COVID-19 Update - March 26, 2020

In this Update:

Senate Approves COVID-19 Response Measures
Three Counties Added to Governor’s Stay-at-Home Order
Retired Healthcare Providers Can Assist in COVID-19 Response
Facilities Closed at State Parks and Forests
Consumers Can Report Price Gouging Tips Online
Additional Rest Stops Reopened By PennDOT

Senate Approves COVID-19 Response Measures

The Senate and House of Representatives convened remotely to pass four bills to keep Pennsylvania moving forward during the COVID-19 coronavirus public health emergency. The measures now go to the Governor for enactment into law.

House Bill 68 amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to ease eligibility requirements and access to unemployment compensation for workers impacted by the coronavirus, including waiving the one-week waiting period for all claimants during the governor’s disaster declaration. Job search and registration requirements for claimants will be waived. The measure provides automatic relief from benefit charges for any employer whose account would otherwise be charged for weeks of unemployment occurring during the duration of a disaster emergency.

Senate Bill 422 makes several changes to the Pennsylvania Election Code to move the primary election date from April 28 to June 2 and give counties the authority to close, relocate or consolidate polling places due to the potential shortage of available volunteers and venues.

Senate Bill 751 makes several changes to the Public School Code to waive the 180-day requirement for public schools and similar restrictions for career and technical schools and pre-kindergarten instruction. It allows for an increase in flexible instruction days and guarantees that teachers receive the same compensation they would have received if the pandemic had not occurred.

House Bill 1232 amends the Fiscal Code to provide up to $50 million in additional funding to healthcare facilities for the purchase of medical equipment and supplies to address the demands that COVID-19 could place on the state’s healthcare system. It extends the deadline to declare and pay estimated Personal Income Tax and authorizes the Department of Community and Economic Development to coordinate with local political subdivisions to extend filing and payment deadlines for the local Earned Income Tax. These deadlines have been extended to July 15, 2020. In addition, it extends the temporary regulations related to Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis industry until November 2021.

A full, gavel-to-gavel video recording of session is available for viewing here.

Yesterday was a historic day for the Pennsylvania State Senate. For the first time we used audio-video communications to allow the majority of members to participate in session without traveling to Harrisburg. I was one of several members on the Senate floor that got to witness this use of technology that provided us the opportunity to vote on much-needed legislation to address many important issues that have arisen from the current pandemic.

Three Counties Added to Governor’s Stay-at-Home Order

On Monday, Governor Wolf issued a “stay-at-home” order for residents of seven Pennsylvania counties: Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Monroe, Montgomery and Philadelphia. The order was expanded later in the week to include Erie, Lehigh and Northampton counties.

County residents affected by the order are still permitted to leave the house for a limited number of activities, such as getting groceries, going to medical appointments, and other tasks essential to maintain health and safety.

More information about the stay-at-home order is available here.

Retired Healthcare Providers Can Assist in COVID-19 Response

As Pennsylvania faces a potential surge of COVID-19 coronavirus cases in the coming weeks, many retired doctors, nurses and pharmacists who wish to aid the state’s response to this public health emergency will be permitted to re-enter their field of practice temporarily. Retired healthcare personnel who return to practice would not be subject to paying reactivation fees. In most cases, licenses would be active through the end of the year.

More details on this announcement are available here.

Facilities Closed at State Parks and Forests

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has announced that all facilities at state parks and forests will be closed until April 30. This includes all offices, visitor centers, restrooms, campgrounds, cabins and other accommodations. Trails, lakes, roads and parking will remain open.

More information about state park and forest facility closures is available here.

Consumers Can Report Price Gouging Tips Online

Pennsylvania’s Price Gouging Act prohibits companies and vendors from charging a price for consumer goods greater than 20 percent higher than the price before an emergency declaration. Consumers can report violations of price gouging laws to the Attorney General by email at pricegouging@attorneygeneral.gov.

Consumers can also submit a complaint by reporting the name and price of the product and the name and location of the store or vendor online here.

Additional Rest Stops Reopened By PennDOT

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced plans to reopen indoor facilities at 23 of its 30 rest stops across the state. Additional maintenance and cleaning will be in place to help limit the risk of spreading COVID-19.

A complete list of rest stops that will reopen is available here.