600.

Newsom announced California Health Corps to ensure adequate staff for health care sites throughout California.  Here the link: healthcorps.ca.gov.  He also signed an executive order (EO) to waive some scope of practice and staffing ratio requirements for health care workers, including nurse practitioners and EMTs.  A copy of the EO can be found here, and the text of the order can be found here.  A copy of the Governor’s Office New Release can be found here.

Notably, beginning this week, Newsom will hold his daily briefings at 12:00 PM PDT. The updates will be streamed at the @CAgovernor Twitter page and California Governor Facebook page.

During the Q&A portion of the press conference, Newsom was asked about schooling.  In response, he said that all California county school superintendents will be meeting by phone this afternoon, likely more information to come on how school closures will move forward.

On Sunday, March 29^th,  Newsom announced that social media companies, businesses, leaders, and individuals from across the state have jumped into action to partner and support the COVID-19 public awareness campaign.  The partnerships include sharing content with the public through social media and other digital platforms, radio and television, and outdoor advertising.  A copy of the news release can be found here. 

As of March 27^th, 2 PM Pacific Daylight Time, there are a total of 4,643 positive cases and 101 deaths in California (including one non-California resident).  More information can be found here.

Also, the https://www.covid19.ca.gov/ website is being updated continuously.   A complete list of the state’s ongoing COVID-19 response efforts here and below:

• The Governor issued an executive order banning the enforcement of eviction orders for renters affected by COVID-19 through May 31, 2020. (3/27/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order enabling the Chief Justice to take emergency actions for the state’s courts to be able to conduct business during the COVID-19 pandemic. (3/27/2020)
• Governor Newsom secured a major financial relief package – financial institutions will provide a 90-day grace period for mortgage payments and will not negatively impact credit reports for Californians accessing payment relief. (3/25/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order directing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to temporarily halt intake of inmates and youth into the state’s 35 prisons and four youth correctional facilities. (3/24/2020)
• The state is moving to videoconferencing of all scheduled parole suitability hearings starting next month. (3/24/2020)
• California awarded $100 million to cities, counties and continuums of care to help people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. (3/23/2020)
• California State Parks is working closely with local county and public health officials to modify park operations by closing vehicular traffic at some park units to reduce the density of visitors. (3/23/2020)
• The state secured a presidential Major Disaster Declaration, which makes federal funding available to state, tribal and local governments for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, and makes funding available for crisis counseling for impacted individuals. (3/22/2020)
• California requested and received Personal Protective Equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile. (3/21/2020)
• The state is leasing two hospitals to increase availability of beds for COVID-19 patients. (3/21/2020)
• California is directing more than $42 million in emergency funding to expand California’s health care infrastructure and secure equipment and services to support California’s response to COVID-19. (3/21/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order giving the state the ability to increase the health care capacity in clinics, mobile health care units and adult day health care facilities. (3/21/2020)
• California launched a partnership Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign with com and California Volunteers to safely deploy volunteers to help the most vulnerable Californians. (3/20/2020)
• The Governor activated close to 500 members of the California National Guard to help distribute food at food banks and protect California’s most vulnerable residents. (3/20/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to permit vote-by-mail procedures to be used in three upcoming special elections, protecting public health and safety during the COVID-19 outbreak. (3/20/2020)
• The California Department of Human Resources issued directives to departments on how to manage the state workforce to keep employees safe while continuing to provide Californians critical support and services. (3/19/2020)
• The Department of Food and Agriculture published a resource page for the agricultural sector. (3/19/2020)
• The Governor requested immediate deployment of the USNS Mercy Hospital Ship to the Port of Los Angeles to decompress the state’s health care delivery system in Los Angeles. (3/19/2020)
• The state requested federal assistance to supplement California’s efforts to prepare for a COVID-19 surge. (3/19/2020)
• The Governor issued a stay-at-home order to protect the health and well-being of all Californians and slow the spread of COVID-19. (3/19/2020)
• The Department of Motor Vehicles cancelled behind-the-wheel drive tests, suspended extended office hours and moved to appointment-only service for transactions requiring an in-person visit. (3/18/2020)
• California launched a consumer-friendly website and public service announcements to boost COVID-19 awareness. (3/18/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order providing flexibility to local governments to spend their emergency homelessness funding on immediate solutions tailored to combatting COVID-19 and its impacts on the homeless population. (3/18/2020)
• The Governor directed the first allocation of the $500 million in emergency funding recently authorized by the Legislature for COVID-19 related activities – $150 million for local emergency homelessness actions. (3/18/2020)
• California is securing1,309 travel trailers and hundreds of hotels rooms to provide immediate housing options for those most at risk. (3/18/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to ensure Californians who rely on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKS, Cash Assistance for immigrants and in-home supportive services will not lose access due to COVID-19. (3/18/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to suspend standardized testing to focus on the mental and socioemotional well-being of students. (3/18/2020)
• The Governor placed the National Guard on alert to support COVID-19 community readiness. (3/17/2020)
• The state secured SBA disaster assistance for California small businesses economically impacted by COVID-19. (3/17/2020)
• The state removed barriers to make it easier for California to quickly and effectively provide care to about 13 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries and expand telehealth options. (3/17/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to ensure vital goods can be delivered to California retailers in a timely manner during the COVID-19 outbreak. (3/17/2020)
• The Governor requested and signed emergency legislation providing up to $1 billion in funding to help California fight COVID-19. (3/17/2020)
• California released guidance and resources for schools to plan and implement distance learning and school meal delivery. (3/17/2020)
• State health and emergency officials directed bars and clubs to close and restaurants to open only for drive-through or pick-up/delivery. (3/17/2020)
• The state issued guidance for vulnerable Californians– older residents (65+) and those with underlying health conditions – to isolate at home. (3/16/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to protect the health and safety of Californians most vulnerable to COVID-19 residing at health care, residential and non-residential facilities licensed by the state. (3/16/2020)
• California Volunteers created a resource page on how Californians can safely help their communities during COVID-19. (3/16/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order that authorizes local governments to halt evictions for renters and homeowners, slows foreclosures, and protects against utility shutoffs for Californians affected by COVID-19. (3/16/2020)
• The Department of Motor Vehicles is allowing customers to avoid coming into the DMV office for 60 days so that at-risk populations can avoid required visits and practice social distancing. (3/16/2020)
• EDD is encouraging employers who are experiencing a slowdown in their businesses or services as a result of the outbreak’s impact on the economy to apply for an Unemployment Insurance work sharing program. (3/13/2020)
• In partnership with federal and local government, California managed the safe disembarkation and treatment of passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship. (3/13/2020)
• Californians unable to work because they are caring for an ill or quarantined family member can file a Paid Family Leave (3/13/2020)
• The California Employment Development Department (EDD) is encouraging individuals who are unable to work due to exposure to COVID-19 to file a Disability Insurance claim. (3/13/2020)
• The Franchise Tax Board is providing a 90-day extension to file California tax returns for taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. (3/13/2020)
• Caltrans launched a statewide educational campaign on more than 700 electronic highway signs, urging all Californians to be more diligent about containing the spread of the virus. (3/13/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to ensure schools retain state funding even in the event of a COVID-19 physical closure. (3/13/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order removing the waiting period for unemployment and disability insurance for Californians who lose work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and readying the state to commandeer hotels and medical facilities. (3/12/2020)
• The state is allowing local and state legislative bodies to hold meetings via conference calls while still meeting state transparency requirements. (3/12/2020)
• The state directed mass gatherings be postponed or cancelled to slow the spread of the virus. (3/11/2020)
• The California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency released guidance for homeless assistance providers in the state. (3/10/2020)
• California obtained approval to provide meal service during school closures to minimize potential exposure to COVID-19. (3/7/2020)
• California activated the State Operations Center and the Medical and Health Coordination Center to coordinate response efforts across the state. (3/6/2020)
• 24 million more Californians were made eligible for free medically necessary COVID-19 testing. (3/5/2020)
• The Governor declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19. (3/4/2020)
• California made available some of its emergency planning reserves of 21 million N95 filtering facepiece masks for use in certain health care settings to ease shortages of personal protective equipment. (3/3/2020)
• The state secured COVID-19 test kits from the CDC to help get results sooner, identify and treat cases and trace potential exposure. (2/28/2020)
• The California Department of Public Health is coordinating with federal authorities and local health departments that have implemented screening, monitoring and, in some cases, quarantine of returning travelers. (Ongoing)
• The California Department of Public Health’s state laboratory in Richmond and 21 other public health department laboratories are testing for the virus that causes COVID-19. (Ongoing)
• The state’s public health experts are providing information, guidance documents, and technical support to local health departments, health care facilities, providers, schools, universities, colleges, elder care and congregate living facilities, childcare facilities and homeless shelters across California. (Ongoing)
• The state is piloting Community Based Testing Sites for high-risk individuals in partnership with Verily. (Ongoing)

Naomi Padron

Legislative Advocate

McHugh Koepke & Associates

1121 L Street, Suite 103

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 930-1993

www.mchughgr.com

Today, the Department of Labor issued some additional guidance on the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) which requires all employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Family Medical Leave Act leave.

This important guidance can be found here >>

This guidance includes answers to some frequently asked questions we have been receiving from our members, including:

Whether employees are entitled to FFCRA leave if your business has shut down or if you have had to furlough employees or reduce hours (Qs. #23-28) Whether employers can require documentation of the need for leave (Q. #16) Whether employees can take leave intermittently (Qs. #20-22) Continuation of health care coverage during FFCRA (Q. #30)

You are required to post and share this information with your employees: 

Click here for FFCRA Employee Rights notice

CSSA Members and CA Self Storage Operators –

As you know, on March 19, 2020 Governor Newsom declared a Shelter-in-Place order for the entire state of California. We have been receiving several calls and emails at the CSSA office looking for guidance. Below we have attempted to provide some information that will hopefully help you as you continue to move forward doing business under these circumstances. However, this information is NOT meant as legal advice, only suggestions. You should check with your legal counsel to ensure you are abiding by the law and local ordinances. As this pandemic is changing daily, new orders are also changing. CSSA will attempt to keep you up to date by posting information on our Coronavirus Information button on the CSSA website: https://californiaselfstorage.org/coronavirus-information

What does the Shelter-in-Place Order say?

• See the attached March 19, 2020 Executive Order (also located on Coronavirus Information on CSSA website): https://californiaselfstorage.org/coronavirus-information
• On March 21, 2020 Governor Newsom signed a new Executive Order https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/3.21.20-EO-N-35-20-text.pdf, which supplements and expands certain health care mechanisms and can be accessed via the same website.

Can I keep my self storage business open during this time?

• Self storage is considered essential under the March 19, 2020 standards as a recognized business under the Federal Critical Business Sections, “Commercial Facilities Sector”: https://www.cisa.gov/commercial-facilities-sector
• There has been a new list distributed that does not name commercial facilities sector: https://covid19.ca.gov/img/EssentialCriticalInfrastructureWorkers.pdf. We are inquiring to determine if self storage still has remained essential. Our recommendation would be to contact your county/local agency https://www.covid19.ca.gov/state-local-resources/#top to receive that determination.
• Please be aware that some cities and counties have issued local ordinances.  You should research your county and city COVID-19 information https://www.covid19.ca.gov/state-local-resources/#top and be sure to comply with those orders in addition to the statewide order. CSSA recommends that all operators comply with whichever order is more restrictive and to seek guidance from counsel as to what is required by law
• Here is a list of all essential businesses as defined by Federal standards: https://www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors  
• If you keep your office open, be sure to follow the CDC guidelines and any additional requirements set forth in any orders.  For example, you might want to provide items to ensure a healthy environment (disinfectant, hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, etc.) and have employees and customers abide by the six foot social distancing and limited gatherings
• If employees state they are feeling sick or exhibit any signs of potential illness, they should stay home
• If employees are reluctant to come to work for fear of contracting the virus, you might want to consider allowing them to stay home especially if you can continue to operate your business without them. As to whether they can continue to be paid, that is a business decision typically handled by an HR professional(s) and/or labor law counsel; any withholding of pay should be considered by your HR or PEO firm and confirmed by your attorney.

Do I need to keep my business open?

• You are not “required” to keep your business open – you have a right to control access, just as you would in any natural disaster.

Can I close my office but continue to keep the self storage open with automatic gate entry?

• This might be a good alternative as you are providing both protection to your employees as well as access to your tenants.  Some operators are not so inclined due to security concerns and the inability to perform basic essential business functions on site.

What if tenants have been affected (lost job, wages, etc.), are they still required to pay rent?

• Yes, tenants are currently still required to honor the terms of the lease.  You have the right to continue to conduct business with your normal, standard business practices, and similarly have the right to alter those practices as you deem appropriate.

Some of my tenants pay in cash, am I required to take it?

• You have the option to ban cash payments, except in any city or county that has implemented a so-called “cashless ban” policy.  There is no statewide “cashless ban” in California, so be sure to check with your local authorities.
• If you decide to take cash payments, you might want to consider a “drop box” or another way to transfer money – employees should use disposable gloves when handling any cash
• If you are closing your office but the self storage facility remains open and accepts cash, you might want to consider a “lock box” – this demonstrates you provide a variety of methods for all types of payments

Can I raise rents on my units?

• California has very strict guidelines related to raising prices during a state of emergency. California’s price gouging laws are codified in Section 396 of the California Penal Code, and non-compliance carries both criminal and civil penalties. California’s price gouging laws apply to the self storage business and thus, compliance is required.   
• California allows a maximum rent increase of 10% during the state of emergency.
• There are numerous states of emergency in effect in California, which can be accessed on these websites: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/ and https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/03/04/governor-newsom-declares-state-of-emergency-to-help-state-prepare-for-broader-spread-of-covid-19/
• The COVID state of emergency in California took effect on March 4, 2020, which means, with respect to the COVID state of emergency, rents charged on March 3, 2020 will be the baseline, threshold date, for purposes of calculating the 10% limitation. CHECK WITH YOUR ATTORNEY ON THIS AND ALL OTHER PRICE ISSUES.

Can I still charge a late fee?

• If the late fee was agreed to by the tenant as set forth in the lease, you are probably legally permitted to continue with this practice. Again, CHECK WITH YOUR ATTORNEY ON THIS AND ALL OTHER PRICE ISSUES.

If I offer a discount or complimentary rent for new tenants, will I be able to increase beyond the 10% after the discounted time period?

• As standard practice, and published business practice, if you offer a discount for new tenants that is increased after a certain period, you should be able to continue that practice as long as the increase was agreed to by the tenant when obtaining the promotion. Again, CHECK WITH YOUR ATTORNEY ON THIS AND ALL OTHER PRICE ISSUES.

What about liens during this state of emergency and shelter-in-place order?

• Currently there is no direct prohibition from continuing with lien auctions. 
• Although it might be legal to go through the lien process for delinquent renters, some operators have expressed an interest in suspending lien auctions while this COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop. CHECK WITH YOUR ATTORNEY.

Where can I find additional information about self storage business issues during this shelter-in-place and state of emergency?

• CSSA will provide information relating to the self storage industry on our Coronavirus Information button on the website: https://californiaselfstorage.org/coronavirus-information
• SSA is providing information on Coronavirus Updates at: https://www.selfstorage.org/About-SSA/SSA-News  
• For our CSSA Members: Please share your questions and/or comments on our member discussion board and hear back from other CSSA owner/operators: https://californiaselfstorage.org/Member-Discussion  - This is not suggested as any form of legal advice, it is just an opportunity to share information with each other if you choose.

If you still have additional information, you may email CSSA at: info@californiaselfstorage.org – we will endeavor to obtain information for you if it is available.

Stay safe,

Ross Hutchings

Ross Hutchings, CAE

Executive Director

California Self Storage Association

info@californiaselfstorage.org

888.277.2207  (888.CSSA207) – office (toll-free)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Governor's Press Office Friday, March 27, 2020 (916) 445-4571 Governor Newsom Takes Executive Action to Establish a Statewide Moratorium on Evictions  The order is effective immediately and will apply through May 31, 2020 Builds on the Governor’s previous executive action authorizing local governments to halt evictions SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order banning the enforcement of eviction orders for renters affected by COVID-19 through May 31, 2020. The order prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent and prohibits enforcement of evictions by law enforcement or courts. It also requires tenants to declare in writing, no more than seven days after the rent comes due, that the tenant cannot pay all or part of their rent due to COVID-19. The tenant would be required to retain documentation but not required to submit it to the landlord in advance. And the tenant would remain obligated to repay full rent in “a timely manner” and could still face eviction after the enforcement moratorium is lifted. The order takes effect immediately, and provides immediate relief to tenants for whom rent is due on April 1st. Today’s action builds on Governor Newsom’s previous executive order authorizing local governments to halt evictions for renters impacted by the pandemic.   A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here and the text of the order can also be found here.  ###

Governor Gavin Newsom State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814

Saturday, March 28^th, Governor Gavin Newsom visited the Bloom Energy ventilator refurbishing site in Sunnyvale with San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.  The Governor and the Mayor toured the site and met with company leadership before hosting a pooled press conference at approximately 1:10 PM.   The press conference concluded a couple minutes before 2:00 PM.

During the press conference, Newsom highlighted the efforts of Bloom Energy but also stated that many manufacturers, big and small, are working to help address this crisis.  Newsom says some 350 manufacturers have told him they want to convert their facilities to start manufacturing needed equipment, from gowns to hand sanitizer.

Newsom also announced that yesterday intensive care unit (ICU) numbers went up 105 percent overnight in the state. Hospitalization went up 38.6 percent, not including almost 4,000 "persons of interest" in hospitals who have been tested for COVID-19 and results have yet to come back.  Given these figures,  Newsom implored Californians to stay home to help slow the spread of the virus.   Newsom said, "I promise people this: we will not get back to normalcy as soon as we like if we don't practice physical distancing."

During the Q&A portion of the press conference, Newsom was asked about the State Budget.  He reinforced the guidance issued by the Department of Finance earlier this week.   A copy of the Budget Letter can be found here. 

Yesterday, March 27^th, Newsom issued an executive order (EO) to empower the Judicial Council and the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court to take necessary action to be able to conduct business and continue to operate while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.  A copy of the full news release can be found here.  A copy of the EO can be found here.

As of March 27^th, 2 PM Pacific Daylight Time, there are a total of 4,643 positive cases and 101 deaths in California (including one non-California resident).  More information can be found here.

Also, the https://www.covid19.ca.gov/ website is being updated continuously.   A list of the state’s ongoing COVID-19 response efforts here and below:

• Governor Newsom secured a major financial relief package – financial institutions will provide a 90-day grace period for mortgage payments and will not negatively impact credit reports for Californians accessing payment relief. (3/25/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order directing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to temporarily halt intake of inmates and youth into the state’s 35 prisons and four youth correctional facilities. (3/24/2020)
• The state is moving to videoconferencing of all scheduled parole suitability hearings starting next month. (3/24/2020)
• California awarded $100 million to cities, counties and continuums of care to help people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. (3/23/2020)
• California State Parks is working closely with local county and public health officials to modify park operations by closing vehicular traffic at some park units to reduce the density of visitors. (3/23/2020)
• The state secured a presidential Major Disaster Declaration, which makes federal funding available to state, tribal and local governments for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, and makes funding available for crisis counseling for impacted individuals. (3/22/2020)
• California requested and received Personal Protective Equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile. (3/21/2020)
• The state is leasing two hospitals to increase availability of beds for COVID-19 patients. (3/21/2020)
• California is directing more than $42 million in emergency funding to expand California’s health care infrastructure and secure equipment and services to support California’s response to COVID-19. (3/21/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order giving the state the ability to increase the health care capacity in clinics, mobile health care units and adult day health care facilities. (3/21/2020)
• California launched a partnership Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign with com and California Volunteers to safely deploy volunteers to help the most vulnerable Californians. (3/20/2020)
• The Governor activated close to 500 members of the California National Guard to help distribute food at food banks and protect California’s most vulnerable residents. (3/20/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to permit vote-by-mail procedures to be used in three upcoming special elections, protecting public health and safety during the COVID-19 outbreak. (3/20/2020)
• The California Department of Human Resources issued directives to departments on how to manage the state workforce to keep employees safe while continuing to provide Californians critical support and services. (3/19/2020)
• The Department of Food and Agriculture published a resource page for the agricultural sector. (3/19/2020)
• The Governor requested immediate deployment of the USNS Mercy Hospital Ship to the Port of Los Angeles to decompress the state’s health care delivery system in Los Angeles. (3/19/2020)
• The state requested federal assistance to supplement California’s efforts to prepare for a COVID-19 surge. (3/19/2020)
• The Governor issued a stay-at-home order to protect the health and well-being of all Californians and slow the spread of COVID-19. (3/19/2020)
• The Department of Motor Vehicles cancelled behind-the-wheel drive tests, suspended extended office hours and moved to appointment-only service for transactions requiring an in-person visit. (3/18/2020)
• California launched a consumer-friendly website and public service announcements to boost COVID-19 awareness. (3/18/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order providing flexibility to local governments to spend their emergency homelessness funding on immediate solutions tailored to combatting COVID-19 and its impacts on the homeless population. (3/18/2020)
• The Governor directed the first allocation of the $500 million in emergency funding recently authorized by the Legislature for COVID-19 related activities – $150 million for local emergency homelessness actions. (3/18/2020)
• California is securing1,309 travel trailers and hundreds of hotels rooms to provide immediate housing options for those most at risk. (3/18/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to ensure Californians who rely on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKS, Cash Assistance for immigrants and in-home supportive services will not lose access due to COVID-19. (3/18/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to suspend standardized testing to focus on the mental and socioemotional well-being of students. (3/18/2020)
• The Governor placed the National Guard on alert to support COVID-19 community readiness. (3/17/2020)
• The state secured SBA disaster assistance for California small businesses economically impacted by COVID-19. (3/17/2020)
• The state removed barriers to make it easier for California to quickly and effectively provide care to about 13 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries and expand telehealth options. (3/17/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to ensure vital goods can be delivered to California retailers in a timely manner during the COVID-19 outbreak. (3/17/2020)
• The Governor requested and signed emergency legislation providing up to $1 billion in funding to help California fight COVID-19. (3/17/2020)
• California released guidance and resources for schools to plan and implement distance learning and school meal delivery. (3/17/2020)
• State health and emergency officials directed bars and clubs to close and restaurants to open only for drive-through or pick-up/delivery. (3/17/2020)
• The state issued guidance for vulnerable Californians– older residents (65+) and those with underlying health conditions – to isolate at home. (3/16/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to protect the health and safety of Californians most vulnerable to COVID-19 residing at health care, residential and non-residential facilities licensed by the state. (3/16/2020)
• California Volunteers created a resource page on how Californians can safely help their communities during COVID-19. (3/16/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order that authorizes local governments to halt evictions for renters and homeowners, slows foreclosures, and protects against utility shutoffs for Californians affected by COVID-19. (3/16/2020)
• The Department of Motor Vehicles is allowing customers to avoid coming into the DMV office for 60 days so that at-risk populations can avoid required visits and practice social distancing. (3/16/2020)
• EDD is encouraging employers who are experiencing a slowdown in their businesses or services as a result of the outbreak’s impact on the economy to apply for an Unemployment Insurance work sharing program. (3/13/2020)
• In partnership with federal and local government, California managed the safe disembarkation and treatment of passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship. (3/13/2020)
• Californians unable to work because they are caring for an ill or quarantined family member can file a Paid Family Leave (3/13/2020)
• The California Employment Development Department (EDD) is encouraging individuals who are unable to work due to exposure to COVID-19 to file a Disability Insurance claim. (3/13/2020)
• The Franchise Tax Board is providing a 90-day extension to file California tax returns for taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. (3/13/2020)
• Caltrans launched a statewide educational campaign on more than 700 electronic highway signs, urging all Californians to be more diligent about containing the spread of the virus. (3/13/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order to ensure schools retain state funding even in the event of a COVID-19 physical closure. (3/13/2020)
• The Governor issued an executive order removing the waiting period for unemployment and disability insurance for Californians who lose work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and readying the state to commandeer hotels and medical facilities. (3/12/2020)
• The state is allowing local and state legislative bodies to hold meetings via conference calls while still meeting state transparency requirements. (3/12/2020)
• The state directed mass gatherings be postponed or cancelled to slow the spread of the virus. (3/11/2020)
• The California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency released guidance for homeless assistance providers in the state. (3/10/2020)
• California obtained approval to provide meal service during school closures to minimize potential exposure to COVID-19. (3/7/2020)
• California activated the State Operations Center and the Medical and Health Coordination Center to coordinate response efforts across the state. (3/6/2020)
• 24 million more Californians were made eligible for free medically necessary COVID-19 testing. (3/5/2020)
• The Governor declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19. (3/4/2020)
• California made available some of its emergency planning reserves of 21 million N95 filtering facepiece masks for use in certain health care settings to ease shortages of personal protective equipment. (3/3/2020)
• The state secured COVID-19 test kits from the CDC to help get results sooner, identify and treat cases and trace potential exposure. (2/28/2020)
• The California Department of Public Health is coordinating with federal authorities and local health departments that have implemented screening, monitoring and, in some cases, quarantine of returning travelers. (Ongoing)
• The California Department of Public Health’s state laboratory in Richmond and 21 other public health department laboratories are testing for the virus that causes COVID-19. (Ongoing)
• The state’s public health experts are providing information, guidance documents, and technical support to local health departments, health care facilities, providers, schools, universities, colleges, elder care and congregate living facilities, childcare facilities and homeless shelters across California. (Ongoing)
• The state is piloting Community Based Testing Sites for high-risk individuals in partnership with Verily. (Ongoing)

Naomi Padron

Legislative Advocate

McHugh Koepke & Associates

1121 L Street, Suite 103

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 930-1993

www.mchughgr.com

Today, March 27^th, Governor Gavin Newsom held a press conference in Los Angeles at approximately 1:00 PM.  Newsom met with Mayor Eric Garcetti (who also spoke at the press conference) and County public health officials.  The Governor also visited the USNS Mercy hospital ship with the Mayor and received a briefing on the mission in San Pedro.  The ship is set to become an additional hospital in the Los Angeles area with up to 1,000 beds.  The ship may be able to start taking patients as early as tomorrow.

During the press conference, Newsom said progress is being made on every front in terms of the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.   In terms of testing, Newsom says total CA COVID-19 tests as of this morning are up to 88,400.  However, results are still forthcoming.

As far as enforcement, Newsom noted the ongoing questions. He said the National Guard will be out this weekend with flyers.   Garcetti said that the City of Los Angeles is prepared to enforce the stay-at-home order – whether it's shutting the power off to a still-open business, issuing citations, etc. But, Garcetti also added, social pressuring seems to be working pretty well.

Earlier today, Newsom issued an executive order (EO) banning the enforcement of eviction orders for renters affected by COVID-19 through May 31, 2020.  The order prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent and prohibits enforcement of evictions by law enforcement or courts.   It also requires tenants to declare in writing, no more than seven days after the rent comes due, that the tenant cannot pay all or part of their rent due to COVID-19.  A copy of the full news release can be found here.  A copy of the Governor’s EO can be found here.

This morning, Newsom issued a statement on the passage of the Federal Supplemental Stimulus Bill.  A copy of the news release can be found here.

On March 25^th, Newsom announced that financial institutions will provide major financial relief for millions of Californians suffering financially as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.   Following the announcement Newsom’s office issue a new release.  A copy of that news release can be found here.

 As of March 25, 2020, 2 PM Pacific Daylight Time, there are a total of 3,006 positive cases and 65 deaths in California (including one non-California resident).  More information can be found here.

Also, the https://www.covid19.ca.gov/ website is being updated continuously. 

Naomi Padron

Legislative Advocate

McHugh Koepke & Associates

1121 L Street, Suite 103

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 930-1993

www.mchughgr.com

Today, March 25^th, Governor Gavin Newsom held a press conference at approximately 12:45 PM to “make a major announcement to help families during the COVID-19 outbreak.”  He spoke for approximately 30 minutes, with a Q&A following.   The press conference concluded at 1:42 PM.

Newsom opened the press conference by thanking Congress for the stimulus deal.  He said California will receive a $10 billion block grant and additional money from other portions of the bill.  Newsom further said that this federal stimulus bill "will be very helpful" as the state is trying to procure additional medical supplies and address the surge in unemployment applications.  Since March 13^th, one million Californians have applied for unemployment insurance. 

The Governor also announced that four of the largest banks (including Wells Fargo, Citi, US Bank, JPMorgan Chase)  and other financial institutions have agreed to give people a "90-day waiver of payments" on residential mortgages for those that have been impacted by COVID-19.   He called this, “a big sigh of relief for millions of California families.”  Newsom noted that Bank of America committed only to 30 days.  When asked, Newsom said there are no income requirements with regards to the 90-day mortgage forbearance.  Also, as of now, Newsom said there is not a statewide eviction moratorium nor statewide rent grace periods.

The governor was also asked about the upcoming November election and ballot initiatives specifically.  In response, Newsom said only that he has been in constant communication with the Secretary of State.  He specifically said that he has no new information to share as it pertains to extending the signature gathering deadline.

In terms of testing, as of today, 66,800 tests have been conducted in the state, a significant increase from yesterday.   Newsom continues to urge people that individuals “take seriously” stay-at-home orders.  He specifically said, "Don't think for a second that we're a day or two from lifting that order. We're not. We're not even a week or two."

Newsom provided an update on COVID-19 figures.  As of 10 AM, 2,535 Californians have tested positive – a 17 percent increase from yesterday. 

Also, the https://www.covid19.ca.gov/ website is being updated continuously. 

Naomi Padron

Legislative Advocate

McHugh Koepke & Associates

1121 L Street, Suite 103

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 930-1993

www.mchughgr.com

Today, March 24^th, Governor Gavin Newsom held another press conference at approximately 5:35 PM to provide an update on the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.  He spoke for roughly 15 minutes and then opened it up for questions from the public (no press questions tonight).  The press conference concluded at 5:53 PM.

During the press conference, Newsom announced issuing an  Executive Order (EO) directing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Secretary to temporarily halt the intake and/or transfer of inmates and youth into the state’s 35 prisons and four youth correctional facilities.  Additionally, the EO directs the Board of Parole Hearings to develop a process to conduct all scheduled parole suitability hearings through videoconferencing starting no later than April 13, 2020, and for the next 60 days.  A copy of the EO can be found here.  A copy of the press release can be found here.

The Governor said this latest EO was issued to protect the health, safety and welfare of state inmates, youth, and staff following the recent confirmed COVID-19 cases in four separate state prisons affecting five correctional officers and one inmate.  Please see CDCR’s COVID-19 Status page here.  Also, here is a link to CDCR’s “COVID-19 Preparedness” page: https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/covid19/.

Additionally, it is also worth noting that earlier today, State's Department of Finance (DOF) sent a letter to the both the Assembly and Senate Budget Committees noting that there will be no Spring Finance Letters (policy changes) to Governor's January Budget.  A copy of this letter can be found here.  In a separate policy guidance memo to state agencies, the DOF said it will now reevaluate all budget changes within the context of a workload budget.   Further, the memo specified, “agencies and departments should have no expectation of full funding for either new or existing proposals and adjustments. The only exception to this new evaluation criteria will be proposals or adjustments necessary to support the emergency response to COVID-19. New requests which fall outside these parameters will not be reviewed.”  A copy of the memo can be found here.

Yesterday,  March 23^rd, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH) announced COVID-19 emergency homelessness funding grant allocations.  Specifically, California’s 13 largest cities, or cities that are also a county, will receive $42,968,750, while the state’s 58 counties will receive $27,343,750 and California’s 44 Continuums of Care will receive $29,687,500.  Allocations can be found here.  A copy of the press release can be found here.

As of March 23, 2020, at 2 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, the California Department of Public Health said there are a total of 2,102 positive cases (17.5 percent increase from the previous day) and 40 deaths in California (including one non-California resident).   For more information, please see https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR20-32.aspx

Also, the https://www.covid19.ca.gov/ website is being updated continuously. 

Naomi Padron

Legislative Advocate

McHugh Koepke & Associates

1121 L Street, Suite 103

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 930-1993

www.mchughgr.com