The figures related to the COVID-19 pandemic have become grim in the United States.  As of March 30, 2020, at least 160,700 individuals have tested positive for the virus, with approximately 6,800 of those cases in California. As the number of positive COVID-19 cases continue to rise, we anticipate that many agencies will unfortunately be confronted with news that one of their own employees has contracted the disease, and will need to face the challenges that…

On March 30, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-40-20 which extends various statutory deadlines due to the State of Emergency in California relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Under the Executive Order, the deadline specified in Government Code section 3304(d) for opening and completing investigations of alleged misconduct by public safety officers is extended by 60 days.  This 60-day extension on the one-year statutory period to investigate police officer misconduct, and issue a notice of…

On March 27, President Trump signed into law HR 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which provides for $2 trillion in relief assistance to businesses, non-profits, state and local governments, public agencies and special districts, public elementary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education, and individuals. The Act includes numerous provisions of interest to public agencies and their employees, including the creation of the following: (1) the Coronavirus Relief Fund; (2)…

On March 25, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division released new content and guidance on its COVID-19 and the American Workplace website.  Among the new content, is the notice of employees’ rights under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) that, according to the FFCRA, employees must “post and keep posted, in conspicuous places on the premises of the employer where notices to employees are customarily posted.” Also among the new content on…

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) will take effect April 1, 2020, according to a new Q & A posted March 24, 2020 by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).  The DOL, the federal agency charged with implementing and enforcing the FFCRA, has been answering questions online and is working on regulations to implement the law.  This means that any leave taken prior to April 1, 2020 is not pursuant to the FFCRA.  The…

Last week, we published several special bulletins covering COVID-19.  Below are short summaries and links to the updates published since our last COVID-19 round up. We will continue providing these special bulletins and updates as needed.  Please visit https://www.lcwlegal.com/responding-to-COVID-19 for the most up-to-date bulletins. Governor Newsom Amends Brown Act Changes in Subsequent Executive Order On March 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-29-20.  In addition to provisions regarding Medi-Cal, CalFresh and CalWORKs,…

On March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-25-20.  The executive order, among other things, suspended certain restrictions applicable to retired annuitants.  On March 18, 2020, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (“CalPERS”) issued Circular Letter 200-015-20, which explains the restrictions that are suspended for the duration of the state of emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any hours worked by a retired annuitant to ensure adequate staffing during the state of emergency…