UPDATE: This post and Fotility’s procedures related to COVID-19 will be updated as needed based on guidance from trusted sources and/or the appropriate authorities, and was last reviewed as of May 08, 2024.
We are in dangerous and precarious times. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having a definitive, long term impact on the world as we know it, above and beyond our physical health and wellness. Global financial markets, social norms and everyday life has been disrupted on every continent and in every state in the USA. Crises (yes, that’s plural for crisis) such as what the world is experiencing with the coronavirus can and will be overcome, the question is how long will it take and what will their lasting effect be? Time will tell, but it’s abundantly clear that we must all do what we can to help flatten the curve and lessen the spread of COVID-19 within our society.
With that in mind, Fotility is a small, local company that provides valuable services to a variety of industries such as weddings, real estate, tourism, restaurants and other small businesses. For now, we are committed to continuing to provide our services to support these industries, while still doing our part to help flatten the curve. To help protect our team and clients, the following procedures have been implemented immediately, effective indefinitely until further notice:
- If you have had a fever, shortness of breath, a cough or chills within 24 hours of your scheduled session with us, we ask that you contact us and reschedule your session immediately.
- We are waiving all fees for events that are cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. This includes future weddings, parties, corporate events, etc. that are currently booked with Fotility.
- UPDATE: We are limiting the total number of people attending a shoot (regardless of whether or not they will be included in the shoot), excluding our photographer and/or videographer to one to four (1-4) people from the same household. Buddy shots are not being offered during this time to ensure we do not encourage the spread of COVID-19. ALL discounted group rates have been adjusted to accommodate for our maximum participant limit.
- Our photographers and videographers have been equipped with a supply of masks and hand sanitzers, and are required to use them during all assignments. UPDATE: Protective gloves are no longer required to be worn by our team.
- Our teams have been instructed to practice social distancing, both in their personal lives and during Fotility assignments. We ask that our clients please be mindful and understanding when our team members do not do the things that we normally do, such as offer a friendly handshake when we meet you, move items around during shoots, open doors, turn on light switches, or even offer you a business card when our session is complete. We also ask that you be considerate when our teams maintan an appropriate distance between our clients, wear masks during their interaction with you, and use hand sanitizer frequently during your session.
- Unless absolutely necessary, we are respectfully asking that our real estate clients NOT be present during shoots, and if necessary, prepare their shoot locations in advance. This means turning on all lights, closing all windows, opening all doors, moving all unnecessary items that you don’t want in photos, etc. PRIOR to our team arriving. Unfortunately, during this crisis, our team members have been instructed NOT to touch ANYTHING, so real estate shoot locations are currently being shot as is.
- We have implemented COVID saftey precautions for ALL in-studio shoots, which includes the following: a) ALL persons entering our studios will be required to have their temperature taken; b) ALL persons in our studio will be required to wear a mask when they ARE NOT being photographed; c) ALL Fotility staff will wear masks at all times; d) our studio will be wiped down and dissinfected in between every shoot; and e) in studio appointments will be staggered to allow for proper studio cleaning in between shoots.
The coronavirus situation is dire and fluid, and we are monitoring local and national news related to COVID-19 daily. This may result in further changes in our practices, should our governing authorities deem them necessary.
Working together, we can and will get through this novel coronavirus crisis quickly, and life (along with our amazing customer service) can return to normal! Until them, please bear with us during these trying times. And rest assured, we stand ready to cease all operations if instructed to do so by our governing authorities. Until then, we’ll continue to offer our amazing photography and videography services as carefully as possible. Thank you, and be safe!
For more information on the Coronavirus COVID-19 in California, please click here. To view the most current COVID-19 Tracking Statistics in California, please click here.
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UPDATED 03/20/20: At 6p on March 19th, California’s Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-33-20, ordering all individuals ‘to stay home or at their place of residence except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of the federal critical infrastructure sectors‘. Although Fotility is a small business and this order will have an enormous negative financial impact on our bottom line, we are hereby complying with the Govenor’s order to do our part to help ‘flatten the curve’. Effective immediately and until such time as Executive Order N-33-20 is lifted, ALL bookings for non-essential businesses and individuals on the Fotility calendar are immediatley suspended and postponed. We shall continue to provide our services to essential businesses during this crisis, while adhering to our safety procedures outlined above. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our valued clients, but we strongly feel it is our duty to comply in the interest of public safety. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone. Be safe, and we’ll see you all soon!
UPDATED 03/22/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order that expands the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The order gives the state the ability to increase the health care capacity in clinics, mobile health care units and adult day health care facilities. It also allows local governments more flexibility to utilize the skills of retired employees and reinforces the importance of the delivery of food, medicine and emergency supplies.
“The State of California is fighting hard to get the resources that Californians need to meet the COVID-19 surge. These emergency legal tools will increase California’s health care capacity and help facilities treat more patients,” said Governor Newsom.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 03/25/20: To reduce the risks of COVID-19 in correctional settings, Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order directing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Secretary to temporarily halt the intake and/or transfer of inmates and youth into the state’s 35 prisons and four youth correctional facilities. Those inmates and youth will remain in county custody for the next 30 days. This period can be extended if needed. This action builds on the state and local correctional and public safety leaders’ longstanding partnership, to protect public health and safety in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. The emergency authority is granted to the Governor under the Emergency Services Act and to the CDCR Secretary under Cal Penal Code section 2900(b).
“The State of California is responding in real time and fighting hard to deploy every resource to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and we are working with our public health experts, corrections system and our local sheriff’s departments to ensure proper protocols and procedures are in place to effectively limit risks in correctional facilities,” said Governor Newsom.
Additionally, the executive order directs the Board of Parole Hearings to develop a process to conduct all scheduled parole suitability hearings through videoconferencing starting no later than April 13, 2020, and for the next 60 days. That process would facilitate remote participation of those typically in attendance, including staff, parole board members, victims, families and their representatives, inmates, attorneys, and others.
The order was issued to protect the health, safety and welfare of state inmates, youth, and staff following the recent confirmed COVID-19 cases in four separate state prisons affecting five correctional officers and one inmate.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 03/28/20: Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to enhance the authority of California’s Judicial Branch to take emergency action in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.
Specifically, the executive order empowers the Judicial Council and the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court to take necessary action to be able to conduct business and continue to operate while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order does not affect any existing court order or rule.
The order allows the Judicial Branch to allow for remote depositions in every case (the law had previously required that parties be deposed in person) and electronic service of process. Additionally, the order leaves the Judicial Branch discretion to make any modifications to legal practice and procedure it deems necessary in order to continue conducting business.
“Our courts need to continue to do their business for the sake of the law and public safety, and to the extent they are able to, and it is my responsibility to do everything I can to give the Judicial Council and the Chief Justice the flexibility they need to take actions to meet this moment,” said Governor Newsom.
The California Constitution establishes the Judicial Council as the supreme administrative and rulemaking body for California’s courts.
The Judicial Council, through the Chief Justice, has recently taken actions amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including suspending jury trials for the next 60 days and issuing other emergency court orders.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 03/31/20: Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that will provide tax, regulatory and licensing extensions for businesses.
The executive order allows the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) to offer a 90-day extension for tax returns and tax payments for all businesses filing a return for less than $1 million in taxes. That means small businesses will have until the end of July to file their first-quarter returns.
Additionally, the order extends the statute of limitations to file a claim for refund by 60 days to accommodate tax and fee payers.
The executive order also includes extensions that impact state government workers, as well as consumers. For instance, the Department of Motor Vehicles will limit in-person transactions for the next 60 days, allowing instead for mail-in renewals. Additionally, the Department of Consumer Affairs will waive continuing education requirements for several professions, also for the next 60 days.
Further, the order will extend the Office of Administrative Law’s deadlines to review regular department proposed regulations. The order also extends by 60 days the time period to complete investigation of public safety officers based on allegations of misconduct. Finally, deadlines for trainings, investigations, and adverse actions for state workers will also be extended.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/02/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order that allows for the immediate use of funds to support the state’s continuing efforts to protect public health and respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
The executive order facilitates expenditures from the state’s Disaster Response-Emergency Operations Account, a subaccount of the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties in the General Fund – the state’s traditional budget reserve – as well as from any other legally available fund to help with the COVID-19 response.
At the Governor’s direction, on March 25, 2020, the Department of Finance transferred $1.3 billion from the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties, the state’s traditional budget reserve, into the DREOA subaccount in preparation to pay for costs associated with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this transfer and the $99 million available balance, a total of $1.4 billion is now available in DREOA.
In addition, the Legislature enacted SB 89 prior to adjourning last month. This legislation signed by the Governor created an additional mechanism to provide up to $1 billion General Fund for expenditures related to the COVID-19 emergency.
Most of the state’s expenditures associated with the COVID-19 response are expected to be largely reimbursed by the federal government.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/02/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order that will restrict water shutoffs to homes and small businesses while the state responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The order protects consumers who may not be able to pay for their water service from shutoffs. Already, over 100 public and private water systems across California have voluntarily suspended water shutoffs for non-payment as a result of COVID-19. Under the order, the State Water Resources Control Board will issue best practices and guidelines on support for the state’s water systems during this time.
“This executive order will help people who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring they have water service,” said Governor Newsom. “Water is critical to our very lives, and in this time, it is critically important that it is available for everyone.”
Additionally, the executive order will restore water for occupied residences that may have had their water shut off as of March 4, 2020, which is when the Governor proclaimed a state of emergency due to COVID-19.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/04/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order expanding consumer protection against price gouging as California continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The order generally prohibits sellers of any kind from increasing prices on food, consumer goods, medical or emergency supplies, and certain other items by more than 10 percent. The order also gives additional tools to the California Department of Justice and Attorney General’s Office, among others, to take action against price gougers.
“This crisis has impacted every Californian and our normal way of life, and we are ensuring that all consumers are able to purchase what they need, at a fair price,” said Governor Newsom.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/04/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order to expand protections to medical providers as they amplify the use of video chats and similar applications to provide routine and non-emergency medical appointments in an effort to minimize patient exposure to COVID-19.
The order relaxes certain state privacy and security laws for medical providers, so they can provide telehealth services without the risk of being penalized. This action is similar to the federal HHS Office for Civil Rights waiver issued on March 17, 2020 regarding federal privacy and security laws.
“This order provides flexibility to our medical and health providers so that they are able to provide continuity of health services to people across the state, and will allow providers to assess a greater number of patients while limiting the risk of exposure and infection of other persons from in-person consultations,” said Governor Newsom.
Governor Newsom continues to encourage people to practice safe physical distancing and to comply with stay-at-home orders to bend the COVID-19 curve.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/05/20: Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that will facilitate child care for children of essential critical infrastructure workers by allowing the California Department of Education and California Department of Social Services the flexibility to waive certain programmatic and administrative requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The waivers will focus on current eligibility and enrollment priorities that prevent child care and afterschool programs from serving children of essential infrastructure workers. The waiver will allow eligibility for child care to prioritize essential workers, including health care professionals, emergency response personnel, law enforcement, and grocery workers.
Additionally, the order states that the Department of Education and the Department of Social Services shall jointly develop and issue guidance on how the essential worker prioritization will roll out, as well as guidance on how child care programs and providers can safely provide care. This guidance will be issued no later than April 7, 2020.
Priority for abused and neglected children will not be impacted.
The order also allows the state to take advantage of new federal flexibility to provide pandemic Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to children. Specifically, the California Department of Social Services and the California Department of Education will share data and information to identify students who may be eligible for the pandemic SNAP benefit, to reduce food insecurity and ensure children receive nutritious meals at low or no cost.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/07/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order to help the state procure necessary medical supplies to fight COVID-19.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/08/20: Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that provides additional support for older adults and vulnerable young children.
The order will allow for a 60-day waiver for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program caseworkers to continue their work and be able to care for older adults, as well as individuals with disabilities.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/10/20: In light of stay-at-home and physical distancing orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order to address upcoming local elections.
Three local special elections that have been scheduled for May and June will be held as all-mail ballot elections. Local election officials can also make in-person voting available, to ensure every voter has an opportunity to vote, but only in a manner consistent with public health and safety, including appropriate physical distancing.
The upcoming elections impacted are a May 19, 2020 special recall election in the City of Santa Ana; a June 2, 2020 special municipal election scheduled in the City of Commerce; and a special recall election in the El Rancho Unified School District, also scheduled for June 2, 2020.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/15/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order that addresses the release and reentry process at the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, so that eligible youth serving time at DJJ can be discharged safely and expeditiously.
The executive order calls for all discharge and reentry hearings to be held via videoconference to minimize the youth’s and other participants’ exposure to COVID-19. Additionally, notification given to county probation departments, the court in the county of commitment, and the youth’s legal counsel will be shortened from 60 days to 30 days before holding a discharge consideration hearing. The discharge hearing is conducted by the Board of Juvenile Hearings.
The order also allows for reentry consideration hearings—which are held in the court of commitment after approval of discharge consideration hearings—to take place at the DJJ facility where the youth are housed, instead of transferring youth to a county jail to await these hearings.
This new timeframe does not impact victim notification, as they already receive a 30-day notice. Victims and victim representatives will be able to participate in the videoconference hearings.
On March 24, Governor Newsom signed an executive order temporarily halting the intake of youth offenders into DJJ in response to COVID-19 efforts.
A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/17/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order addressing a variety of issues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including adjusting admissions requirements for the California State University system and providing flexibility for 60 days on background checks for critical infrastructure sectors.
Specifically, the CSU system will be able to waive hearing requirements to be able to make adjustments to admissions criteria for students applying this coming fall to enter as freshmen in the fall of 2021.
Additionally, the order will allow the California Department of Justice to develop procedures to perform name-based background checks to protect health and safety and avoid delays in processing employment for critical sectors, such as health care services and care and support for vulnerable populations.
The executive order also will allow federal stimulus checks to flow directly to custodial parents owed back child support payments and will additionally allow for commercially licensed food trucks to be able to temporarily operate in roadside rest areas for a period of 60 days, to ensure essential infrastructure workers have access to food. Caltrans will be charged with developing and implementing a process to administer the temporary permits.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/18/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order that allows for temporary waivers to certain foster youth programs to ensure continuity of care in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The executive order will allow county child welfare agencies and probation departments to perform necessary functions using alternative processes other than face-to-face interactions. This includes allowance for a 60-day waiver to allow for flexibility in the emergency placement of foster youth and ensures that foster youth have access to critical programs and technology by verifying foster care status for foster youth and wards of the juvenile court whose cases are pending.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here and a copy can be found here.
UPDATED 04/23/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order that empowers schools to focus on responding to COVID-19 and to provide transparency to their communities.
The order extends the deadlines for local educational agencies to submit Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP), which are multi-year planning documents tied to budget projections. By law, LCAPs must be developed in collaboration with parents, students, teachers, and community groups. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, school leaders are appropriately focused on managing the immediate needs of their students and families.
Local educational agencies will publish a written report to their communities explaining how they are responding to COVID-19. They will be required to explain steps they have taken to deliver high-quality distance learning opportunities, provide school meals in non-congregate settings, and arrange for supervision of students during ordinary school hours. They will also be required to explain the steps they have taken to meet the needs low-income students, English learners, and foster youth. The report will help provide transparency and accountability to communities.
The executive order also waives required physical education minutes and annual physical fitness testing that requires on-site instruction. Academic assessments were previously waived under a separate order.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/23/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order addressing a variety of issues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the issues addressed in the executive order include granting a 60-day extension for customers on several Department of Motor Vehicles deadlines, including for recently expired drivers’ licenses and identification cards, to reflect public compliance with the COVID-19 stay at home order. It also suspends late fees from being applied to expired vehicle registrations.
Additionally, the order will allow certain posting, filing and notice requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to be satisfied through electronic means to allow public access and involvement consistent with COVID-19 public health concerns.
Finally, the executive order will temporarily allow retailers, particularly grocery stores, to provide bags to consumers without charge, and to pause redemption of beverage containers in-store to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The executive order also temporarily suspends the requirement for recycling centers to hold a minimum number of hours of operation and directs the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to develop and issue operating guidelines.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 04/30/20: Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order today that will allow adults to obtain marriage licenses via videoconferencing rather than in person amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the executive order, adults will be able to obtain a marriage license, at the discretion of their local county clerk, through videoconferencing, as long as both adults are located within the State of California, are present, and can present identification during the video conference. The license can then be issued via email.
Additionally, adults who wish to be married can conduct a ceremony to solemnize the marriage via videoconference, as long as both parties are present, and have at least one witness who can join the live video conference.
The provisions will be in place for the next 60 days for those who wish to be married during that time.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here and a copy can be found here.
UPDATED 05/08/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order that extends some critical deadlines that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The executive order extends deadlines for certification requirements for public school project inspectors who previously passed an initial evaluation, as well as Certified Access Specialists who ensure compliance with disability access in properties and businesses. The order also gives the State Fire Marshal 60 days to publish lists of building materials requirements and registration renewals for flame-retardant fabrics and applications.
Additionally, the order extends for 60 days the expiration dates for notaries public whose commissions are set to expire. The order also makes it clear that notaries public can use an expired Department of Motor Vehicle driver’s license or identification card to confirm identification, consistent with prior action that extended expiration dates for driver’s licenses and identification cards.
Also, the order enhances public safety by allowing retired peace officers to temporarily be reemployed for up to a year if they left the agency in good standing. It also authorizes remote reporting under the Sex Offender Registration Act consistent with state public health guidance. This will help facilitate reporting that otherwise may not be occurring or not occurring in a manner that protects law enforcement personnel and registrants.
Finally, the order extends by 60 days certain procedural deadlines of the Department of Industrial Relations, including the deadline for workers to file wage claims with the Labor Commissioner; the deadline for employers to appeal Cal/OSHA citations; and the deadline for Workers’ Compensation Administrative Law Judges to issue decisions.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 05/19/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order addressing a variety of issues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The order helps ease the strain on domestic violence service providers by waiving the 10 percent cash or in-kind matching requirements for state grants awarded to these organizations.
The order also waives the deadline to verify grade point average and waives certain certification requirements and selective service registration verification for Cal Grant applicants.
The order suspends programmatic deadlines for entities that receive funding from the Energy Commission for the development and deployment of new technologies that support the state’s clean energy and decarbonization goals.
In addition, the order extends the timeframe for local governments to submit claims for reimbursement to the State Controller’s Office.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 05/29/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order extending authorization for local governments to halt evictions for renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, through July 28.
The order also addresses a variety of issues in response to the pandemic, by extending the waiver permitting the Department of Motor Vehicles to allow for mail-in renewals of driver’s licenses and identification cards, and waiving certain programmatic and administrative requirements that restrict child care and afterschool programs from serving children of essential infrastructure workers.
In addition, the order allows individuals enrolled in teacher preparation programs during the 2019-20 school year to obtain their preliminary credential without a teaching performance assessment, if the individual was unable to complete that requirement due to a COVID-19 school closure. Under the order, individuals otherwise eligible to obtain certain teaching or education specialist credentials or enroll in teacher preparation programs are permitted to do so without passing certain assessments, for which testing was suspended due to the statewide stay-at-home order.
The order includes provisions requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to waive certain regulations governing administration of Emergency Services Grant funding received under the CARES Act, develop alternative streamlined procedures, and implement reasonable accommodations for HCD-funded projects that have been negatively affected by the pandemic, to help ensure project feasibility. The order also suspends statutory set-asides for economic development and housing for Community Development Block Grant program funding received under the CARES Act.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATE 06/03/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring a statewide General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, and signed an executive order to ensure that Californians can exercise their right to vote in a safe, secure and accessible manner during the upcoming election.
“We are committed to protecting the hard-fought right for Californians to make their voices heard this November, even in the face of a pandemic,” said Governor Newsom. “As the demonstrations across the country remind us, civic participation is critical to our democracy. If we are to address the racial inequities that exist in our institutions, policies and representation, we must ensure that all eligible Californians have an opportunity to safely cast their ballot.”
Recognizing the threat COVID-19 continues to pose to public health, the Governor last month signed an executive order requiring county elections officials to send vote-by-mail ballots to Californians registered to vote in the General Election, while ensuring that those who may need to access in-person voting opportunities are able to.
To curb the spread of COVID-19, today’s order ensures in-person voting opportunities are available in sufficient numbers to maintain physical distancing. It requires counties that are unable to comply with current law to provide three days of early voting starting the Saturday before election day and requires ballot drop-box locations be available between October 6 and November 3, while also allowing counties to consolidate voting locations, with at least one voting location per 10,000 registered voters.
The Administration will continue to work with the Legislature, the Secretary of State and county elections officials on how other aspects of the November election, such as voter education and outreach, will be implemented while preserving public health and giving county elections officials needed flexibility.
The text of the Governor’s executive order signed today can be found here and a copy can be found here. The text of the Governor’s proclamation can be found here.
UPDATED 06/05/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order that will help increase the availability of over-the-counter drugs, such as hand sanitizer, and medical devices, such as respirators, ventilators and masks, which are in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The order allows the temporary manufacture of over-the-counter drugs and medical devices by firms not currently licensed by the California Department of Public Health. The firms must apply for temporary registration and self-certify they are compliant with guidance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The order defers renewal fees to address COVID-19 related economic hardship for manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, food and cosmetics that currently have California Department of Public Health licenses, registrations, and certificates.
The order also addresses a variety of other issues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by extending a number of waivers to allow for flexibility in the emergency placement of foster youth and ensure that foster youth have access to critical programs and technology by verifying foster care status for foster youth and wards of the juvenile court whose cases are pending; permit In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program caseworkers to continue their work caring for older adults and individuals with disabilities; and allow the California Department of Justice to develop procedures to perform name-based background checks to ensure there is no delay processing employment for critical sectors, such as health care services and care and support for vulnerable populations, including developmentally disabled persons.
In addition, the order extends statutory deadlines related to the timeframe of when a petition for reconsideration is deemed to have been denied by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and for the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board to act on decisions by Workers’ Compensation judges.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 06/15/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order addressing a variety of issues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The order extends waivers temporarily broadening the capability of counties to enroll persons into the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, allowing for self-attestation of pregnancy and conditions of eligibility, and waiving in-person identification requirements.
The order also extends permission for commercially-licensed food trucks to operate in roadside rest areas, in compliance with a temporary permit issued by Caltrans, to ensure essential infrastructure workers have access to food; suspends face-to-face visits for eligibility for extended foster care; and extends deadlines related to the payment of real estate license application and renewal fees and continuing education requirements for licensees.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATE 06/22/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The order extends a waiver that allows retailers to temporarily pause in-store redemption of beverage containers to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The order also temporarily suspends the requirement for recycling centers to hold a minimum number of hours of operation.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 06/30/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order extending authorization for local governments to halt evictions for renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, through September 30.
The order also addresses a variety of issues in response to the pandemic, by extending provisions in earlier orders which allow adults to obtain marriage licenses via videoconferencing rather than in-person during the pandemic; waive eligibility re-determinations for Californians who participate in Medi-Cal, to ensure they maintain their health coverage; suspend face-to-face visits for eligibility for foster care; and permit In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program caseworkers to continue caring for older adults and individuals with disabilities through video-conferencing assessments.
The order also extends waivers temporarily broadening the capability of counties to enroll persons into the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, allowing for self-attestation of pregnancy and conditions of eligibility, and waiving in-person identification requirements.
In addition, the order extends provisions allowing for mail-in renewals of driver’s licenses and identification cards, to limit in-person transactions at the Department of Motor Vehicles, and extends timeframes related to the payment of real estate license application and renewal fees and continuing education requirements for licensees.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 07/31/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order addressing statutory requirements impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today’s order extends the deadline for county assessment appeals boards to issue a decision on pending tax assessment appeals filed on or before March 4.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 08/24/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order to help increase the availability of CLIA-waived COVID-19 testing and address a variety of issues in response to the pandemic.
The order allows the California Department of Consumer Affairs, in consultation with the California Department of Public Health, to issue waivers permitting pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to conduct CLIA-waived COVID-19 tests, which detect the presence of the virus.
The order also enables certain adoption paperwork to be completed remotely, and for birth parents known or suspected to be COVID-19 positive, waives the requirement that relinquishment for adoption and other acts related to the process occur in-person.
The order increases the income-eligibility threshold for the Community Service Block Grant program to support economic and community development efforts in response to the pandemic, and waives certain requirements under state law so that additional Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding made available under the CARES Act can be used to maximize direct assistance to Californians most in need.
In addition, the order waives a time limit to allow individuals to continue receiving California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) benefits; permits the Franchise Tax Board to share tax return information with the Department of Social Services, to inform individuals of CARES Act “Recovery Rebates” available to them; and increases the health care capacity of home health agencies and pediatric day health and respite care facilities.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 08/28/20: On the heels of his announcement that California has signed a groundbreaking contract with a major diagnostics company to increase the state’s capacity to test for COVID-19, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order to help the state build out its own laboratory capabilities.
Today’s order will expedite efforts by the Department of General Services and the Department of Public Health to establish and operate up to three sites for use as laboratories to increase the state’s COVID-19 testing capacity.
California is aiming to stand up a laboratory facility and begin processing tens of thousands of additional tests by November 1 and run at full capacity by no later than March 1, 2021. Under the deal announced earlier this week, the state will be able to process up to an additional 150,000 COVID-19 diagnostic tests a day, with a contractual turnaround time of 24-48 hours.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED: 09/03/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order extending consumer protections against price gouging through March 4, 2021 as California continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The protections generally prohibit sellers of any kind from increasing prices on food, consumer goods, medical or emergency supplies, and certain other items by more than 10 percent.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 09/23/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order to extend authorization for local governments to halt evictions for commercial renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through March 31, 2021, and address a variety of issues in response to the pandemic.
To protect local health officers and other public health officials on the front lines of the fight against the virus, the order permits these individuals to participate in the Secretary of State’s address-confidentiality program. The order also allows the Department of Managed Health Care to gather information to assess the impacts of the pandemic on health care providers and health care service plans.
Additionally, the order extends provisions allowing certain posting, filing and notice requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to be fulfilled electronically.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.
UPDATED 10/28/20: Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order addressing a variety of issues in response to the pandemic.
The order directs the California Department of Transportation to create a process for issuing temporary encroachment permits enabling commercial activities in the state highway right-of-way, allowing businesses located along state highways to expand their outdoor dining options onto sidewalks and parking areas, where safety permits.
In addition, the order allows people 70 years of age or older to renew their drivers’ licenses by mail, further limiting in-person transactions at the Department of Motor Vehicles and helping this COVID-19 vulnerable population isolate at home.
The order also extends provisions related to deadlines for the payment of real estate license application and renewal fees and continuing education requirements for licensees.
The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.