From Juneau to You! March 24, 2020 ‌ ‌ ‌ Session: Capitol Building Room 417 Juneau, AK 99801 (907) 465-4930 Interim: 1500 W Benson Blvd. Room 328 Anchorage AK 99503 (907) 269-0174 Facing Turbulence Head On COVID-19 Updates As you all know, the State of Alaska is constantly adapting to the changing scenarios we face with regards to COVID-19. To ensure that our people are able to maintain a stable quality of life, the Legislature has been active in addressing the issues which face Alaska’s workers and families. In my last newsletter, I focused on some of the best-practices for dealing with this issue and discussed the importance of social distancing. Today, I want to review some of the policies which have been put in place to address the social consequences of this pandemic and to keep Alaskans safe. So far, we have passed some important measures in the House to address people's current needs including: HB 308 & HB 234. The passage of these House Bills is a priority for all of us. We worked through the weekend to ensure that these measures were put into effect efficiently. The Senate Committee Substitute for HB 308 was transmitted to the House and will be voted upon shortly. HB 234 was passed the Senate and now awaits the Governor's signature. In addition, supplemental funding was approved by the Alaska Legislature and signed by the Governor. The money will pay for 10 temporary positions to help respond to the Coronavirus in Alaska. $4 million in state funding and receipt authority for $9 million in federal funding. $1.3 million for services that transport elders and Mental Health Trust Beneficiaries to healthcare institutions. House Bill 308: Unemployment Benefits for Covid-19 HB 308 ensures employees receive unemployment benefits whether they are furloughed, laid-off, lose work hours, or are forced to stay home to care for children or other loved ones as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. It’s estimated that 8% of workers in Alaska have essentially been laid-off as a result of mandatory closures. The existing unemployment insurance system was not designed to accommodate a global pandemic. HB 308 increases the weekly per-dependent benefit from $25 to $75 to relieve families who have lost childcare and income at the same time. The bill waives the standard one-week waiting requirement to begin receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits. The bill is designed to provide emergency relief for up to one year. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development is anticipating an increase in the number of people filing for unemployment benefits. Due to the anticipated increase in claims, the department is asking for people first to file a claim online. [link removed] Unemployment assistance is available for anyone who is “unemployed through no fault of their own.” House Bill 234: $612 million in total funding, with $33.5 million to address the COVID-19 outbreak and response. HB 234 details. $8.5 million in grants to municipalities for COVID-19-related commercial passenger vessel operations. $5.5 million for medical and protective equipment, including testing supplies. $3.5 million for transportation to housing for medical assistance. $2.5 million for housing individuals under quarantine. $1.5 million for the state epidemiology lab for IT systems related to testing. $1.5 million for personnel including lab, support, emergency operations, and 24-hour facility staff. $500,000 for public distribution of vital health recommendations and information. $142 million in state funds and $160 million in federal funds for Medicaid services, including $8.3 million to restore the Adult Preventive Dental Program. $110.5 million for wildland firefighting costs incurred last summer and fall. $8.6 million to restore Adult Public Assistance to ensure payments for low-income Alaskans. $7.1 million for the Alaska Marine Highway System to ensure a stable schedule for the spring and summer of this year. $6.7 million for the Department of Public Safety to address a shortfall within the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers due to a lower than expected vacancy rate. $6 million to help the Alaska Psychiatric Institute increase its capacity. $3 million to address the severe damage caused in Anchorage, Kenai, and Mat-Su by the November 2018 earthquake. This past Friday, additional health alerts were put in place. These alerts include an advised restriction for both out-of-state travel and in-state travel. These are not formal mandates at the moment, but will be helpful in slowing the spread of this virus. Health Alert 9.1 Out of State Travel All Alaskans are asked to cease non-essential out-of-state personal, business, and medical travel now. Alaskans currently out-of-state are encouraged to return home now if they had plans to return to Alaska within the next 30 days. Tourist and non-essential business travel to Alaska should be suspended. Visitors to Alaska should return to their home communities. Tour operators should immediately suspend reservations for any out-of-state visitors. Returning residents or workers are expected to self-quarantine for 14 days after returning to Alaska and monitor for illness. Visitors to Alaska are expected to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving in Alaska, monitor for illness, and follow appropriate social distancing protocols while in Alaska. Health Alert 9.2 In-State Travel Alaskans and others are advised to cease any non-essential in-state long distance personal, business, or medical travel, with specific heightened concern for travel to remote areas with limited medical resources. Any tour operator depending on clients moving long distances across Alaska should strongly consider suspending operations. Travelers who leave a community with known cases of COVID-19 should self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival to their destination community and monitor for symptoms of illness. Following that period, appropriate social distancing should be followed. The Governor also provided a COVID-19 Economic Stabilization Plan including the following: Establishment of the Alaska COVID-19 Emergency Business Loan Program. The loan program will be administered by local banks. The bridge loans will be guaranteed by the State of Alaska. Interest rates would match those given by the Small Business Administration. $75 million for COVID-19 emergency healthcare enhancements. The money will be used to purchase critical supplies, including test kits, ventilators, and protective gear. Funds will also be used to expand telehealth services and to hire additional medical personnel. The governor said he would issue an executive order preventing evictions for at least 60 days for the 13,000 Alaskans who receive rental assistance through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. The governor is directing the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to suspend all foreclosures and evictions immediately. Loan servicers are allowed to grant forbearance to homeowners under financial hardship due to the COVID-19 response. As of today, the Small Business Administration is allowing Alaskan small business owners to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to mitigate the substantial economic injury that has resulted from the Coronavirus. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere and 2.75% for non-profits. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments to keep payments affordable. Businesses interested in applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan will need to apply directly to SBA at SBA.gov/disaster. For additional information, contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 or [email protected] Recently, Dr. Joe McLaughlin has announced that there is community transmission occurring in Anchorage. Last night, 7 new cases emerged in the Anchorage area and the majority of them are not travel related. In acknowledgment of the need to slow the spread of this virus, Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz has put additional policies in place for Anchorage residents. Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz issued an emergency “hunker down” order that began at 10 p.m. Sunday night and will last through March 31. All municipal employees have been ordered to work from home if they can. The Municipality of Anchorage is suspending charges to use the People Mover system. People Mover bus capacity will be limited to nine riders at a time to accommodate appropriate social distancing guidelines. Riders are urged to only take essential trips. The Downtown Transit Center lobby and customer service windows are closed to comply with the order limiting gathering to no more than 50 people. Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz says utility shutoffs will be suspended for Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility and Municipal Light and Power. Anchorage residents are advised to continue paying utility bills. The Anchorage Assembly is encouraging residents to use email or the phone to provide public testimony. The Assembly will continue to allow in-person public testimony, but the number of people allowed in the Assembly Chambers will be limited. Written public testimony can be sent to [email protected]. Comments received by 2:00 p.m. on the day of a meeting will become part of the record of the meeting. Those who wish to provide testimony on the phone are asked to email contact info to [email protected]. The Municipal Clerk will then call when the assembly reaches the specified agenda item. (Public comments are limited to 3 minutes) Email comments can be sent to the full assembly by emailing [email protected]. Visit www.muni.org/covid-19 for updated information about the Municipality’s actions regarding COVID-19. I’m Senator Elvi, always..... “Representing Your Interests!” ‌ ‌ ‌ Jacob Tatum Chief of Staff Phone: 907-465-4930 [email protected] L. Keith Bauguess Legislative Aide Phone: 907-465-4930 [email protected] Megan Lukmak' Warren First Alaskans Fellow Phone: 907-465-4930 [email protected] Is the content of this email relevant to you? Yes Select No Select Alaska Senate Democrats | Capitol Building, 4th Avenue & Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected]