by orionontv | Apr 3, 2020 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2020
Contact: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112
LANSING, MICH. As of Thursday, April 2, Michigan has recorded more than 10,000 cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) with 417 deaths. To help control the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon issued an Emergency Order on April 2 setting a civil penalty of up to $1,000 and a process for referral to licensing agencies for violations of Executive Orders 2020-11, 2020-20 and 2020-21. Criminal penalties for violation will remain an option for prosecutors.
“A person can have coronavirus without knowing it,” Gordon said. “They can spread the disease to others who can spread it to others. The only way to stop the spread is social distancing. A civil penalty and potential licensing actions send a strong message to Michiganders that social distancing is essential to saving lives.”
The Emergency Order requires that every person must comply with the procedures and restrictions outlined in these Executive Orders and the instructions provided in their accompanying FAQs.
- Executive Order 2020-11 temporarily prohibits large assemblages and events and temporarily closes schools.
- Executive Order 2020-20 places temporary restrictions on the use of places of public accommodation.
- Executive Order 2020-21 temporarily restricts gatherings and travel and prohibits in-person work that is not necessary to sustain or protect life.
“There is not a vaccine or a recognized treatment for COVID-19 and our healthcare system is being severely taxed by this pandemic,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “We need people to heed the Stay Home, Stay Safe order as well as other orders issued by the Governor to protect the health and safety of all Michiganders.”
In addition to civil penalties, entities regulated by a licensing agency will be referred to relevant licensing agencies for additional enforcement action as determined by that agency. Places of religious worship, when used for religious worship, are exempt from the Emergency Rules.
Law enforcement agencies across the state are authorized to investigate potential violations of Executive Orders 2020-11, 2020-20 and 2020-21 and coordinating as necessary with their local health departments to enforce this Emergency Order within their jurisdiction. Law enforcement is specifically authorized to bar access to businesses and operations that fail to comply with the procedures and restrictions outlined in the Executive Orders. County prosecutors are authorized to enforce this Emergency Order to control the epidemic and protect the public health in coordination with the appropriate local law enforcement authority and, as necessary, the local health department.
The Emergency Rule is being issued under MCL 333.2253(1).
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
by orionontv | Apr 2, 2020 | News
Contact: See contact information below.
April 2, 2020
Individuals owed a state of Michigan income tax refund should not wait to file their state income tax return, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.
Although both federal and state income tax returns are now due before midnight on July 15, 2020, the state Treasury Department reminds taxpayers that tax returns are still being processed and refunds are being issued. Last year, the average refund was $557.
“Please don’t wait to file your state income tax return if you are owed a refund,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “We have staff ready to process your return. Our goal is to get refunds into the pockets of taxpayers during this emergency.”
Choosing electronic filing and direct deposit is convenient, safe and secure. Last year, more than 4.3 million Michigan taxpayers e-filed, which is 80% of state income tax filers. More information about e-filing is available at www.michigan.gov/mifastfile.
Individuals who e-file typically receive their refunds around two weeks after receiving confirmation the tax return was accepted by the state of Michigan.
Taxpayers are encouraged to check with their tax preparers to see if they can provide remote tax preparation services.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order, the state Treasury Department’s Individual Income Tax Information Hotline is currently not available. Online services – including checking the status of a refund and asking questions — are still available through the Treasury Self-Service website.
The Michigan Department of Treasury has no information regarding the federal stimulus payments. For information about stimulus tax payers, taxpayers should contact the Internal Revenue Service through their web site at www.irs.gov or by phone at 1-800-829-1040.
To learn more about Michigan’s income tax, go to www.michigan.gov/incometax or follow the state Treasury Department on Twitter at @MITreasury.
by Becky Andrus | Apr 2, 2020 | Uncategorized
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2020 Contact:
[email protected]
Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Suspending Face-to-Face Learning at K-12 Schools for Remainder of School Year
Executive Order sets guidelines for remote learning, ensures teachers, school employees will be paid for remainder of school year
LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-35, which orders all K-12 school buildings to close for the remainder of the school year — unless restrictions are lifted — and ensures continuing of learning by setting guidelines for remote learning. District facilities may be used by public school employees and contractors for the purposes of facilitating learning at a distance while also practicing social distancing.
“My number one priority right now is protecting Michigan families from the spread of COVID-19. For the sake of our students, their families, and the more than 100,000 teachers and staff in our state, I have made the difficult decision to close our school facilities for the remainder of the school year,” Governor Whitmer said. “As a parent, I understand the challenge closing schools creates for parents and guardians across the state, which is why we are setting guidelines for schools to continue remote learning and ensuring parents have resources to continue their children’s education from the safety of their homes. There is no video chat or homework packet that can replace the value of a highly trained, experienced teacher working with students in a classroom, but we must continue to provide equitable educational opportunities for students during this public health crisis.”
The Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators and the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers are currently developing a Continuity of Learning Plan template application for schools to utilize in order to create their localized plan. The application will be made available by April 3. District plans will need to detail how districts will provide opportunities for students to learn remotely and how schools will manage and monitor their progress. It will also provide information on how parents and guardians can learn more about the local plan. Each district must have its plan approved by their regional intermediate school district before being implemented. Public school academies must have their plans approved by their authorizer. Districts can also partner with one another to create joint plans.
Every district’s plan will be different and will reflect what’s best and feasible for their community. A plan can include learning by any number of modes of instruction delivery, including a hybrid approach. However they are designed, districts must ensure their plans are appropriate, equitable and accessible for students and families.
If the plan relies on some online instruction, the district should ensure every student who needs it has access to an appropriate device with an ability to connect to the internet. Students and families will not be penalized if they are unable to participate in their alternate learning plan.
Schools should continue to provide mental health care services for students, to the extent possible, and should be ready and willing to help efforts to establish disaster relief childcare centers. School districts will also continue to provide meals for families who need them during the COVID-19 crisis. If any schools have unused personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies or other materials, they are allowed and encouraged to donate them to organizations that could put them to use.
School districts will have the flexibility to adopt a balanced calendar for the 2019-2020 school year and/or to begin the 2020-2021 school year before Labor Day without having to seek additional approval. Teachers and school employees will be paid for the remainder of the school year. Student teachers will still be able to get a temporary certification and current teachers will still be able to get their certifications renewed, even if they can’t meet all the requirements due to COVID-19.
All Michigan high school seniors will be given the opportunity to graduate this year so that they may make a successful postsecondary transition. Additionally, all standardized tests previously scheduled for the remainder of the school year, including the M-STEP and the SAT, will be canceled. There will be a date in October for rising high school seniors to take the SAT and for other high school students to take the PSAT.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
To view executive order 2020-35, click the link below:
by Becky Andrus | Apr 2, 2020 | Uncategorized
Media Contact:
Ryan Jarvi
(o) 517-335-7666 (c) 517-599-2746
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, April 2, 2020
AG Nessel Joins Call for Feds to Prioritize COVID-Related Rulemaking and Freeze Non-Urgent Rules
States, Businesses and Individuals Focused on Public Health Emergency Have Little Time to Respond to Non-urgent Federal Rules, Which May Have Unintended Effects Due to COVID-19
In a letter sent Tuesday to the acting director of the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the attorneys general note that such measures will allow the federal government, as well as state and local authorities, to focus resources on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and avoid requiring action that would redirect resources away from the crisis during a time when communicating with residents, businesses, and state and local governments may be limited.
“This action is essential to managing this public health crisis and the unfathomable impact it has had at every level across this nation,” said Nessel. “COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc over our communities, and the primary focus of all federal, state and local agencies must be to do everything possible to halt its destruction.”
Beyond calling on the federal government to dedicate itself to rules related to COVID-19, the attorneys general call for a general freeze – similar to what was adopted on the president’s first day in office – on all new and pending rules other than those that address emergency situations or other urgent circumstances relating to health, safety, financial or national security matters, or that are required by statutory or judicial deadlines.
The coalition also asks the administration to consider reopening particular already-closed rule comment periods “at an appropriate time and for an appropriate duration.” The reopened comment periods would allow federal agencies to receive new input from state and local governments, businesses and others impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, including input on the pandemic’s economic effect.
The letter goes on to observe that federal agencies already have taken some steps to prioritize resources to focus on COVID-19, and that some federal agencies have already extended rulemaking comment periods in response to the pandemic.
“My colleagues and I recognize that very important rulemaking could be delayed based on what we request in our letter, but we also recognize the enormity of the COVID-19 crisis and to stop its destruction, we must remain laser-focused on our response,” Nessel added.
Among the rule proposals that could be postponed if the federal government were to prioritize rulemaking related to COVID-19 are proposals that would eliminate or roll back protections against predatory lending, housing discrimination, sexual harassment and violence in education, and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in federally funded programs. Other proposals that could be delayed—including cutbacks in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or food stamps—would affect far more Americans today than when they were originally proposed because of the recent economic downturn.
The letter concludes by noting that the requested freeze is important to ensure the federal government does not take rulemaking steps that would call for action by state or local governments, businesses, other organizations and the public at a time when their “ability to meet and communicate with each other has been limited” by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nessel joins the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia in submitting this letter.
by Becky Andrus | Apr 2, 2020 | Uncategorized
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Attorney General Nessel wanted to make sure subscribers saw this release, which was also to be issued through the State Emergency Operations Joint Information Center (JIC).
Media Contact:
Ryan Jarvi
(o) 517-335-7666 (c) 517-599-2746
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
AG’s Office Warns Menards About Business Practices During COVID-19 Outbreak
LANSING – The Michigan Department of Attorney General on Tuesday sent a letter to Menards following reports that the company’s stores have been engaging in business practices which might endanger the health of customers and employees during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including marketing and sales practices designed to increase customer presence in Menards stores.
The letter demands that Menards cease any and all activities that run contrary to the spirit and intent of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order. The Stay Home, Stay Safe order requires businesses to temporarily limit or suspend on-site operations to only those necessary to sustain or protect life. In turn, the number of workers on-site should be reduced to only those needed to perform those specific operations. Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a video on the subject.
“The current climate should not be viewed through the lens of business opportunism where dollars drive decisions over the good of the public’s health,” said Nessel. “We have asked that Menards cease any and all practices that run contrary to the spirit and intent of the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe Order, including marketing sales to draw large numbers of the general public into their stores for non-emergency purposes.”
Though Menards is currently allowed to remain open to the public to supply goods that fall under certain provisions of the executive order, its business operations are restricted by other limitations in the order. Menards, and other similar home improvement stores, are only allowed to supply goods to the general public that are “necessary to maintain and improve the safety, sanitation and essential operations of a residence,” and should have as few employees as needed to support those sales.
This is the second time Menards has been called out by Attorney General Nessel’s team for potential violations of Governor Whitmer’s Executive Orders. Nessel’s Consumer Protection team sent a cease and desist letter to Menards on March 17 warning them against price-gouging practices. The company responded with a public apology related to its sale of face masks, but the issues raised in the cease-and-desist letter remain a topic of ongoing discussions with Menards.
Willful violations of the Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order can result in a $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail for each offense. Violations should be reported to law enforcement agencies overseeing the jurisdiction in which the alleged offense occurred.
The Attorney General’s office recently added a new section to its website, Know Your Employment Rights, to provide Michigan residents with more information on the legal rights of employees and employers under the executive order.
A summary of the activities people can and cannot do under the Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order can be found online here.
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