Signed by Governor Michael Dunleavy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report and pass a bill that appropriates emergency funds for COVID-19 coronavirus relief.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the public health disaster emergency issued on March 11, 2020, to be extended until November 15, 2020 (Sec 2). 

• Specifies that the chief medical officer in the Department of Health and Social Services will issue standing orders for public health agents and health care providers (Sec 4). 

• Specifies that the chief medical officer is not liable for civil damages under the following circumstances (Sec 4):

• If the standing order is issued to health care providers;

• If the standing order is required to mitigate the COVID-19 public health disaster; or 

• If the chief medical officer provides sufficient education or training.

• Authorizes professional or occupational licensing boards to expedite granting licenses, permits, or certificates and not increase licensing fees (Sec 6). 

• Authorizes a health care provider to provide treatment, diagnosis, prescribe or dispense medication through telehealth (Sec 7). 

• Authorizes the director of the division of elections to conduct all elections by mail (Sec 9). 

• Authorizes the application deadline for a permanent fund dividend to be extended until April 30, 2020 (Sec 10). 

• Authorizes any tax return, report, or payment deadline to automatically be extended until July 15, 2020 (Sec 11). 

• Authorizes meetings for corporations, nonprofits, and Native corporations to be held through the use of telecommunications (Sec 12). 

• Authorizes the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to provide grants for businesses to cover operating expenses during the COVID-19 disaster (Sec 14). 

• Requires organizations that receive a grant to produce the following information (Sec 14):

• An application procedure for a business to apply for financial assistance; 

• The amount of financial assistance needed based on size, assets, and financial history; and

• Any other information requested by the department.

• Prohibits a public utility service from disconnecting the service due to nonpayment (Sec 19). 

• Requires individuals seeking protection from the disconnection of utility services to complete the following (Sec 19): 

• Provide a signed statement to the utility stating that their financial hardship is related to COVID-19; and 

• Agree to a deferred payment agreement with the utility. 

• Prohibits nonpayment of rent as a cause for eviction until either June 30, 2020, or the public health disaster emergency no longer exists (Sec 21). 

• Requires individuals seeking protection from eviction is to provide a signed statement that their financial hardship is related to COVID-19 (Sec 21). 

• Specifies that this section does not prevent evictions for misconduct or other violations of the law (Sec 21). 

• Specifies that income received as part of relief funding from the COVID-19 outbreak will not count as income when determining eligibility for other public assistance programs (Sec 22). 

• Requires those seeking protection from defaulting on state loans to provide a signed statement to the utility stating that their financial hardship is related to COVID-19 (Sec 23). 

• Requires foreclosures to suspend for those experiencing financial hardship related to COVID-19 (Sec 24). 

• Prohibits sellers to increase the price charged for supplies by more than 10 percent unless the cost for the seller to purchase the supplies increases (Sec 26). 

• Prohibits creditors from repossessing any motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft if a person is unable to make the payments necessary due to financial hardship related to COVID-19 (Sec 27). 

• Requires those seeking protection from having their motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft to provide a signed statement clarifying that their financial hardship is related to COVID-19 (Sec 27).

• Authorizes this act to be effective immediately (Sec 40).

Full Bill Text