| Hello Friends,
On Wednesday, June 17, the Michigan Legislature overwhelmingly approved Senate Bill 690 to provide funding for Michigan residents and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This bipartisan agreement allocates $880 million in federal coronavirus relief for the priorities our communities care about most as we overcome the critical challenges caused by this unprecedented crisis.
Below, you’ll find more information on this funding, updates on important executive action taken by Gov. Whitmer, upcoming events and more. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-1783 or email at PadmaKuppa@house.mi.gov; we’re here and ready to help.
Sincerely,
Padma Kuppa
State Representative, 41st House District
Upcoming Events
I hope you’ll be able to join me in-person next Friday, June 26, for a socially-distanced community coffee hour in Clawson Park! Please remember to wear a mask or face covering, and come ready to follow the best practices outlined by public health professionals for the proper social distancing techniques. I look forward to seeing you then!
When: Friday, June 26, from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Where: Clawson Park
935 N. Custer Ave. in Clawson
Careers, College and Counseling Virtual Town Hall
On Monday, June 29, I’ll be hosting a virtual town hall on the important topics of careers, college and counseling. Special guest panelists joining me for this event are Douglas Schulze, cofounder of the Motion Picture Institute, and Bill Turner, Director of CTE and Principal of Troy College and Career High School. To register, click here.
When: Monday, June 29, from 6-7 p.m.
How: Register here.
Supplemental COVID-19 Funding: Senate Bill 690
A Strong and Healthy Michigan
- $200 million to support local public health and safety workers.
- $25 million for additional personal protective equipment (PPE).
- $5 million for hospital inpatient behavioral health grants.
- $1.4 million for additional nursing home inspectors to keep residents safe.
Safeguards to Help with Basic Needs
- $29 million for increased Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) staffing and technology support to process claims quicker and more efficiently.
- $125 million to help with the cost of Day Care.
- $4 million to support domestic violence shelters.
- $10 million for the food banks and the Double Up Food Bucks program.
- $60 million for rental assistance, eviction diversion and legal aid.
- $25 million for water utility assistance.
- $10 million in Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) response grants to keep workers safe.
- $5 million for multicultural social services organizations.
Protecting Those Who Protect and Serve Us
- $120 million to increase support for direct care workers.
- $100 million for additional hazard pay for first responders.
Investing in Education
- $25 million for devices to improve internet connectivity for low income and rural families.
- $18 million in school district grants to support the health and safety of both students and teachers.
Keeping Neighborhood Businesses Strong
- $100 million for Small Business Restart Grants for businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees, and dedicated support for minority, women and veteran owned businesses.
- $2.5 million in grants for hospitality businesses adversely affected by COVID-19.
- $15 million to support Michigan farms and farmers, as well as improving housing accommodations to keep workers safe.
Lifting the Safer at Home Order
In recent weeks, Gov. Whitmer lifted Michigan’s Safer at Home order as the state moves to the next phase of the MI Safe Start Plan. In the coming days, retail businesses, some offices, day camps, swimming pools, outdoor fitness classes, and restaurants and bars may begin reopening as long as they adopt proper safety measures, practices and training, including:
- Implementing workplace infection-control practices;
- Training employees to properly use personal protective equipment (PPE);
- Informing workers on the steps they must take to notify their employers of any symptoms of COVID-19 or a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19; and
- Teaching workers how to report unsafe workplace conditions.
Currently:
- Outdoor social gatherings of up to 100 people are allowed immediately, but residents are encouraged to continue taking precautions to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19.
- Office work may resume where remote work is not possible.
As of Thursday, June 4:
- Retail stores may reopen and serve customers without an appointment, but must continue following strict social distancing guidelines. Customers are still required to wear masks.
As of Monday, June 8:
- Restaurants and bars may reopen statewide with limited capacity while maintaining social distancing. Servers must wear masks and all other employees must follow rigorous disinfection protocols. Patrons are required to wear masks until they are seated at their table.
- Day camps and swimming pools can begin reopening with limited capacity.
Gov. Whitmer also announced that Regions 6 & 8 of Michigan, including the U.P. and northern lower Michigan, moved to Phase 5 of reopening under her MI Safe Start Plan on June 10.
Under Phase 5, as of Wednesday, June 10, salons, barber shops, movie theaters, and gyms may reopen as long as they adopt proper safety measures, practices and training, including:
- Implementing workplace infection-control practices;
- Training employees to properly use personal protective equipment (PPE);
- Informing workers on the steps they must take to notify their employers of any symptoms of COVID-19 or a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19; and
- Teaching workers how to report unsafe workplace conditions.
Under Phase 5, indoor social gatherings and organized events of up to 50 people will be allowed with social distancing and other precautions, as well as outdoor social gatherings of up to 250 people as long as attendees maintain 6 feet of distance from each other.
Outdoor performance and sports venues may reopen with up to 500 people with precautions, allowing some outdoor graduation ceremonies to take place.
As of Monday, June 15, personal care services like salons, barbershops, and massage and nail parlors can reopen with strict social distancing precautions throughout the rest of the state. At this time, the rest of the state will remain in Phase 4.
This executive order still allows for cities, villages, townships and other local entities to choose to take a more cautious course of re-engagement if they wish.
For more information on Gov. Whitmer’s MI Safe Start Plan, click here.
Lifting Restrictions on Overnight Summer Camps
Last week, Gov. Whitmer signed an executive order to lift restrictions on overnight residential, travel and troop camps as of Monday, June 15. The order requires camps to follow guidelines issued by the Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) in collaboration with public health experts and the camp industry.
Under the executive order, certain K-12 school sports activities and other in-person extracurricular school activities are allowed to resume, but only to the extent that they remain consistent with rules requiring social distancing and, across most of the state, the closure of indoor exercise facilities. |
