Require business interruption insurance to cover COVID-19 related business closures

March 19, 2020

Posted: March 19, 2020 02:46 PM
From: Senator Vincent J. Hughes
To: All Senate members
Subject: Temporary change for Business Interruption Insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic

In the near future I plan on introducing legislation to address the concerns around business interruption insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic set in, it has come to my attention that a provision included in many business insurance policies prohibit payments on claims if a loss is to do an outbreak during a public health emergency.

This provision has potential to harm businesses which are already facing uncertain times.

News Digest :: March 18, 2020

March 18, 2020

Coronavirus Pennsylvania to open virus testing sites; job losses spike https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2020/03/17/Pennsylvania-to-open-virus-testing-sites-job-losses-spike/stories/202003170175 Coronavirus cases accelerate in Pennsylvania, jump to 96 with...

Sen. Fontana Endorses American Working Family Relief Plan 

March 18, 2020

Pittsburgh, March 18, 2020 – State Sen. Wayne Fontana today endorsed policies and legislation that would help protect workers during and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.   The “American Working Family Relief Action Plan” addresses practices for...

Emergency expansion of FMLA

March 17, 2020

Posted: March 17, 2020 03:16 PM
From: Senator Lawrence M. Farnese, Jr.
To: All Senate members
Subject: Emergency expansion of FMLA

As protective measures are implemented statewide to protect our constituents from Covid-19 we must also act to protect them from economic fallout as a result of this crisis.

Hopefully, congress will soon pass relief legislation, but the proposed Families First Coronavirus Response Act leaves several holes which my legislation will fill, including the following provisions:

  • Emergency paid sick leave for all employees not covered by the federal bill.
  • Extending paid sick leave for an additional 4 days to cover the full two-week quarantine period as the federal bill only covers 10 days.

News Digest :: March 17, 2020

March 17, 2020

Coronavirus Pa. likely has first ‘community spread’ COVID-19 cases https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/03/16/Pennsylvania-likely-first-community-spread-COVID-19-coronavirus-cases-health-Allegheny-County/stories/202003160120 Officials: 2-year-old girl...

News Digest :: March 16, 2020

March 16, 2020

Coronavirus Wolf orders restaurants, bars to end dine-in service in Allegheny, 4 other counties https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2020/03/15/coronavirus-Pennsylvania-Allegheny-County-Governor-Tom-Wolf-orders-restaurants-bars-close/stories/202003150154 Wolf...

News Digest :: March 15, 2020

March 15, 2020

Coronavirus Wolf urges nonessential businesses to close in some counties https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2020/03/14/Wolf-urges-nonessential-businesses-to-close-in-some-counties/stories/202003140074 Coronavirus and closing businesses: Gov. Tom Wolf is urging...

News Digest :: March 14, 2020

March 14, 2020

Coronavirus Gov. Wolf closes all K-12 schools in Pa. for two weeks https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/03/13/Gov-Wolf-closes-all-K-12-schools-in-Pa-for-two-weeks/stories/202003130150 All Pennsylvania schools ordered to close as coronavirus impact spreads...