DC Council Approves Emergency Coronavirus Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC — The D.C. Council approved emergency legislation Tuesday that will provide relief for District residents and businesses impacted by the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Extends unemployment compensation to employees who can't work due to COVID-19.
• Extends employment protections under D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act to those employees who can't work.
• Extends the real property tax payment for hotels from March 31 to June 30.
• Allows other business to remit sales taxes from February and March but not actually make payment until Sept. 20.
• Establishes a small business grant program to include grants to nonprofits and independent contractors, if they can't qualify for Unemployment Insurance. It may be administered by a third party.
• Allows for residents to pick up beer and wine or have it delivered (in a sealed container) from a restaurant if ordered with food to be consumed at home.
• Extends public benefit programs such as Alliance, TANF, and SNAP.
• Places limits on price gouging and stockpiling.
• Prohibits the disconnecting of electric power, gas, and water for all customers.
• Prohibits the eviction for residential and non-residential tenants.
• Allows prescription drugs to be refilled before the end of the waiting period.
• Extends the TOPA and Tenant Organization rights deadlines.
• Adds flexibility to the D.C. Public Schools summer school calendar.
• Suspends the meetings of all other boards and commissions.
• Extends the Freedom of Information Act deadline, so that the clock will not toll while the heath emergency lasts.
• Provides flexibility to open meetings act compliance when meeting remotely.
• Allows for the Council to meet remotely.

Read the full text of the legislation online.

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