After a week of requests to revisit confusing and unworkable elements of an Executive Order (E.O.) intended to protect workers who stay home when they or their close contacts are sick, the Governor rescinded and replaced the E.O. today, effective immediately. The new E.O. updates the definition of the “principal symptoms” of COVID-19. 

A $25 million grant program for personal protective equipment (PPE) will allow medical facilities and other providers to keep their staff and patients safe, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced. 

  

The grant will assist facilities facing increased costs for PPE as they provide critical services to Michiganders during the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant program is funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

 

The Michigan PPE Grant Program provides funds to eligible Michigan health and human services providers to cover costs for up to 90 days of PPE for frontline employees. Eligible facilities include long-term care facilities, dialysis centers, outpatient medical facilities, home health care providers, dental offices, pharmacies, EMS providers, funeral and mortuary services, long-term acute care hospitals, and residential congregate facilities. A full list of eligible provider types and qualifying purchases can be found in the program Frequently Asked Questions.  

 

Grant awards of up to $250,000 will be made based on the number of client-facing workers at each facility.  

 

“Michigan’s providers are on the front lines every day, delivering essential health care services and caring for our loved ones,” said MDHHS Director Robert Gordon. “This grant program helps ease the financial burden of buying PPE, ensuring all facilities can afford the supplies they need to keep themselves and their patients safe.” 

 

Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, Sept. 8. The application is available on the Michigan PPE Grant Program webpage.

Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-173 extending her previous order allowing business to be conducted remotely by permitting expanded use of e-notaries and e-signatures.  

   

Under Executive Order 2020-173, requirements for in-person notarizations are temporarily suspended and transactions that require a notary to be completed via two-way, real-time audiovisual technology are allowed. The order also permits the use of electronic signatures in all cases, except in rare circumstances when a physical signature is specifically required by statute. The order takes effect immediately and extends the validity of notary commissions through September 30, 2020.

On Friday, August 21, the United States Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) approved the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s application for funding that would provide an additional $300 per week payment to Michiganders receiving unemployment benefits.

 

The UIA estimates that under the program, about 910,000 Michiganders would receive at least $300 per week in supplemental benefits. The program allows for existing Unemployment Trust Fund payments delivered by Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency to count as 25% matching funds required for participation. Eligible claimants will be paid benefits retroactive to August 1. It is unclear at this time how long funding for the program will last. 

 

“This additional $300 a week will provide some much needed support to those who are still struggling to make ends meet during this time of extreme need,” said Steve Gray, Director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency. “Our goal now is to work as quickly as possible to implement this new program to get people the benefits they need.” 

 

At this time, claimants do not have to take any action to receive the additional benefit amount provided by the program. The additional benefits will be added automatically for all claimants who are eligible to receive at least $100 in weekly unemployment benefit payments. This includes claimants receiving any type of regular unemployment insurance benefits as well as those receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits.

Last week Governor Whitmer signed the bipartisan “Return to Learn” bills she and legislative leaders agreed upon. The bill package outlines new, more flexible instructional requirements for the 2020-2021 school year. It also provides significant financial stability to districts by primarily using last year’s pupil count to determine this year’s funding levels.  

 

“Over the past week, we have taken crucial steps to help Michigan schools and families navigate the new school year. Alongside this bipartisan agreement, I announced nearly $65 million in federal funding to help give students, parents, educators, and support staff the resources they need to provide the best and most safe education possible,” said Governor Whitmer. “These bills will help schools implement their comprehensive safety plans going into the 2020-21 school year. I am proud of this bipartisan package and will continue working with everyone who wants to ensure our schools are safe during COVID-19.”  

 

Under the legislation, schools are provided flexibility around number of school days, instructional hours, student count and attendance. Additionally, the legislation outlines the new COVID-19 learning plan which is intended to provide school districts with the maximum flexibility to adapt their programs to properly and safely respond to the pandemic. Districts must submit their plans, which should include educational goals and a description of how instruction will be delivered.  

 

Under each plan, schools are required to describe how instruction will be delivered, giving school districts the ability to provide instruction in-person at school or a different location, online, digitally, or any other remote means of learning. Districts are also required to describe how instruction for core academic areas provided under the learning plan will expose each student to standards comparable to in-person instruction and a description of how student progress will be graded or reported. 

 

Furthermore, districts must describe how they will ensure students with disabilities will be provided with equitable access to instruction accommodation as well as describe how students will be provided with equitable access to technology and internet if instruction is virtual.  

  

The legislation ensures that students are engaged in learning by requiring consistent two-way interactions between students and teachers. As districts develop their plans they are required to work with their local health departments and employees to develop district wide guidelines and key metrics from local data. COVID-19 learning plans must be submitted to its ISD or authorizing body by October 1, 2020.  

 

House Bills 5911, 5912, and 5913 were tie-barred and sponsored by Representative Gregory Markkanen, Representative Andrea Schroeder, and Representative Annette Glenn.

Last week Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that she will allocate nearly $65 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars to Michigan school districts, higher education institutions, and other education-related entities that have been most significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes schools in Michigan’s economically disadvantaged districts, and will help address the digital divide that has served as a barrier to remote learning for students and educators across the state. The funding comes from the Governor’s Education Emergency Relief Fund.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on Michigan’s students, educators, and support staff, especially those in low-income communities. GEER funds are meant for districts that are determined to be most significantly impacted by COVID-19. To ensure these districts are targeted, the framework distributes $60 million to school districts based on the number of students in high-need student groups. Districts will receive funding based on their numbers of economically disadvantaged students, special education students, and English language learners. To be eligible for funding, the school district’s concentration of economically disadvantaged pupils, compared to total district enrollment, must exceed 50%.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer today joined the Governors of Oregon, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, California and Minnesota in pledging to uphold the integrity of the November general election and to ensure every voter can vote safely, whether it’s by mail or in person at the polls. The governors’ pledge is in response to unprecedent attacks on voting rights and voting access, and the United States Postal Service by President Trump. 

 

“As we prepare for record voter turnout in the November election, we must do everything we can to ensure every American can vote safely,” said Governor Whitmer. “We have already had two historic, successful elections this year while battling the COVID-19 pandemic. We are prepared to utilize what we have learned to maximize safety, while protecting every Michigander’s right to vote and access to the ballot. I encourage everyone who can to make sure you’re registered to vote and to request your absentee ballot as soon as possible. And I want to thank Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for her round-the-clock work to ensure safe and secure elections.” 

 

The Governors agreed to:  

Jeramie Morris, of Saginaw, is the global fire protection manager for The Dow Chemical Company and the assistant chief of the Saginaw Township Fire Department. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Communication from Saginaw Valley State University. Mr. Morris is reappointed to represent the chemical manufacturing industry for a term commencing August 28, 2020 and expiring July 15, 2024.

 The State Fire Safety Board assists in the development of fire safety rules covering the construction, operation, and maintenance of schools, health care facilities, penal facilities, and state-owned and leased facilities. The Board assists in the operation and maintenance of public assembly and other buildings, oversight of delegation of fire inspection responsibilities, and serves as an administrative hearing body on decisions made by the Bureau of Fire Services. These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Michael A. Benkert, of Frankenmuth, is an innovative agronomy manager for Nutrien Ag Solutions. He holds a certificate in agricultural industries from Michigan State University. Mr. Benkert is appointed to represent a member of a statewide agricultural association nominated by the president of the association, and he will serve for a term commencing August 28, 2020 and expiring July 31, 2024. He succeeds Brian Matchett whose term expired July 31, 2020.

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force was created to develop statewide policy recommendations on the operation, use, and regulation of unmanned aircraft systems in this state. These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.