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An update on COVID-19 actions by the PA Legislature and Wolf administration
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Yellow Phase Orders Updated to Include Eight Additional Counties Moving Today
Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed amended yellow phase orders to include eight counties moving to the yellow phase at 12:01 a.m. today, May 29. The counties are Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Schuylkill. The eight counties are joining 49 counties that previously moved into the yellow phase.
The governor’s amended order can be found here. The secretary of health’s amended order can be found here.
Gov. Wolf Issues Green Phase Order, Guidance on Dining and Professional Sports
As more counties move to yellow and green, Gov. Tom Wolf issued an order to elaborate on the reopening process for green phase counties and guidance on outdoor dining in yellow counties, dining in green counties and professional sports in yellow counties.
The governor elaborated on green phase guidelines announced on May 22 by issuing an updated order for counties in the green phase of reopening.
The orders from Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine include these provisions:
- Suspend all previous stay-at-home orders and replace them with the new green phase order for these counties, effective at 12:01 a.m., Friday, May 29: Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango and Warren
- The orders include provisions for businesses that were permitted to conduct in-person operations in the yellow phase, those permitted to operate with some restrictions on in-person operations and those that were not permitted any in-person operations under the yellow phase
- The orders also include guidance on occupancy limits and health and safety orders that businesses must adhere to under the green phase
- Specifics are included on those areas that have raised questions from business owners and residents, including:
- Personal care services, including hair salons and barbershops, must operate by appointment only; appointments or reservations are also strongly encouraged for gyms or spas
- Any gathering for a planned or spontaneous event of greater than 250 individuals is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, a concert, festival, fair, conference, sporting event, movie showing or theater performance
- Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques and other places of congregate worship are specifically excluded from the limitations established by the orders. These institutions are strongly encouraged to enforce social distancing and other mitigation measures such as masking at their gatherings
- Visitation to prisons and hospitals may resume subject to the discretion of the facility. Visitors who interact with residents and patients must be diligent regarding hygiene. Given the critical importance of limiting COVID-19 exposure in nursing homes, nursing home visitation restrictions will initially remain in place.
The Wolf administration worked with the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association to develop guidance on dining in both the yellow and green phases. For more information on yellow and green phase dining and professional sports, see the news release here.
Case Number Update
The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 29, that there are 693 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 70,735. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
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Image Source: Gov. Wolf Press Office
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PA Legislative Recap Week of May 25
The 2020-21 state interim budget has been finalized for five months of the 12-month fiscal year. Gov. Wolf is expected to sign HB 2387 (General Fund bill) and budget-enabling legislation. The interim General Fund spend number totals $26 billion.
Most line items are funded to cover five out of 12 months. Other line items are fully funded, such as general debt service obligations, the state and school district public employee pension system, educational institutions, food supply programs within the Department of Agriculture, veterans’ services, and health and safety line items.
Budget-enabling legislation includes the Fiscal Code (HB 1083), Administrative Code (SB 1027), and School Code (HB 1210).
Additional budget-enabling legislation includes non-preferred budget bills to fund state-related higher education (HB 2441-HB 2445), capital projects (SB 166), HB 2510, CARES Act funding (SB 1108 and SB 1122), and other supplemental bills (HB 2467 to HB 2475).
SB 1108 provides for $2.6 billion in CARES funding out of a $3.9 billion allocation: $600 million to nursing homes, $225 million for statewide small business support, and appropriations to help farmers, higher education, Research and Development for a COVID-19 vaccine, homelessness assistance, housing security and $260 million for the intellectual disability waiver program.
SB 1122 directs $50 million in CARES funding to fire companies and an EMS grant program: $44 million directed to fire companies and the remaining $6 million to EMS.
HB 2510 provides for regional health care collaborations, $2.6 billion in CARES funding for food access, county block grants, cultural museum and preservation grants, pre-K and head start, community-based health centers, long-term living - various categories, Community Health Choices, long-term care managed care, the LIFE program, a community intellectual disabilities waiver, child care services, domestic violence, homeless assistance, legal services, critical access hospitals, health care assistance, student loan interest assistance, mortgage and rental assistance, and PASSHE funding.
The rest of the 2020-21 budget is expected to be finalized in the fall of 2020 after evaluating the Commonwealth’s finances in the third quarter. Legislators believe the $26 billion spend will be sufficient in the short term.
The Senate adopted House Concurrent Regulatory Review Resolution No 1, disapproving the state Department of Labor and Industry's proposal to significantly expand overtime eligibility standards. Lawmakers argued that the overtime rule is unnecessary and creates additional state standards for overtime. The House commented in April that COVID-19 is already putting a strain on business and now would be the worst time for the regulation to be finalized. The Senate provided similar comments and named numerous stakeholders opposed to the proposed regulation. Gov. Wolf will have the option to veto, and, if possible, both chambers could override the veto by two-thirds vote within a specified time frame.
Health care legislation included COVID-19 exemptions for certain health care practitioners, health care practitioner protections, the creation of a State Epidemiology Advisory Council, incorporating risks of opioid use into Workers’ Compensation Safety Committee requirements, insurance coverage and an organ donation trust fund.
Week of June 8
The Legislature is expected to return to session the week of June 8 to consider more COVID-related legislation. The Senate stands at the call of the president pro temp. For more information on the session schedule, see the Legislature's website.
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