State Enforcement Order, Unemployment Extended
Friday, August 7, 2020
The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to engage with local, state, and federal officials to help our employers and employees address concerns about COVID-19. Please see the below resources and information for your business - updated as of 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7.
*** Governor Pritzker Proposes Rules to Enforce Public Health Guidelines and Issue Fines on Businesses; Battery Against Retail Employee Law Signed This morning, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced emergency rules from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) that impose a new penalty on businesses that do not comply with mask requirements or public health guidelines. The rules would be enforced by local and state authorities, including local police, health departments, and liquor commissions. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) will consider the rules at their next scheduled meeting on Tuesday, August 11. If passed by JCAR, the emergency rules would go into effect immediately and last for 180 days. There is a three step process under the proposed IDPH rules: Written warnings will be issued to businesses and encouraged to comply with public health guidelines. Businesses that do not comply will be ordered to have some or all of their patrons leave the premises to come into compliance. Businesses that do not comply could be cited with a Class A misdemeanor and subject to a daily fine of $75 to $2,500.
The IRA urges all individuals and businesses to comply with all local and state public health guidelines. We encourage all restaurants and bars to download and post the Illinois Restaurant Promise in English and Spanish at their establishments. Click here to read the announcement. Additionally, Governor Pritzker signed into law a bill that protects workers in retail by adding a penalty for assaulting or battering a retail worker who is conveying public health guidance, such as requiring patrons to wear face-coverings or promoting social distancing. Read more: Send Out a Reminder on Social - Covered Faced Keep Open Places! 
Please take one minute to share the IRA's "CoveredFaces Keep Open Places" graphic on your personal and business social media channels. Recording/Posting Instructions Post the above graphic - in English or Spanish - to Instagram and/or Facebook, and tag the Illinois Restaurant Association (@illinoisrestaurants) in your post. Utilize the below suggested copy and feel free to adjust to suit your tone/style! Tag 2-3 of your colleagues in the restaurant/hospitality industry in your post. Include the hashtag #CoveredFacesKeepOpenPlaces in your post
Sample Post Language "Illinois is at a critical moment. We cannot allow our favorite local businesses to slide backwards, as we’ve seen happen in other states. Let’s all stay safe and keep our businesses open! I urge fellow operators and restaurant-goers to strictly follow local and state public safety guidelines. Wear your mask, keep social distancing, follow occupancy rules and ensure compliance. The Illinois Restaurant Promise can be found at illinoisrestaurants.org. Follow the guidelines, and let’s keep our restaurants and bars moving forward. We are in this together! #CoveredFacesKeepOpenPlaces @illinoisrestaurants @Tag2 @Tag3 @Tag3" Illinois Unemployment Benefits Extended for 20 Weeks Yesterday, The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced 20 weeks of state extended benefits (EB) are now available to those who exhaust the allotted 26 weeks of regular state unemployment and the additional 13 weeks of federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits. Illinois law provides for 20 weeks of EB during times of “high unemployment,” as defined in the law, instead of the 13 weeks of EB that was available in Illinois since May. Currently, there are 30 states providing 13 weeks of EB, and 19 states, including Illinois, providing 20 weeks of EB. South Dakota is the only state not currently providing any number of EB weeks. Those with questions or in need of assistance with unemployment benefits at this time are encouraged to visit IDES.Illinois.gov. Click here to read the announcement from IDES. Click here to read more from Chicago Tribune. Financial Assistance for Suburban Cook County Renters Announced Today, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development and the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) announced the launch of a $20 million rental assistance program to help suburban Cook County residents experiencing financial insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by the federal CARES Act, the program pays one to three months of overdue or future rent for income-eligible households. Payments will be made directly to landlords on behalf of tenants up to a total of $4,500. The funding will be available to renter households with incomes under 80 percent of the area median income (AMI) who have unpaid rent balances charged during the pandemic. 25% is targeted to what are called Disparately Impacted Areas. Residents can review their eligibility and apply for rental assistance at www.cookcountyil.gov/recovery. The application period opens on August 10 and will close on August 18. Click here to read the full announcement. Take One Minute To Make Your Voice Heard - Fix PPP Proposal for Restaurants Under current proposals in Washington, restaurant operators who had Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans forgiven may lose some key tax deductions, creating a surprise tax liability. Additionally, the majority of restaurants might not be eligible for a new round of PPP funding. These two critical issues are why you need to take action now. As Congress tries to move towards agreement on a final COVID relief package, plans have emerged for a new round of PPP funding that would require businesses to demonstrate a 50% loss of revenue. According to recently released data, 55% of restaurants that are losing money would not be eligible for this new funding! Congress must fix the legislation to ensure that more restaurants—the hardest hit businesses by the COVID-19 pandemic—are eligible. When Congress created PPP, its intent was for business expenses paid by PPP to be tax deductible. However, guidance from the IRS says that expenses paid for with a forgiven loan are now taxable. Restaurants across the country may soon face surprise tax liability when they can least afford it. Some restaurants have indicated that this surprise tax liability could be the final factor that causes them to close. Congress must make business expenses paid for by PPP tax deductible. Send a message to Illinois Congressional leaders to urge them to take action to help protect restaurants. Watch On Demand - Webinar on Maximizing Your Guest Space 
Thank you to everyone that attended and our panelists from City Open Workshop,Sam Schwartz Consulting,Latent Design, and Aria Group Architects, Inc. for joining yesterday's webinar on how to open and maximize the safe use of your indoor and outdoor space. This webinar was provided in partnership with the Cook County Community Recovery Initiative. Click here to watch the presentation. Click here to download the slide presentation. Last Chance for Chefs and Restaurants to Sign Up for Can't Stop the Hop Today is the final day for chef and restaurants to sign up to participate in Can't Stop the Hop during Chicago Gourmet in September. Chefs from across Chicago and around the state are invited to participate by offering a competition burger at your restaurant from Tuesday, September 1 to Sunday, September 13. Chicago Gourmet fans will be encouraged to hop around, try an array of burgers, and virtually vote for their favorites. The winning chef will be announced the week of September 14. Proceeds from Can’t Stop the Hop will benefit the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. The fund will be launched in conjunction with Chicago Gourmet come September. We're encouraging participating restaurants to donate $1 from each burger sold to support the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. Click here to complete your Can’t Stop the Hop application. Applications are due today, Friday, August 7. Please contact Ashley Brandon with any questions.
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