COVID-19
Federal Relief – President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law which includes $1,400 stimulus checks for Americans with incomes under $75,000 (or $150,000 for households) and $28.6 billion in relief grants for small restaurants. The package did not include a $15/hr minimum wage increase. The U.S. Senate’s changes from the original house bill include decreasing the unemployment benefits, as well as extending the deadline to Sept. 6. The bill also subsidizes 100 percent of COBRA insurance coverage for unemployed Americans, up from 85 percent that the U.S. House proposed. More details.
Restaurant Revitalization Fund – Prior to passage of the $1.9 trillion stimulus package, the U.S. Senate amended the bill, adding an additional $3.6 billion to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund for a total of $28.6 billion. The funding will be divided into government-funded grants with a maximum of $10 million per restaurant group or $5 million per individual restaurant location. Eligible businesses include foodservice and drinking establishments that are not part of an affiliated restaurant group (defined as more than 20 locations) and are not publicly-traded. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Earl Blumenauer joined leaders of the Independent Restaurant Coalition at a press event this week to pressure the Small Business Administration to expedite loans under the new law. More details.
Centers For Disease Control – The CDC released a study finding a strong correlation between allowing on-premise dining and the rise in coronavirus cases and deaths. The report was issued as more states and cities began to loosen restrictions nationwide. According to the study – which analyzed pandemic patterns between March and Dec. 2020 – allowing on-premises dining was linked to a 0.9, 1.2, and 1.1 percentage point increase in the growth rate of daily cases 41-100 days after implementation, and daily death rates rose 2.2 and 3.0 percentage points 61-100 days after implementation. The study also found a positive correlation between mask mandates and an improvement in COVID-19 case numbers and deaths, with rates for both going down just 20 days after mandate implementations: up to 1.8 percentage points down for case growth rates, and 1.9 percentage points for death rates 81-100 days after implementation. The industry criticized the methodology of the study. More details.
Wages
Federal – During U.S. Senate consideration of the $1.9 trillion stimulus package, eight Democrats voted against a stand-alone amendment to raise the federal minimum wage to $15/hr, a significant blow to a major agenda item of progressives.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Hawaii – The senate passed legislation calling for an increase in the minimum wage to $12/hr by July 1, 2022.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Paid Leave
California – A senate hearing to consider legislation to extend the existing COVID-19 supplemental paid leave law until Sept. 30 was temporarily postponed this week.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New Mexico – A senate committee advanced legislation mandating employers provide at least 64 hours of paid sick leave each year to full time, part time, temporary, and seasonal employees with one hour accrued for each 30 hours worked.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New York – Legislation requiring employers to provide employees a maximum of 4 hours of paid time off per vaccine dose passed the legislature.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Oregon – The state’s Department of Consumer & Business Services promulgated a new rule making permanent the existing temporary rule providing state-paid leave for employees.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Allegheny County, PA – By a 10-4 vote, the county council passed an ordinance mandating employers with 26 or more employees provide up to five sick days per year effective 90 days after the expected signature of the county executive.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
San Antonio, TX – An appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that the city’s paid sick leave ordinance passed in 2019 violates state law and is invalid.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Policy
EEOC – In a series of events that are both a significant break from tradition, President Biden fired Sharon Gustafson, the General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
PRO Act – The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act passed the U.S. House by a narrow majority with five Republicans crossing the aisle to vote with Democrats.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Alcohol
Arizona – House-approved legislation to allow for cocktails to-go as well as home delivery of beer, wine, and spirits was read for the second time in the senate.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Georgia – The senate passed legislation that would make to-go cocktails from restaurants legal in the state.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Kansas – A senate committee heard house-approved legislation permanently allowing Cereal Malt Beverages (3.2 percent or lower) to-go from restaurants and bars.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Kentucky – The house passed senate-approved legislation that would allow restaurants and bars to sell alcohol, including cocktails, in sealed containers for delivery and to-go orders as part of meal purchases.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New Mexico – The senate passed house-approved legislation allowing for home delivery of alcoholic beverages and creating a new category of restaurant liquor licenses that modifies beer and wine licenses to include spirits.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delivery
La Mesa, CA – The city council unanimously approved a resolution capping third-party delivery fees at 15 percent and any additional fees beyond 3 percent of a total online order purchase price.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Portsmouth, OH – Next week, the city council will consider an emergency ordinance capping third-party delivery fees at 15 percent.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Data Privacy
Federal – Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) introduced her much-anticipated Information Transparency & Personal Data Control Act this week. The retail community and broader business community supports the legislation that creates a national standard, preempting state privacy laws.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Misc.
Washington – Legislation allowing whistleblowers to bring actions on behalf of the state for violations of workplace protections has passed the house and is scheduled for its first hearing in the senate next week.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe