COVID-19 August Updates: Michigan Legislative Consultants’ COVID-19 Newsletter

MLC August Updates

The Michigan Legislative Consultants (MLC) is sharing the latest updates with our members informed on what’s happening at the State Capitol in our MLC August Updates.

This information is sourced from the Michigan Legislative Consultants’ COVID-19 Special Update email newsletter sent on Tuesday, August 25, 2020.

Tuesday, August 25 – Statewide Economic Impact

Statistics

MICHIGAN

• Weekly Cases: 4,475
• Total Cases: 97,660
• Weekly Deaths: 72
• Total Deaths: 6,397

OHIO

• Weekly Cases: 6,989
• Total Cases: 109,566
• Weekly Deaths: 157
• Total Deaths: 3,705

INDIANA

• Weekly Cases: 6,586
• Total Cases: 87,592
• Weekly Deaths: 82
• Total Deaths: 3,008

ILLINOIS

• Weekly Cases: 13,936
• Total Cases: 221,790
• Weekly Deaths: 132
• Total Deaths: 7,888

WISCONSIN

• Weekly Cases: 4,658
• Total Cases: 70,854
• Weekly Deaths: 42
• Total Deaths: 1,081

Executive Orders

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued one new Executive Order.

• Executive Order 2020-170 – Requires the Department of Corrections to conduct testing at the entry, transfer, and release of any prisoner.

Federal Update From our Partners at Foley & Lardner

Last week, Senate Republicans drafted the “Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act,” which is considered a ‘skinny’ version of the HEALS Act that they proposed last month. It is a countermeasure to the House Democrats’ Heroes Act, which was passed by the House in late May. The draft bill would, amongst other things, provide up to $10 billion to USPS; include liability protections for businesses, schools, and hospitals; allow for $300/week in unemployment benefits through December 27; and, authorize the second round of PPP loans.

The “skinny” bill may be the path forward for negotiations between Republicans and Democrats. Following the Republican National Convention this week, the White House and Senate Republicans are likely to re-engage with Leaders Pelosi and Schumer on COVID relief discussions. With the expiration of supplemental unemployment and COVID assistance funds for businesses, the urgency of any relief bill passage will depend on the strength of the economy. Should the economy show signs of weakening, there will be greater urgency to pass a bill by mid-September. It is otherwise likely that a relief bill will not get passed until the end of September.

Despite both the House and the Senate is out of session until early September, Speaker Pelosi convened the House last Saturday, August 22, for a vote to approve a $25 billion emergency funding bill for the United States Postal Service. The bill passed 257-150 and will be sent to the Senate. 26 Republicans, many in swing districts, also backed the bill. It would require the Postal Service to prioritize any election-related mail as “first-class,” and would also block any operational changes.

Unemployed Workers to Receive Additional Funds

FEMA approved Governor Whitmer’s request for an additional $300 per week funding for Michigan residents receiving unemployment benefits. The Unemployment Insurance Agency estimates that under the program, about 910,000 Michiganders would receive at least $300 per week in supplemental benefits. The program allows for existing Unemployment Trust Fund payments delivered by Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency to count as 25% matching funds required for participation. Eligible claimants will be paid benefits retroactive to August 1. It is unclear at this time how long funding for the program will last. The additional funds aim to help residents who remain unemployed due to the ongoing pandemic.

Michigan Articles

• Some Michigan industries are thriving despite the pandemic. Click here to read more.
• Governor Whitmer announced the allocations of $65 million in federal funding to schools across the state. Click here to read more.
• The director of the Department of Health and Human Services issued an Emergency Order requiring COVID-19 tests for all Department of Corrections staff. Click here to read more.

National Articles

• The first case of reinfection of the virus has been documented by researchers. Click here to read more.
• Despite concerns by the scientific community, the FDA has authorized plasma treatment for those infected with COVID-19. Click here to read more.
• The lack of Congressional action on passing another round of stimulus is hurting the economy. Click here to read more.

Governor Whitmer’s Executive Orders Related to COVID-19

We are sharing executive orders with you as they are announced. A complete list with links to each of the Executive Orders is available here.

• Executive Order 2020-166 – Reinstates protections for workers who stay home when they’re sick.
• Executive Order 2020-167 – Creates the Food Security Council, which will work to identify and analyze the origins of and solutions for food insecurity, especially prevalent during the pandemic.
• Executive Order 2020-168 – Extends existing safety measures to protect consumers and employees at grocery stores and pharmacies.
• Executive Order 2020-169 – Maintains the infection control protocols in nursing homes and protects residents from eviction and employees from retaliatory action for staying home when exhibiting symptoms.
• Executive Order 2020-170 – Requires the Department of Corrections to conduct testing at the entry, transfer, and release of any prisoner.

Additionally, the following website is a source for updated information from the administration.

This information is sourced from the Michigan Legislative Consultants’ COVID-19 Special Update email newsletter sent on Tuesday, August 18, 2020.

Tuesday, August 18 – Statewide Economic Impact

Statistics

MICHIGAN

• Weekly Cases: 5,225
• Total Cases: 93,185
• Weekly Deaths: 68
• Total Deaths: 6,325

OHIO

• Weekly Cases: 6,219
• Total Cases: 102,577
• Weekly Deaths: 143
• Total Deaths: 3,548

INDIANA

• Weekly Cases: 6,014
• Total Cases: 81,006
• Weekly Deaths: 88
• Total Deaths: 2,926

ILLINOIS

• Weekly Cases: 12,455
• Total Cases: 207,854
• Weekly Deaths: 119
• Total Deaths: 7,756

WISCONSIN

• Weekly Cases: 5,135
• Total Cases: 66,196
• Weekly Deaths: 41
• Total Deaths: 1,038

Executive Orders

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued two new Executive Orders.

• Executive Order 2020-168 – Extends existing safety measures to protect consumers and employees at grocery stores and pharmacies.
• Executive Order 2020-169 – Maintains the infection control protocols in nursing homes and protects residents from eviction and employees from retaliatory action for staying home when exhibiting symptoms.

Federal Update From Our Partners at Foley & Lardner

Negotiations amongst top leaders have all but ceased, as there were no talks last week and both houses are now in state and district work periods through September 8. McConnell said last Thursday that he still hopes to have a bipartisan agreement in the coming weeks. The biggest hurdles right now include the $1 trillion in aid to state and local governments that Democrats demand to be included in a package and the liability protections to shield employers, schools, and health care providers that Republicans insist be included.

When House and Senate members return to D.C. in September, they will also need to pass legislation to continue funding the government for FY 2021. While the House has passed several minibus packages by floor vote, the Senate has not taken up appropriations yet, due to disagreements between the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), and Ranking Member Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT) on the inclusion of non-government funding provisions. As such, most sources (including Shelby) agree that a Continuing Resolution will be necessary to avoid a government shutdown on October 1, 2020.

The big question for September is whether or not relief legislation will be combined with appropriations/continuing resolution.

Governor Announces MI Mask Aid

As part of a partnership with the private industry, the State of Michigan and FEMA, four million masks will be distributed for free to vulnerable populations throughout the state. This includes low-income residents, seniors, schools, and homeless shelters. The project is in partnership with Governor Whitmer’s Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, chaired by Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist.

Michigan Articles

• School start dates are around the corner: see what school will look like for the children in Michigan. Click here to read more
• Colleges are about to start in Michigan and this is making some people nervous. Click here to read more
• As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, so does daycare woes for working parents. Click here to read more
• Will the college football season cancellation allow Michigan universities to make changes for the better? Click here to read more

National Articles

• How has Covid-19 changed the way Congressional staffers do their job? Click here to read more
• As fall approaches, discussions on how to use ventilation and air filtration to prevent the spread of COVID-19 heats up. Click here to read more
• Emerging data show that some of the coronavirus’s most potent damage is inflicted on the heart. Click here to read more
• The vaccine trial moves to phase two. Click here to read more
• What does travel restrictions look like around the world? Click here to read more
• What type of retaliation are low-wage workers seeing in the workplace for voicing safety concerns or refusing to engage in hazardous work? Click here to read more

Governor Whitmer’s Executive Orders Related to COVID-19

We are sharing executive orders with you as they are announced. A complete list with links to each of the Executive Orders is available here.

• Executive Order 2020-165 – Extends the Declaration of Emergency through September 4, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.
• Executive Order 2020-166 – Reinstates protections for workers who stay home when they’re sick.
• Executive Order 2020-167 – Creates the Food Security Council, which will work to identify and analyze the origins of and solutions for food insecurity, especially prevalent during the pandemic.
• Executive Order 2020-168 – Extends existing safety measures to protect consumers and employees at grocery stores and pharmacies.
• Executive Order 2020-169 – Maintains the infection control protocols in nursing homes and protects residents from eviction and employees from retaliatory action for staying home when exhibiting symptoms.

Additionally, the following website is a source for updated information from the administration.

This information is sourced from the Michigan Legislative Consultants’ COVID-19 Special Update email newsletter sent on Tuesday, August 11, 2020.

Tuesday, August 11 – Statewide Economic Impact

Statistics

MICHIGAN

• Weekly Cases: 4,574
• Total Cases: 87,960
• Weekly Deaths: 45
• Total Deaths: 6,257

OHIO

• Weekly Cases: 8,224
• Total Cases: 96,358
• Weekly Deaths: 144
• Total Deaths: 3,405

INDIANA

• Weekly Cases: 6,559
• Total Cases: 74,992
• Weekly Deaths: 58
• Total Deaths: 2,7838

ILLINOIS

• Weekly Cases: 12,158
• Total Cases: 195,399
• Weekly Deaths: 111
• Total Deaths: 7,637

WISCONSIN

• Weekly Cases: 5,733
• Total Cases: 61,061
• Weekly Deaths: 49
• Total Deaths: 998

Executive Orders

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued four new Executive Orders.

• Executive Order 2020-164 – Requires face coverings to be worn in all child-care centers and camps.
• Executive Order 2020-165 – Extends the Declaration of Emergency through September 4, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.
• Executive Order 2020-166 – Reinstates protections for workers who stay home when they’re sick.
• Executive Order 2020-167 – Creates the Food Security Council, which will work to identify and analyze the origins of and solutions for food insecurity, especially prevalent during the pandemic.

Governor Creates Requirement for Masks at Child-Care Centers and Camps

Governor Whitmer signed E.O. 2020-164, mandating face coverings to be worn in all child-care centers and camps in the state. Staff and children above the age of two must wear masks while on a school bus or other transportation, while staff and children older than four years old must wear a mask in all indoor common spaces. However, if a child-care center is in Phase 5 of the MI Safe Start Plan, masks aren’t required, but encouraged.

Michigan Articles

• The Big Ten has delayed college football until spring. Click here to read more.
• As students head back to college campuses, the State is holding town halls for restaurants, bars, and other businesses in seven college towns. Click here to read more.
• Governor Whitmer held her most recent press conference on August 5. Click here to view the video.
• Governor Whitmer and governors in five other states have entered an interstate compact for three million rapid antigen tests. Click here to read more.
• DHHS Director Robert Gordon issued an Emergency Order requiring COVID-19 testing for agricultural and food processing employees. Click here to read more.

National Articles

• Antibodies alone may not be the key to immunity from COVID-19, instead, researchers are having alternative findings. Click here to read more.
• President Trump’s plan to extend unemployment benefits would cost already cash-strapped states hundreds of millions of dollars. Click here to read more.
• A new data-mapping tool will estimate your risk of coming into contact with a person who has COVID-19, based on group size. Click here to read more.
• The Federal government is testing a vaccine distribution plan in four states. Click here to read more.

Governor Whitmer’s Executive Orders Related to COVID-19

We are sharing executive orders with you as they are announced. A complete list with links to each of the Executive Orders is available here.

• Executive Order 2020-164 – Requires face coverings to be worn in all child-care centers and camps.
• Executive Order 2020-165 – Extends the Declaration of Emergency through September 4, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.
• Executive Order 2020-166 – Reinstates protections for workers who stay home when they’re sick.
• Executive Order 2020-167 – Creates the Food Security Council, which will work to identify and analyze the origins of and solutions for food insecurity, especially prevalent during the pandemic.

Additionally, the following website is a source for updated information from the administration.

This information is sourced from the Michigan Legislative Consultants’ COVID-19 Special Update email newsletter sent on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

Tuesday, August 4 – Statewide Economic Impact

Statistics

MICHIGAN

• Weekly Cases: 4,879
• Total Cases: 83,386
• Weekly Deaths: 58
• Total Deaths: 6,212

OHIO

• Weekly Cases: 7,506
• Total Cases: 88,134
• Weekly Deaths: 179
• Total Deaths: 3,261

INDIANA

• Weekly Cases: 5,526
• Total Cases: 68,433
• Weekly Deaths: 71
• Total Deaths: 2,780

ILLINOIS

• Weekly Cases: 10,586
• Total Cases: 183,241
• Weekly Deaths: 110
• Total Deaths: 7,526

WISCONSIN

• Weekly Cases: 5,911
• Total Cases: 55,328
• Weekly Deaths: 56
• Total Deaths: 949

Executive Orders

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued three new Executive Orders.

• Executive Order 2020-159 – Allows colleges and universities to proceed with converting large spaces for instruction without approval or inspection.
• Executive Order 2020-160 – Limits indoor gatherings to 10 people and requires bars to close indoor service.
• Executive Order 2020-161 – Requires employers to develop a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan.

Legislative Offices Protocol Changes – Contact MLC for Assistance

Senator Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) was diagnosed with COVID-19 this weekend. In response, both the House and Senate have canceled committee meetings and sessions for the week. There is uncertainty as to what next week’s committee and session calendars will look like. Additionally, individual member offices are making their own decisions as to whether they are reporting to work or having staff work remotely. It is our understanding that most, if not all staff, will be tested for COVID-19. If you are in need of communicating with a member or their office and are having difficulties, please contact your lobbyist at MLC. We will provide further updates as they become available.

Deadline Approaching for Grant Fund Applications

Small businesses and nonprofits have until August 5 to apply for grants through the Michigan Small Business Relief Program. The program allocates $100 million in Federal CARES Act funding and eligible businesses and nonprofits can receive grants of up to $20,000. To qualify for a grant, a business must meet the following statutory requirements; they have less than 50 employees and can demonstrate if is effected by the COVID-19 emergency, in need of working capital to support eligible expenses, and can demonstrate an income loss as a result of the pandemic.

Click here for more information.

Michigan Articles

• In recognition of the work performed by community health workers throughout the pandemic, Governor Whitmer declared August 2020 as Community Health Worker Appreciation Month. Click here to read more.
• Governor Whitmer gave her most recent press conference on July 28. Click here to view the video.
• In Michigan, local school districts are making decisions on whether to return for in-person learning in the fall. Click here to read more.

National Articles

• There are dozens of vaccines that have made it to, and beyond, phase three trials. Click here to read more.
• Throughout the US, where are cases rising, and where are they declining? Click here to read more.
• The White House is beginning to mandate random COVID-19 testing for certain staffers. Click here to read more.
• Republicans and Democrats remain at odds over what should be included in the next round of federal aid. Click here to read more.

Governor Whitmer’s Executive Orders Related to COVID-19

We are sharing executive orders with you as they are announced. A complete list with links to each of the Executive Orders is available here.

• Executive Order 2020-157 – Work permits required by the Youth Employment Standards Act can be mailed, emailed, faxed or sent via the web rather than filled-out on special colored paper, as required by statute.
• Executive Order 2020-158 – Requirements for in-person notarizations are temporarily suspended and transactions that require a notary to be completed via two-way, real-time audiovisual technology are allowed.
• Executive Order 2020-159 – Allows colleges and universities to proceed with converting large spaces for instruction without approval or inspection.
• Executive Order 2020-160 – Limits indoor gatherings to 10 people and requires bars to close indoor service.
• Executive Order 2020-161 – Requires employers to develop a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan.

Additionally, the following website is a source for updated information from the administration.

Stay Updated

While these are very uncertain times, know the MLC Team, along with POAM, is available to answer your questions regarding this MLC August Updates. Additionally, we will provide regular updates as more information becomes available.

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