Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia votes on pandemic relief to help small businesses
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Today Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new legislation extending COVID-19 paid sick leave for workers and expanding COVID relief for small businesses.
The California State Assembly approved the bill Monday.
COVID pay expired last year but now California residents can qualify for it through September of this year.
COVID-19 paid sick leave may be back in California immediately, but there are some rules to qualify.
The new law only applies to businesses with 26 employees or more and covers workers who are unable to work or remotely work for COVID-related reasons.
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia also voted to approve important early budget items, including distributing additional pandemic testing resources.
He hopes Imperial County continues creating economic opportunities despite the pandemic.
"So those that have been impacted economically because they have not been able to work..because they had to take care of somebody who was impacted by the pandemic, in this case, COVID... They'll be able to recuperate some of the loss of finances that was as a result of their lost time at work," Garcia said.
The new law also expands grant programs business owners can apply for a small business development centers.
Garcia says he's glad everyone came together early to make sure Californians are taken care of during these times.
One small business owner from the Imperial Valley, Bea Bachar, says she's excited to hear about the COVID-relied expansion.
"It has helped me out tremendously. Just to keep the operating costs and to keep the doors open. It has helped us out a lot," Bachar said.
Garcia says it's his responsibility these resources reach imperial county to help people in our district.
With this bill now passed, public health agencies and schools will be better equipped with the necessary resources to continue testing and provide protective equipment.
The legislation will continue to supply not only small businesses in the Imperial Valley but throughout California.
