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The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
(the “CARES Act” or “the Act”) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The
CARES Act is massive. The Act itself is 880 pages long. The Act
authorizes more than $2.2 trillion to fund numerous grants and loans and
to provide other financing to support individuals, businesses and state
and local governments from the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus
crisis.
Many of the provisions of the CARES Act do not apply to utility
districts, utility authorities, and municipal and county utility systems
(utilities). The Act does include provisions increasing and expanding
unemployment insurance benefits available to workers, including
individuals who are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work
due to COVID-19 which do apply to utility employers. Hopefully, utilities
will not have to lay off a significant number of employees in the coming
months. This Update will describe these expanded unemployment insurance
benefits for any employees which may be laid off. The Tennessee
Department of Labor and Workforce (the Department) is continuing to
receive guidance from the United States Department of Labor to how to
administer the new benefits so a potential for some changes described in
this Update may exist.
(See Attachment for full details)
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