HOUSE DEMS CALL FOR QUICK VOTE ON COVID LEGISLATION – In a virtual press conference today, House Democrats called for a “rapid up or down vote” on whether to release $5 billion in federal stimulus money for COVID-19 relief. Specifically, House Democrats want the following items under Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Michigan COVID Recovery Plan fast-tracked: $90 million for vaccine distribution; $575 million to expand COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and lab capacity; $2.1 billion in food assistance; $661 million to help with rental assistance and winter utility bills; $2 billion for schools; and $270 million for small businesses and extending unemployment assistance from 20 to 26 weeks. House Minority Leader Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township) said, “Many of these dollars are use it or lose it. If we don’t bring them back to the state, we lose the opportunity to have them help us here in Michigan, we lose the opportunity for those dollars to come to work in Michigan and they instead go to work in perhaps a neighboring state, Ohio, Indiana, anywhere but here in Michigan.” Other House Democrats participating in today’s press conference was Representatives Joe Tate (D-Detroit), Christine Morse (D-Kalamazoo), Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) and Kelly Breen (D-Novi). Legislative Republicans have not issued an official response on this call from House Democrats. LEO LAUNCHES MI SAFER DINING PROGRAM – The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) launched the MI Safer Dining Program. Under this voluntary program, restaurants can utilize a licensed HVAC contractor or engineer to inspect their ventilation systems and receive recommended changes to improve circulation within their workplace to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread. Restaurants that participate will receive a certificate to indicate they are participating in the program and are offering a safe indoor dining option. The program, directed by LEO, is intended to help make restaurants operate more safely and help diners identify restaurants committed to safer operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program also encourages restaurants to have their HVAC system inspected to ensure effective ventilation. The program’s parameters are based on the best guidance available from the CDC, EPA and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. Additionally, Governor Gretchen Whitmer proposed funding to support the MI Safer Dining Program as part of a $10 million supplemental budget request for restaurant support through MIOSHA. LEO will also be holding an introductory webinar for restaurant owners and HVAC contractors on Wednesday, Feb. 3, from 2:30-3:00 p.m. The webinar will cover the basics of the program, sharing important requirements and ensuring ample time for a questions and answers period. To attend the webinar, please visit the MI Safer Dining Program webpage, where the link to join the webinar is on the homepage. To view a press release from LEO on the MI Safe Dining Program, please click here. SOS BENSON RELEASES LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR ELECTIONS – Today, Secretary of State (SOS) Jocelyn Benson announced her legislative agenda for elections, which is called “Advancing the Vote, Protecting Democracy.” Advancing the Vote, Protecting Democracy outlines a number of initiatives, all designed to ensure equitable access for voters, strengthen Michigan’s elections infrastructure and guarantee the security of elections. Specifically, SOS Benson is proposing the following: • Require absentee ballot applications be mailed to registered voters every federal election cycle; • Mandate ballots postmarked by Election Day and received shortly after are counted; • Establish early in-person voting; • Make Election Day a state holiday to facilitate voting and make it easier for citizens to serve as election workers; • Allow overseas service members and spouses to return their ballots electronically; • Require translated election materials where a significant non-English-speaking community lives; • Provide funds to ensure voting locations are ADA-compliant and establish curbside voting; • Allow processing of absentee ballots two weeks prior to Election Day; • Prohibit deceptive election practices that deter or mislead voters; • Prohibit open carry of firearms within 100 feet of a voting location; • Mandate training standards for election challengers and election workers; and, • Require a statewide risk-limiting audit of election results prior to state certification. “Michigan voters want elections to be accessible, strong and secure. We saw this in 2018 when voters enshrined expanded voting rights in our state constitution, and again in 2020 when record numbers of voters exercised their new rights,” said SOS Benson. “Our job now is clear: to defend and protect democracy by ensuring that no matter how one votes, who they vote for, where they live, or what they look like, their vote will be counted.” COVID-19 UPDATE – As of today, the number of confirmed cases in Michigan increased by 2,066, totaling 561,307. The number of deaths tragically increased by 8, totaling 14,609. Today’s number of confirmed cases includes data from both Sunday and today, which equals approximately 1,033 cases per day. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is no longer reporting case data on Sundays. Weekend data had proven to be more erratic and generally lower than other days of the week because of reduced testing and lab staffing. Starting today, the latest DHHS Emergency Order on Gathering Prohibition and Masks went into effect. Under this order, indoor dining is allowed to reopen with 25 percent capacity, curfew at 10 p.m. and a max of six patrons at one table. Other changes include allowing concessions at casinos, movie theaters and stadiums; personal services requiring mask removal; raises the capacity cutoff for stadiums with more than 10,000 seats to 500 from 250; and non-residential gatherings of up to 10 people from two households. The order remains in effect until February 21. DHHS EMERGENCY ORDERS & MIOSHA EMERGENCY RULE – Currently, there are five active DHHS Emergency Orders. Please find a list of the active Emergency Orders with the topic, date it was signed and a hyper link accessing the emergency order below. For clients still interested, or in need of referencing previous Executive Orders, please click here. • Reporting of Confirmed and Probable Cases of COVID-19 at Schools – Signed October 6, 2020, please click here to access the emergency order. • Temporary Restrictions on Entry into Congregate Care and Juvenile Justice Facilities – Signed October 6, 2020, please click here to access the emergency order. • Testing Requirements for Skilled Nursing Facilities, Homes for the Aged, and Adult Foster Care Facilities – Signed October 29, 2020, please click here to access the emergency order. • Requirements for Residential Care Facilities – Signed December 8, 2020, please click here to access the emergency order. • Testing of State of Michigan Nursing Home Inspection Staff – Signed on January 12, 2021, please click here to access the emergency order. • Gathering Prohibition and Mask Order – Signed January 16, 2020, please click here to access the emergency order. Additionally, MIOSHA issued an Emergency Rule on October 14 that clarifies the safety requirements employers must follow to protect their employees from COVID-19. To view the MIOSHA Emergency Rule, please click here. MHSA will continue to update all clients as soon as new Executive Orders, Emergency Orders, Executive Directives or any other communication from the Governor’s office and DHHS is released. However, if you would like to receive press releases from the Governor’s office directly, please click here and enter your email address. To receive press release from DHHS directly, please click here and enter your email address. Please do not hesitate to contact a member of the MHSA team if you have any questions. In light of the CDC’s guidelines and DHHS Emergency Orders, the MHSA team is reachable by email or cell phones. Please find all staff’s names, office extensions if calling the main line of (517) 484-8800, cell phone numbers and emails below: Patrick Harrington - [email protected] Jon Smalley - [email protected] Ext. 319 – cell (517) 881-9498 Ext. 318 – cell (517) 881-3595 Sandi Jones - [email protected] Adrian Cazal - [email protected] Ext. 226 – cell (517) 881-9946 Ext. 220 – cell (517) 285-8260 Bret Marr - [email protected] Evelyn Zois Sweeney - [email protected] Ext. 230 – cell (517) 927-8010 Ext. 240 – cell (248) 808-0166 Malcolm Kletke – [email protected] Rhonda Smith - [email protected] Ext. 233 – cell (517) 303-3693 Ext. 211 – cell (517) 881-2498 Jody Thornton - [email protected] Keeli Baker - [email protected] Ext. 214 – cell (517) 896-6176 Ext. 216 – cell (517) 896-0870 Kimberly Nguyen - [email protected] Nick Baugh – [email protected] Ext. 210 – cell (517) 402-4973 Ext. 219 - cell (517) 897-3358 .