On June 3rd, the U.S. Senate passed the “Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act” (the “Flexibility Act”) which had been previously passed by the House of Representatives on May 28, 2020. It is expected that President Trump will sign the legislation today, June 4th. The Flexibility Act provides a number of modifications to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) provisions of the CARES Act, which will significantly increase the forgivable loan amounts of PPP borrowers. Arguably, the Flexibility Act turns the PPP into more of a small business subsidy/assistance program, rather than a true paycheck protection program.
The Flexibility Act includes the following changes to the PPP:
On January 7th, the Treasury Department announced that the Paycheck Protection Program, a unique program that kept many businesses afloat during the initial months of the pandemic, will re-open the week of January 11 for a second round of loans for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans beginning on Monday, January 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, January 13. The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter.The PPP fund provides forgivable loans to businesses, providing they maintain their payroll.
On April 1, 2020, the Department of Labor issued temporary regulations regarding the terms of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“Families First Act”). The regulation provides extensive guidance regarding the regulation to help employers comply with its terms.
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared a general, statewide judicial emergency and ordered the closure of Pennsylvania courts to the public, except for specific emergency matters. As a result, the Registers of Wills across the Commonwealth, who also serve as the Clerks of the Orphans’ Courts, have only been accepting emergency petitions for guardianships of incapacitated adults and emergency petitions for medical or end-of-life decision making authority.
Without a doubt, the financial issues arising from the Coronavirus Pandemic and the resulting shutdown of businesses and “stay-at-home” order issued in Pennsylvania by Governor Wolf have had a major impact for many, including those with Support obligations, as well as those who rely on those payments.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), signed into law on March 27, 2020, provides $349 Billion in SBA 7(a) forgivable loans to businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees [see endnote 1), including sole proprietors, the self-employed and independent contractors. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the maximum available loan amount is 2.5 times your average total monthly payroll costs, capped at $100,000 per employee on an annualized basis [see endnote 2]. The loan proceeds can be used for any authorized business purpose, but to the extent used to pay payroll costs, healthcare benefits, eligible rent or mortgage interest payments and utility costs over an eight (8) week period from the date the loan is made, the loan can be forgiven (the lender is paid by the SBA). There is no collateral and no personal guarantees required. There is no requirement regarding exhausting other available credit. The SBA pays the lender all loan origination fees and has waived many of its otherwise onerous requirements. To the extent any loan balance is not forgiven, the interest rate will be fixed at the time of the loan somewhere between 0.50% and 4.0% [see endnote 3], amortized over up to 10 years, payable over two (2) years, with all payments deferred for six (6) months. There is no prepayment penalty. The program is only available through June 30, 2020, but funds are limited, so don’t wait. For more detailed information, see below and PPP Information Sheet.