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COVID-19 Information & Updates

Renne Public Policy Group is leading the Renne Public Law Group’s efforts to provide information about COVID-19’s impact on California’s political and administrative landscape. We encourage all interested parties to use this page as a consolidated source of information for the latest updates out of Sacramento.

RPLG, RPPG, and RPLG.Solutions are here to help you navigate this rapidly evolving landscape. Most of the office numbers on our website ring through to cell phones. If you can’t get in touch with the individual you are trying to reach, please call our main office number at 415.848.7200.

Legal and Administrative News

Shared Wisdom

News Commentary

[March 30] Executive Order from Governor Newsom Expands Health Care Workforce and Prepares for COVID-19 Surge

  • With hospitalization numbers rapidly growing, Governor Newsom has launched California Health Corps to increase the number of health care workers in preparation for swell in demand related to COVID-19. Medical professionals with an active licenses, public health professionals, retirees, students, or members of medical disaster response teams in the state are all encouraged to visit the site and join the new California Health Corps to responds to anticipated needs. The executive order also addresses the physical expansion of health care locations and increasing hospital bed numbers.
  • Highlights of the Order include:
    • Waives staffing ratios and licensing requirements in hospitals and health care facilities for duration of declared emergency.
    • Waives professional licensing, certification and permitting requirements for range of health care professionals such as medical doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, behavioral health scientists, pharmacists, EMTs, medical and administrative assistants, certified nursing assistants
    • Authorizes the procurement of physical property, facilities and necessary equipment for hospitals and health care

[March 27] Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order Banning the Enforcement of Eviction Orders for Renters Affected by COVID-19 through May 31, 2020

  • In an effort to protect renters during the financial hardships due to business closures and loss of wages during COVID-19, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on March 27th declaring a statewide eviction moratorium for renters affected by coronavirus.
  • Highlights of the order include:
    • Prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for not paying rent and prohibits enforcement of evictions by law enforcement or courts for the next 60 days.
    • Requires tenants to declare in writing within seven days after rent is due, that the tenant cannot pay all or part of their rent due to COVID-19. Tenants must also maintain record of financial hardship to be provided to landlord.
    • Does not prevent a tenant able to pay rent from paying rent in a timely manner or relieve a tenant of liability of unpaid rent.

[March 24] Governor Signs New Executive Order Temporarily Halt Intakes or Transfers to State Prisons & Juvenile Detention Centers for 30 Days:

  • In an effort to reduce the risks of COVID-19 in correctional settings, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on March 24 directing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Secretary to temporarily halt the intake and/or transfer of inmates and youth into the state’s 35 prisons and four youth correctional facilities.
  • Those inmates and youth will remain in county custody for the next 30 days. This period can be extended if needed. This action builds on the state and local correctional and public safety leaders’ longstanding partnership, to protect public health and safety in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. The emergency authority is granted to the Governor under the Emergency Services Act and to the CDCR Secretary under Cal Penal Code section 2900(b).
  • Highlights of the order include:
    • Directs the CDCR Secretary to use his emergency authority under Penal Code Section 2900(b) to suspend intake of into state facilities for 30 days (or as long as needed) directing that all persons remain in the current facility that they are in.
    • This applies to the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) for 30 days—suspending any statutory requirement that requires DJJ to intake new juveniles.
    • Directs the Board of Parole Hearings to develop a process for conducting parole hearings by videoconference—placing a hard commencement deadline of April13, 2020.
    • Postpones all in-person parole hearings for 60 days.

[March 23] CalPERS loses $69 billion in biggest market losses since Great Recession

  • RPPG’s Director, Government Affairs Dane Hutchings in the Sacramento Bee: Local governments already are straining to make their scheduled payments, which are eating up a growing share of their budgets. A one-year downturn in the market related to COVID-19 is going to have significant effects for a decade, especially since governments are still reeling from the Great Recession.

[March 20] ICYMI: CalPERS Circular on Annuitants during COVID-19 State of Emergency

  • The circular discusses flexibility regarding the use of annuitants above the 960 rule during the current California State of Emergency.