News & Events

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), providing for an estimated $2 trillion stimulus package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Amongst the benefits provided by the CARES Act is Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”), Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“PUC”) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (“PEUC”).  All three provisions provide additional federal funds to assist individuals who are unempl ...

On April 2, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued an interim final rule providing guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program under the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The interim final rule addresses topics such as the eligibility of 1099 independent contractors, calculation borrowing amounts, interest rates, and loan maturity among other topics. The interim final rule can be accessed here.  Based on the information contained ...

The Connecticut Office of Health Strategy (“OHS”) has issued guidance intended to relax Certificate of Need (“CON”) requirements and allow healthcare providers the flexibility to take actions necessary to manage COVID-19 and support the State’s response to the pandemic.  This guidance is summarized below, along with links to the various Executive Orders, Guidance Documents and required Waiver Request and Notification Forms.  On March 14, 2020, Governor Lamont Signed Executive Order No. 7B, wh ...

The continued spread of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the operations of healthcare businesses charged with ensuring the health and wellbeing of Connecticut residents.  As a result, Governor Lamont and the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health (“DPH”) have issued numerous Orders and guidance impacting various aspects of healthcare delivery and other public-health-related matters.  These Orders and guidance are summarized and linked below. On March 10, 2020, Governor Lamont ...

Guidance for Municipalities Updated 4/7/2020 to include OPM issued guidance on Paragraph 6 Update 4/13/20 to include Executive Order 7W modifications to Paragraph 6 1.0          OVERVIEW On April 1, 2020, Governor Lamont issued Executive Order 7S, effective immediately, requiring municipalities to, among other things, enact a temporary program for relief from collection of property taxes, utility charges, and assessments (“Taxes”), extend certain filing deadlines for some municipal taxpayers ...

 On April 1, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) went into effect.  Since then, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) has issued temporary regulations to effectuate the FFCRA, including regulations pertaining to the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (“EPSLA”) and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (“EFMLEA”).  The regulations formally implement major topics previously addressed in the DOL’s Q&As that were issued in March, available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/w ...

Updated April 8, 2020 On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “Act”).  The Act provides a number of tax benefits to individuals and businesses. Cash Rebates: Coronavirus recovery rebate checks of up to $1,200 for individual taxpayers ($2,400 for married couples filing jointly) will be issued, with an additional $500 payment for every child. The payments are reduced by $5 for each $100 a taxpayer’s adjustable gross income ...

During this uncertain time of the COVID-19 pandemic, not only is there an impact to the health of many around the world, but there has been major disruption to our daily lives and businesses. The tax-exempt bond market has seen an unprecedented reaction by investors. The current environment has also created potential federal tax issues in the tax-exempt bond market. The requested modifications to regulations governing the tax-exempt bond market are of interest to state government, municipalities ...

Paycheck Protection Program The CARES Act expands funding available to U.S. small businesses through the addition of the Paycheck Protection Program to the Small Business Administration Section 7(a) loan program.  What businesses are eligible?  The Paycheck Protection Program is a $349,000,000,000 lending program available to an expanded group of borrowers until June 30, 2020:  A small business, Tribal business concern, 501(c)(3), or a 501(c)(19) Veterans Organization with fewer than 500 e ...

The Coronavirus outbreak has caused many Americans to review their estate plans for the benefit of their families and intended beneficiaries. Individuals and families who do not have estate plans in place should consult with a tax and estate planning specialist to ensure that their current estate planning wishes are legally documented. Now is also a good time to review your insurance, annuity and retirement plan or IRA beneficiary designations.   In addition to setting the parameters for the di ...