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DC: Emergency Legislation Recap

March 21, 2020
Grants and loans for eligible small businesses to cover employee wages, operating expenses and loan repayment. This will be administered by the Mayor’s office who will also determine funding availability and guidelines. Click here for more information.
 
  • Sales tax relief: Returns may be filed up to 90 days late without penalty, provided taxes are paid by the end of the tax year, September 30, 2020. 
  • Restaurants are granted the ability to provide wine, beer and spirits in closed containers with food deliveries and pickups. A minimum of one item of prepared food must be included in the order.
    • Before you start offering wine, beer and spirits to-go and for delivery, you MUST REGISTER with ABRA and receive written approval, no exceptions.  Please note: food is required in the to-go or delivery order. Registration is live on ABRA’s website. Click here to register. Read regulations and FAQs here.
    • Once a form has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email within minutes. No further action is required and the ABC-licensed restaurant or tavern can commence selling beer, wine, and spirits in closed containers for carry-out and/or delivery with prepared food immediately after receiving the confirmation email.
  • Prohibition of evictions for residents and businesses during the declared public health emergency. A landlord tenant complaint cannot even be served until after the emergency.
  • Utility disconnection protection provided for businesses and residents.
  • Employees who become unemployed as a result of the public health emergency are eligible for Unemployment Insurance, and the wait time is eliminated.
    • Partially employed workers who have been given reduced work hours due to the public health emergency are eligible for UI benefits. 
    • Furloughed without pay employees are eligible for UI. 
    • Click here to register for Unemployment Benefits in DC. Please pass this information along to your employees.
    • Click here for more information on the Unemployment Compensation Process. Please pass this information along to your employees.
    • UI is currently set at $444 maximum per week. At the discretion of the City Council, they may revisit increasing UI funding formula in the coming weeks.  We have been advocating for this increase for days and hope to see some movement to reflect an increase.
    • DOES is experiencing a high volume of applications, and is increasing employees working on UI, but some applicants have experienced wait times.
    • The job search requirement is waived. 
  • For employers, unemployment Benefits will not be charged to the experience rating account. 
  • Leave taken during a Declaration of Emergency is protected under the DC Family and Medical Leave Act which provides 12 weeks of unpaid, job protected leave. The one year, 1,000 hour work requirement is waived.