GovWin SLED Coronavirus Recon

Word on the Street

(What our Analysts are hearing from government)

• California’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission shared that due to the impacts surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, there may be delays in the approval of procurements and contract awards by the relevant Agency committees. Currently the delays are expected to be around 30-60 days.

General 

• Opening Up America Again: A look at 3-phase guidance for states
  • The Trump administration has issued new guidelines for states, individuals and employers on how to gradually revive activity and ease up on social distancing in areas where coronavirus cases are on the decline
• Cybersecurity in the time of COVID-19
  • The pandemic has highlighted the importance of cybersecurity and digital transformation, according to health officials.
• How the Walz administration is developing its plans for restarting Minnesota’s economy
  • Walz has not released a comprehensive plan for reviving business in Minnesota yet, a subject of growing frustration among some Republicans, but his administration has been working behind the scenes over the last week to build its strategy.
• Vermont, Microsoft partner to expand rural broadband
  • Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said this week that the state will partner with Microsoft and local internet service providers to install mobile hotspots around the state to enable remote work, education and telemedicine, following the release of a study that found dozens of communities lacking any access to public Wi-Fi. The hotspots are being installed at public schools, libraries and community centers throughout the state, providing a solution designed to be compatible with social-distancing guidelines.
• (Pennsylvania) Gov. Wolf Unveils Plan for Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Recovery
  • The plan includes short and long-term relief to Pennsylvanians regarding food insecurity, student loan debt, individuals who have been furloughed or laid off, students and families, businesses and communities
• (Wisconsin) Gov. Tony Evers extends Wisconsin's 'Safer at Home' order until May 26
  • The order that went into effect on March 25 was originally set to expire on April 24
• (Florida) Coronavirus Florida: Buchanan optimistic about the economy opening later in May
  • U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan expressed hope that the economy, hobbled by social distancing requirements required to fight COVID-19, could start in some locations as soon as May
• (Ohio) COVID-19 Update: Governor DeWine Discussed State’s Plan for Reopening Businesses, Regional Coalition Formed
  • Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton, MD, MPH, provided an update on the number of COVID-19 cases in Ohio and discussed how the state will develop its plan to reopen the economy
• NV Governor Hints at Economy Reopening, Unemployment Benefits Raise Questions
• Illinois Joins Regional State to Coordinate Reopening Economies
  • Together with Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana and Kentucky, Illinois creates Midwest agreement in efforts to formulate the safest economic reopening timeline for the region. Obstacles to overcame are states’ testing capacity, personal protective equipment supply, and specifying economic sectors to gradually reopen.

Funding & Economic Impact 

• Maine gets $625M to cover pandemic costs, but it’s unclear who decides how to spend it
  • Gov. Janet Mills said Thursday the state will be able to use the money to reimburse itself for the costs of fighting the new coronavirus, while members of the Legislature’s budget committee say they need more guidance.
• San Diego Proposes Major Budget Cuts To Offset COVID-19 Revenue Losses
  • The revised budget would eliminate 354 city jobs among San Diego's 11,000-member workforce, cut arts funding in half, and reduce hours at city libraries and recreation centers.
• ‘Dark days ahead for the city budget’ in Pittsburgh due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • To make payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis, the City of Pittsburgh could spend down the roughly $85 million the government had in reserves as early as July.
  • Mayor Bill Peduto described “dark days ahead for the city’s budget" and warned of “a shortfall of tens of millions of dollars this year” will likely mean large spending cuts ahead.
• Survey Shows Most Cities Expect Revenue Loss, Service Cuts
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on an economic deep freeze, and as a result, most cities in the U.S. are anticipating revenue shortfalls this year, according to new survey data — especially the larger cities.
• (California) OC Expects to Receive $540 Million-Plus in Coronavirus Response Money From Feds
  • Officials say they’re awaiting guidance from U.S. Treasury officials on what the money can and can’t be used for
• (Wyoming) Gordon calls for all state agencies to reduce budgets amid economic fallout from coronavirus
  • Cuts will extend through the end of the current budget year and into the upcoming two-year budget cycle
  • Spending reductions include immediate hiring freezes, an end to general fund contracts greater than $100,000 and a rigorous review of major maintenance spending
• (Hawaii) With Tourism at a Standstill, Governor Says He’s Preparing for $1.5B in Cuts to State Budget

Higher Education

• (University of California System) UC reels under staggering coronavirus costs; ‘the worst impacts ... all at once’
  • The University of California was hit with $558 million in unanticipated costs in March alone due to the coronavirus
  • The public research university system was incurring added expenses and revenue losses in multiple areas, as health centers treated high-cost COVID-19 patients, researchers worked on potential cures and campuses sent most students home.
• Education Department Trying to Stop Student Loan Garnishments
  • Some student loan borrowers who are late on their payments are having their wages garnished

K-12 Education

• (Illinois) Rep. Underwood announces $108 million in emergency coronavirus education funding for state
  • Illinois will receive $108 million in emergency education funding for the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund for continued support to education and ensuring accessibility for students.
• Colorado’s high school seniors can take the SAT for free this fall
  • This comes after Gov. Jared Polis suspended all K-12 state testing for the remainder of the school year
  • The results of the SAT would not be used for school or district accountability, which has been paused for the 2020-2021 school year
  • An administration of the test this fall depends on adequate state funds being available
• Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds orders schools to remain closed for the rest of the academic year
  • School districts will continue to offer distance learning opportunities, both online and through paper packets distributed to students, for the remainder of the school year.
  • The governor also announced Friday that she will waive the late-August start date requirement, which could allow school districts to start the 2020-2021 academic year earlier than Aug. 23.

Health Care

• New York IT 'SWAT teams' deploy coronavirus screening tools
  • New York’s “SWAT teams,” formed last month by the state’s Office of Information Technology Services, launched their first products this week with tools designed to help New Yorkers screen themselves for symptoms and determine if they need to be tested for the deadly respiratory illness.
• Moderna Snares $483 Million U.S. Funding for COVID Vaccine
  • Moderna Inc. said the U.S. government has agreed to pay as much as $483 million for the company to develop and test its COVID-19 vaccine now in an initial clinical trial.
• (San Antonio) Mayor and County Judge announce formation of COVID-19 Health Transition Team
  • Mayor Ron Nirenberg and County Judge Nelson Wolff have announced the formation of the COVID-19 Health Transition Team.
  • The COVID-19 Health Transition Team is set to develop a health transition plan by April 27. They will present the strategy to each of the working groups named earlier by the mayor and County Judge to recommend measures for long-term recovery and community rebuilding.
• House health panel considers temporary Medicaid expansion to cover COVID-19
  • Lawmakers are considering temporarily expanding Medicaid to cover uninsured residents’ coronavirus testing and treatment
• Federal Government Approves Plan to Use Medicaid Funds to Pay Arkansas Health Care Workers Bonuses
  • Healthcare workers could receive bonuses if approved by a state panel in Arkansas. Already approved by the federal government, Arkansas officials would allow the state to use Medicaid funds to provide bonuses to healthcare workers on the front line.

Social Services 

• (Connecticut) DOL says unemployment payment backlog solved by computer fix
  • Connecticut will pay tens of millions of dollars of backlogged unemployment insurance benefits in the next two weeks after crafting emergency upgrades to its nearly 40-year-old computer system.
• Oregon Working to Waive ‘Waiting Week’ for Unemployment Claims, Gov. Brown Says

Justice/Public Safety

• How police technologies can be used to assist COVID-19 curfew enforcement
  • This article discusses technologies that can be used to assist in COVID-19 curfew enforcement such as drones, automated license plate readers, speed cameras, computer aided dispatch analysis, and even a ring doorbell partnership.
• The great reset: Policing in 2030
  • An imagined scenario of policing in 2030, greatly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transportation

• Wary of public transport, coronavirus-hit Americans turn to bikes
• Bike sales have risen in the United States as people express concern and fear to ride public transportation during the ongoing pandemic. Some riders express concern if they would ever feel safe riding on public transportation ever again. This further emphasizes the effect COVID-19 will continue to have on public transit, long after the pandemic is contained.

Public Utilities

• Clean energy industry may lose 15% of workforce
  • The clean energy sector has already seen job losses as a result of the ongoing pandemic and the losses are expected to continue. Actions must be taken to support clean energy or the losses will only continue to rise.
• Power shutoff bans amid pandemic may require cost recovery for utilities
  • Members of Congress are pushing for language in the next COVID-19 funding package that would prohibit utilities from disconnecting customers who may not be able to pay their bills now or immediately after the crisis.