33rd PA Senate District COVID-19 Update (March 26, 2020)

from State Senator Doug Mastriano
State Senator Doug Mastriano
State Senator Doug Mastriano

Pennsylvania COVID-19 reported cases.

Totals as of 3/26/2020 12:00 pm: 1,687 confirmed positive in PA; 560 new cases since yesterday, 16 confirmed deaths reported and 16,441 negative tests. The most up to date news can be found here: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx


Senate Session.

Yesterday, the Senate held its first remote Session.

https://senatormastriano.com/2020/03/26/mastriano-senate-approves-covid-19-response-measures/

The comprehensive COVID-19 response package included:

  • Senate Bill 422, which postpones Pennsylvania’s primary election from April 28 to June 2.
  • Senate Bill 751, which updates Pennsylvania’s School Code to waive a number of mandates on schools that cannot be fulfilled under the current circumstances.
  • House Bill 68, which provides for emergency changes to the state’s Unemployment Compensation law in response to COVID-19.
  • House Bill 1232, which provides additional funding to healthcare facilities to purchase medical supplies and equipment, and extends the deadline for certain state and local income tax payments and filings.
  • Senate Bill 422 would push back the primary election date to help the state limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The bill would also give county election officials authority to close, relocate or consolidate polling places due to the potential shortage of available volunteers and venues. Volunteers could also be drawn from anywhere in the county; previous law mandated that volunteers had to be from the same election district.

In addition, the bill would allow county election officials to begin processing absentee ballots earlier to ensure election results can be reported earlier, so long as the results are not published or officially recorded. Counties could also continue to use previously printed ballots with the April 28 Primary date.

Senate Bill 751 would waive the requirement that all public schools must be open at least 180 days per school year. The bill gives the Secretary of Education the authority to waive similar restrictions for career and technical schools and pre-kindergarten instruction.

The bill would also give the Secretary of Education authorization to increase the number of flexible instruction days that may be used by a school district and waive other requirements for educator preparation programs and assessment exams for career and technical students. It also guarantees that teachers will receive the same compensation they would have received if the pandemic had not occurred.

House Bill 68 would ease eligibility requirements and access to unemployment compensation for workers who have been directly 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 would also be waived under the bill.

The bill also 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.

House Bill 1232 would provide up to $50 million of additional funding to healthcare facilities for the sole purpose of buying medical equipment and supplies to address the increased demands that COVID-19 could place on the entire healthcare system. The new money will help ensure healthcare facilities can better meet the needs of patients and staff.

Additionally, House Bill 1232 extends the deadline for individuals who are required to declare and pay estimated Personal Income Tax as well as delays the filing of informational returns for Pennsylvania S corporations and partnerships, estates and trusts.  The legislation also 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, the bill would extend temporary regulations related to Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis industry until November 2021.


Fishing in Pennsylvania during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The PA Fish & Boat Commission announced a consolidated statewide schedule for trout season.

They have launched accelerated stocking operations & added more convenient online license purchase & display options. More details can be found here: https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/fish-and-Boat-Commission-Details.aspx?newsid=312.


Mortgage & Rent Forgiveness.

If you are unable to pay your mortgage due to COVID-19, please contact your lender immediately. Foreclosures & evictions have been suspended for 60 days for FHA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac backed loans.

Rent forgiveness is the decision of each landlord & not required by the state. Tenants are still required to pay rent, unless told otherwise by your landlord.

For rental assistance, please visit the US Department of Housing and Urban Development: https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance.


Food Assistance.

If you are out of work without pay due to COVID-19, you are eligible to receive emergency food assistance:

https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/Agriculture_details.aspx?newsid=900


Low-Interest Loan Program.

If your small business has been impacted by COVID-19, you can now apply for low-interest state loans. The COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program will feature a low interest rate, no application fees, and payments and interest will be waived during the first year of the loan.

Loans up to $100,000 will be available for small businesses with 100 or fewer full-time employees to use as working capital. 

Business owners who are interested in applying should contact their local Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO). A list of CEDOs is available at: https://dced.pa.gov/cedo/.


Good News Story.

Starting today, Meyers Bus Line in Chambersburg is purchasing 50 meals from local restaurants & delivering them to the Chambersburg Hospital staff. A big “thank you” to Meyers for thinking of those on the front lines during this time!

I’d love to hear more “Good News Stories” from you! Please send them to senatordoug@pasen.gov

As always, my offices can be reached at:

717.787.4651 (Capitol)
717.334.4169 (Gettysburg)
717.264.6100 (Chambersburg)
717.632.1153 (Hanover)

If you have any questions or concerns, please email senatordoug@pasen.gov.

Please have patience with myself and my staff, we are trying our best to return emails and calls.

Sincerely,

Senator Doug Mastriano
33rd Senate District