By Attorney Katherine A.B. Beenken On Friday, August 28, the Internal Revenue Service Released Notice 2020-65, describing a new rule that allows employers -- including public employers -- to temporarily halt withholding and payment of the employee's portion of certain Social Security payroll taxes. This rule has been interpreted as...
By Attorneys Maria Brownell and Kristin Cooper On August 4, 2020, Governor Kim Reynolds announced the availability of $125 million in federal CARES Act funding for the purpose of reimbursing Iowa's city and county governments' COVID 19 response expenses. Governor Reynolds has allocated $60 million to reimburse city governments, $40...
By Attorneys Drew Bracken and Carrie Weber On June 18, 2020, Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 2338, the COVID-19 Response and Back-to-Business Limited Liability Act ("Act"), into law. This Act protects private business owners and public entities such as school districts from civil liability for COVID-19 related injuries if certain...
By Attorney Maria Brownell On Tuesday May 26, 2020, Governor Reynolds signed a new proclamation temporarily continuing the public health emergency associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The following exemptions and suspensions in the proclamation are notable from an operational standpoint for governmental entities, and will be in place through June...
By Attorneys Rebecca Reif and Miriam Van Heukelem On May 6, 2020, the United States Department of Education released final regulations under Title IX, the federal law which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. These highly-anticipated final regulations are scheduled...
Current as of September 3, 2020 By Attorney Maria Brownell On Friday, April 24, 2020, Governor Reynolds signed a new proclamation that temporarily suspends certain requirements under the public bidding law involving the distribution, receipt, opening, or recording of paper documents to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19. By a...
Current as of September 3, 2020 By Attorney Jenna Bishop Despite the encouragement of public health officials, including the U.S. Center for Disease Control, to practice “social distancing” and limit large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, governmental bodies in Iowa are still required by state law to hold their meetings...
By Attorneys Rebecca Reif & Olivia Brooks In response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States, the U.S. Senate passed the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" on March 18, 2020, which has now been signed into law. The expanded leave provisions are to become effective within 15...
By Attorneys Aaron Hilligas & Ann Smisek GENERAL QUESTIONS Can an employer ask an employee if they have the coronavirus? The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requires employers to furnish "employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause...
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