Child Care Services, Youth Day Camps, and
Organized Sports Can Resume Operations Soon
Rich Higgins, CPA
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Focused on You. Dedicated to Your Success.
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June 1, 2020
Governor Murphy signed
Executive Order 149
that will allow for the resumption of child care services on June 15, organized sports practices on June 22, and youth day camps, including municipal summer rec programs, on July 6. Childcare centers have been opened throughout the pandemic for essential workers only, but the order that the governor is signing will allow them to open their doors to all clients.
Horse racing will also resume, with the first competitive races taking place next weekend. Fans, however, will not be allowed inside the grandstands.
Guidance outlined in the Executive Order includes:
Child Care Services
- Effective 6:00 a.m. on June 15, 2020, childcare centers and other childcare facilities are permitted to resume operations for all clients, if they comply with the COVID-19 Child Care Standards and other applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders.
- Each child care center must submit an attestation to the Department of Children and Families no later than 24 hours prior to the anticipated opening date, or in the case of currently operating emergency child care centers, within fourteen days of the effective date of this Order, attesting that it will follow all applicable health and safety standards, as detailed in the COVID-19 Child Care Standards.
Youth Day Camps
- Youth summer camps shall be permitted to operate on or after Monday, July 6, 2020, if they comply with the COVID-19 Child Care and Youth Summer Camp Standards and other applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders.
- Youth summer camps that wish to operate on or after July 6, 2020, must submit an attestation to the Department of Health no later than 24 hours prior to the anticipated opening date, attesting that they will follow all applicable health and safety standards, as detailed in the COVID-19 Youth Summer Camp Standards.
- Residential and overnight camps are prohibited from operating.
Organized Sports
- Effective June 22, 2020, sporting activities, including organized sporting activities, are permitted in outdoor settings only, if they do not involve person-to-person contact or routinely entail individuals interacting within six feet of one another. Any sporting activities that involve person-to-person contact or individuals routinely interacting in close proximity (within six feet of one another) will remain prohibited in any setting.
- The Commissioner of the Department of Health shall impose health and safety standards regarding sporting activities before that date, and such activities must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders, including restrictions on gatherings in place at the time the sporting activities occur.
- High school sporting activities under the jurisdiction of the NJSIAA may resume in accordance with reopening protocols issued by NJSIAA, which shall consider DOH guidance in issuing these protocols. However, these high school sporting activities cannot resume any earlier than June 30, 2020.
Availability of Grants Announced
New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson also announced during the Governor’s coronavirus briefing on Friday, May 29, that $20 million in grants will be available to assist childcare centers and youth camps in meeting health and safety guidelines in response to COVID-19. Childcare centers can receive up to $5,000, while youth camps can receive up to $2,000.
The money can be used to purchase additional cleaning products, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves and thermometers, and other products and services to assist centers in complying with appropriate guidelines.
$100-million Rental Assistance Program
Also announced was the use of $100 million of federal CARES Act funding to create a temporary rental assistance program to assist low- to moderate-income families that have faced a substantial reduction of income because of COVID-19. Preference will be given to households that are making less than 80% of their area’s median income and will focus on those who are currently unemployed.
The COVID-19 Short Term Rental Assistance Program website will launch on June 15 with additional information.
Stay safe,
Rich Higgins, CPA
Managing Principal - New Jersey Office
McCarthy & Company
Disclaimer: This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Information contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used as tax advice, and cannot be used by the recipient to avoid penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. We strongly advise you to seek professional assistance with respect to your specific issue(s).
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