Public Policy COVID-19 Updates

The Philanthropy California team continues to track federal, state and local government responses and available resources to help you navigate critical information for your grantees and the communities we serve. This page is updated regularly. We hope that it will help you stay informed and take rapid actions to support our most vulnerable communities during this crisis.
 

 

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POLICY ANALYSIS

 

POLICY ACTIONS

 

POLICY TRACKING

 

 

Philanthropy California's Policy Brief on COVID-19 Testing

 

This brief on COVID-19 testing is designed to support philanthropic discussion and aid in the coordination of the sector’s response. Philanthropy California takes on the questions we all want answers to – what are the types of tests, who can get tested, who pays for testing, what are the policy issues related to testing, and more.

Publication Date: April 7, 2020

 

READ THE FULL ANALYSIS 

 

 

CARES Bill: Breaking Down $2 Trillion Public Health and Economic Relief Package

 

Congress is poised to finalize the adoption of a $2 trillion public health and economic relief package, known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, in response to the coronavirus pandemic on Friday. Many of the details – how and to whom the money will flow – will remain uncertain as federal agencies will have to establish a framework to administer many of these programs. Congress will also consider additional relief bills with expectations of at least two more phases in the future to provide support. SCG will continue to analyze and update you on how such government dollars will be distributed.

Many of the social safety net programs critical to supporting vulnerable communities received increases in funding. However, because of the expanded public charge rules implemented by the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year, many immigrants—even if eligible and unaffected—may not access these programs for fear that it would affect their immigration status in the United States. While these expanded rules apply to people seeking visas entering the United States or those who make an application for lawful permanent residency, confusion around these rules will mean that those most in need will not benefit from these critical resources. 

Publication Date: March 26, 2020

 

READ THE FULL ANALYSIS 

 

Q&A ON CARES RECOVERY BILL, COURTESY OF SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN

 

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Policy Action: Philanthropy California Statements to Legislators

 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act

Description of Position: Philanthropy California requested that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act (as proposed by Senate Majority Leader McConnell on March 19, 2020) include support for the nonprofit sector. Charitable organizations are a part of the frontline responders providing healthcare, food, shelter, and other critical services to those in need in our communities.

Publication Date: March 21, 2020

 

READ LETTER TO SENATOR FEINSTEIN 

 

READ LETTER TO SENATOR HARRIS

 

 

Main Street Lending Program Federal Letter

Description of Position: Southern California Grantmakers signed on to the Independent Sector’s letter to the Small Business Administration requesting sector-specific data detailing the distribution of SBA loans authorized under the CARES Act. The breakdown of between loan awards for profit and non-profit entities will assist in uncovering solutions to the challenges non-profits face in applying and accessing the financial support they need to continue serving on the front lines.

Publication Date: April 20, 2020

 

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H.R. 6408 – The Save the Organizations that Serve (SOS) Act

Description of Position: Philanthropy California supports this federal bill, which will play an important role in shaping federal resources for nonprofits in the next tranche of federal stimulus dollars. Specifically, the federal bill would dedicate $60 billion for nonprofits, prioritize nonprofits in unemployment insurance relief (for the nonprofits that deferred payments to the fund), and open up future funding to larger nonprofit organizations (more than 500 employed). 

Publication Date: May 5, 2020

 

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COVID-19 Public Policy Tracking

 

Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order to Ensure Californians Receive Mail-In Ballots Ahead of the November Election

Topic: Civic Engagement
Description of Bill: This Executive Order mandates that counties issue vote-by-mail ballots for the November 3, 2020 General Election to all registered voters. The order also calls for further guidance from the Secretary of State and Legislature to determine guidelines for outlining public health measures for individuals with specific in-person voting needs.
Status: Issued May 8, 2020

 

READ MORE

 


 

Governor Newsom Announces Disaster Relief Fund for Undocumented Californians

Topic: Social Safety Net, Immigration
Description of Bill: Governor Gavin Newsom announced the nation's first-ever statewide public-private partnership to establish a $125 million Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to undocumented immigrants who otherwise are ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits and disaster relief due to their citizenship status. Philanthropic partners are committing $50 million in addition to the state's $75 million.
Status: Announced April 15, 2020

 

READ PRESS RELEASE

 


COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Program

Topic: Economic and Workforce Development
Status: APPROVED
Motion by Supervisor Ridley-Thomas
Description: Direct the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to identify one-time funding to establish and launch the Los Angeles County COVID-19 Relief Fund (Relief Fund) and to utilize existing available federal funding to develop and implement a COVID-19 Business Assistance Program (COVID-19 BAP) to assist small businesses in the unincorporated areas of the County and in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)-participating cities. The Relief Fund should, among other things, include bridge funding for small businesses likely to receive federal disaster assistance; low-cost working capital loans to maintain small businesses who may not qualify for federal disaster assistance; working capital loans to nonprofit organizations and small businesses who are providing essential services. Lastly, authorize the CEO to work with external partners, including but not limited to financial institutions, foundations, and philanthropic organizations, to establish partnerships that will increase the effectiveness of the Relief Fund and grow the number of capital contributions into the fund.

 

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Implementing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act Across Los Angeles County

Topic: Economic Justice, Governance, Health, Homelessness and Housing, Public Safety and Diversion
Status: APPROVED
Motion by Supervisor Ridley-Thomas
Description: Designate the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) to serve as the agent of the County for the administration of the CARES Act Funds and authorize the transfer of these allocated and future funds to LACDA by the County. Accept the CARES Act CDBG funds in the amount of $13,668,315 and ESG funds in the amount of $6,605,000, allocated to the County and incorporate into the current and future fiscal year budgets.

 

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Emergency Rental Assistance for the COVID-19 Impacted Families

Topic: Economic Justice
Status: APPROVED
Motion by Supervisors Hahn and Solis
Description: Instruct the Acting Executive Director of LACDA along with the Chief Executive Officer, through the Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations Division, and the Director of Consumer and Business Affairs, to secure additional CARES Act funds to implement a Countywide Emergency Rental Assistance Program, seek additional funding to leverage additional CARES Act funds, including philanthropy and private funding, and report back to the Board in 30 days with an implementation plan.

 

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Ensuring Collection of Full Racial and Ethnic Data of COVID-19 Patients throughout Los Angeles County

Topic: Governance, Social Justice and Human Rights, Public Safety and Diversion
Status: APPROVED
Original motion by Supervisors Solis and Barger; Amended motion by Supervisor Ridley-Thomas  
Description: Instruct the Department of Public Health to work in collaboration with the Department of Health Services, to include the following in the report back to the Board in writing within 7 days: the hospitalization data from County-operated hospitals, including average length of stay by racial group and age group, when available, and provide updates on a weekly basis; relevant demographic data, including race and ethnicity, across all testing sites including a breakdown by age groups and socioeconomic status, and analysis on COVID-19 testing data to include information on whether those who have requested testing on the online COVID-19 testing portal received testing and tested positive or negative by race and ethnicity, when available, and socioeconomic status, including an analysis of fatalities by race and ethnicity.

 

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Supporting Incarcerated Youth Transition Back into the Community

Topic: Child Welfare, Public Safety, and Diversion
Status: APPROVED
Motion by Supervisor Solis
Description: Authorize the Director of Health Services to contract with Impact Justice to expand their AmeriCorps Program in support of youth transitioning back to Los Angeles County from the California Department of Juvenile Justice. Also instructs the Director of the Office of Diversion and Re-Entry’s Youth Diversion and Development Division to report back to the Board in writing within 180 days on how the expansion of the AmeriCorps Program is progressing and provide updates on progress and outcomes every 120 days thereafter.

 

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Piloting a Comprehensive Crisis Response to Ensure Post-COVID-19 Housing for Homeless Older Adults in Los Angeles County

Topic: Public Safety and Diversion, Homelessness and Housing  
Status: APPROVED
Motion by Supervisors Ridley-Thomas and Hahn
Description: Direct all appropriate Los Angeles County (County) departments to take appropriate action to implement, locally and statewide, the 16 recommended priority strategies within the “Comprehensive Crisis Response Strategy to Address Homelessness Statewide” report.

 

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Governor Newsom Signs Executive Order on Division of Juvenile Justice Discharge and Reentry Process

Topic: Juvenile Justice
Description of Bill: This statewide Executive Order by Governor Newsom provides guidance on the release and reentry processes for youth to be expeditiously and safely discharged. He calls for all discharge and reentry hearings to be held by videoconference, and also allows reentry consideration hearings to be held in the facility in which they are lodged — instead of the division’s typical process, where youth are taken to a county jail to await their hearing.
Status: Issued April 14, 2020

 

READ EXECUTIVE ORDER

 


Governor Newsom Announces $42 Million to Protect Foster Youth and Families Impacted by COVID-19

Topic: Child Welfare, Social Safety Net
Description of Bill: Governor Gavin Newsom announced $42 million new investments to protect younger Californians who are at heightened risk for abuse and mistreatment due to COVID-19. Through a combination of state and federal funds, $27 million will go to families in the Emergency Response and Family Maintenance programs, $6 million for additional social worker outreach, $3 million to family resource centers across the state, among other crucial allocations. The administration emphasizes the priority to keep families together and provide as much support to social workers as needed to protect children who may face an increased risk during these times.
Status: Announced April 13, 2020

 

READ PRESS RELEASE

 


HUD Releases First Allocation of ESG-CV Funding

Topic: Housing and Homelessness

Description of Bill: On Friday, April 3, 2020, HUD released $1 billion across the nation to city, territory, county, and state Emergency Service Grant (ESG-CV) recipients as authorized by the CARES Act. ESG-CV funds are supplemental allocations intended for prevention and rapid response to the coronavirus pandemic among those experiencing or are at risk of experiencing homelessness. Southern California is set to receive over $42 million in ESG-CV funds.

Status: Released April 3, 2020

 

VIEW CALIFORNIA GRANT ALLOCATIONS

 


Expediting Language Services for CARES Act Recovery Programs

Topic: Business

Description of Bill: On April 8, 74 members of Congress, led by Representative Nydia Velazquez and Judy Chu, submitted a letter to the Small Business Administration urging them to provide resources and services in 10 commonly spoken languages. They call specifically for the SBA to utilize the $25 million that was appropriated through the CARES Act to provide language services to those with limited English proficiency. Equitable access to services and resources for time-sensitive recovery programs, such as the Paycheck Protection Program, is critical to ensure that thousands of business owners with limited English proficiency will not be disadvantaged.

Status: Letter sent on April 8, 2020. 

 

READ LETTER

 


Families First Coronavirus Response Act (HR 6201)

Topic: Disaster Response

Description of Bill: The second COVID-19 stimulus package ensured free coronavirus testing, including free testing for Americans without health insurance, provides $1 billion for food assistance programs, and waives federal work requirements for such government programs. It also requires employers to provide paid sick leave for employees and established a federal emergency paid leave benefits program to provide payments to employees taking unpaid leave due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Status: Signed into Law on March 18, 2020

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


HUD: Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium (HUD NO 20-042)

Topic: Housing

Description of Bill: HUD announced a rule to implement an immediate foreclosure and eviction moratorium for single-family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages for the next 60 days.

Status: Issued March 18, 2020

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


USCIS: COVID-19 Exemption from Public Charge

Topic: Public Charge

Description of Bill: The federal government has clarified that all persons have symptoms that resemble coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (fever, cough, shortness of breath) seek necessary medical treatment or preventive services. Such treatment or preventive services will not negatively affect any alien as part of a future Public Charge analysis.

Status: Interim Guidance issued March 17, 2020

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (HR 6074)

Topic: Disaster Response

Description of Bill:  This bill provides $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, including USDA, CDC, NIH. In addition, the bill provides supplemental appropriations for
the Small Business Administration. The bill also includes a waiver removing restrictions on Medicare providers allowing them to offer telehealth services to beneficiaries regardless of whether the beneficiary is in a rural community.

Status: Signed into Law March 6, 2020

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (IRS Section 139)

Topic: Tax

Description of Bill: The President’s declaration of a national emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for the COVID-19 pandemic triggers the provisions of Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 139 which provides guidance to employers for providing “emergency relief payments” to staff without those payments being considered as taxable income to the employee and exempts such payments from being subject to unemployment insurance taxes to the employer.

Status: Existing Law

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order to Expand Health and Child Care

Topic: Healthcare, Child Welfare

Description of Bill: This statewide Executive Order by Governor Newsom allows for a 60-day waiver for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program caseworkers to continue their work and be able to care for older adults, as well as individuals with disabilities. This also includes directives to prioritize enrollment of children of essential workers in early learning and child care programs. This also includes prioritization of children with disabilities or special health care needs as well as children who are at high risk of neglect or abuse.

Status: Issued April 7, 2020.

 

READ EXECUTIVE ORDER

 


Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order to Establish a Statewide Moratorium on Evictions (EO N-37-20)

Topic: Housing

Description of Bill: This statewide Executive Order by Governor Newsom places a moratorium on evictions for renters who, due to COVID-19, cannot pay rent. This prohibits courts and law enforcement from enforcing evictions. The renters must notify their landlords and maintains that the full rental amount must be paid in a timely manner.

Status: Issued March 27, 2020

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


California Obtains Federal Medi-Cal 1135 Waivers (Request for Section 1135 Waiver)

Topic: Medi-Cal Waivers

Description of Bill: The DHCS requests the federal government eases certain federal rules governing doctors and other health care providers who treat people covered through Medi-Cal, expands eligible telehealth coverage, and waive costs of COVID-19 related testing and treatment.

Status: Letter sent March 16, 2020; Waiver approved March 23, 2020, by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


 

Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order to Suspend Standardized Testing for Students in Response to COVID-19 Outbreak (EO N-30-20)

Topic: Education

Description of Bill: Waive this year’s statewide testing for California’s more than 6 million students in K-12 school.

Status: Issued March 18, 2020; Authorized March 20, 2020, by US Department of Education

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


 

Governor Newsom Authorizes $150 Million in Funding to Protect Homeless Californians from COVID-19 (EO N-32-20)

Topic: Housing

Description of Bill: Grants flexibility to local governments to spend their emergency homelessness funding on immediate solutions tailored to combatting COVID-19 and its impacts on the homeless population; also waives regulatory conditions for expanding housing options for unhoused individuals.

Status: Issued March 18, 2020

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


 

Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order to Protect Ongoing Safety Net Services (EO N-29-20)

Topic: Social Safety Net

Description of Bill: This statewide Executive Order by Governor Newsom waives eligibility redeterminations for 90-days in light of COVID-19 ensuring that Californians who rely on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWorks, or other TANF programs will not lose access to these social safety net programs.

Status: Issued March 18, 2020

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


 

COVID-19 Emergency Funding (SB 89)

Topic: Increase the delivery of life-saving care and protect Californians during the COVID-19 health crisis

Description of Bill: The bill provides $500 million in funding, which can be increased in $50 million increments up to a total not to exceed $1 billion. The bill’s funding will enable: Leasing and activating two hospitals; Providing hotel beds for people experiencing homelessness, and helping local efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the homeless population; reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the homeless population; Funding In-Home Supportive Services/Adult Protective Services strike teams to support senior isolation.

Status: Signed into Law on March 16, 2020

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


 

COVID-19 Education Finance (SB 117)

Topic: School Funding

Description of Bill: This emergency funding bill includes provisions to Increase protective equipment, supplies, and cleaning for schools It also ensures districts will not lose expected revenue over Coronavirus-related closures.

Status: Signed into Law on March 16, 2020

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


 

Governor Newsom Signs Executive Order Ensuring State Funding for Schools Even in Event of Physical Closure (EO N-26-20)

Topic: School Meals

Description of Bill: This statewide Executive Order by Governor Newsom safely provides school meals through the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option, consistent with the requirements of the California Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Status: Issued March 13, 2020

 

READ LEGISLATION

 


 

Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order to Expedite Unemployment and Disability Benefits (EO N-25-20)

Topic: Business

Description of Bill: This statewide Executive Order by Governor Newsom waives the one-week waiting period for people who are unemployed and/or disabled as a result of COVID-19; Delays the deadline for state tax filing by 60 days for individuals and businesses unable to file on time based on compliance with public health requirements related to COVID-19 filings.

Status: Issued March 12, 2020

 

READ LEGISLATION

 

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