CARES Act – Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) now live

TOPEKA – Kansas Secretary of Labor Delía García today joined Governor Laura Kelly in announcing that Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), which provides an additional $600 weekly payment for unemployment insurance claimants, went live starting today. FPUC is part of the federal CARES Act, which is focused on expanding unemployment benefits in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

FPUC is a $600 payment made each week that is in addition to other unemployment benefits an eligible claimant may receive. FPUC is a limited time program. Individuals are eligible for the $600 payments from March 29, until July 25, 2020, if they are receiving Regular Benefits (State Unemployment), Shared Work, Trade Readjustment Assistance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.

“If you are eligible, you will automatically receive the FPUC payment,” García said. “You do not need an additional application. We will also be paying the additional $600 to individuals who were eligible and filed their weekly claims. The retroactive payments for prior weeks after the law went into effect on March 29, 2020, will be following soon.”

“This is welcome news for unemployed Kansans who need assistance immediately,” Kelly said. “We also recently shared details on our push for regulation and possible legislation to ensure our emergency responders and healthcare workers have access to workers compensation coverage, and we also announced implementation of the Legislature’s expansion of benefits to up to 26 weeks. With the $600 additional payments from FPUC now live, we have made progress in a variety of ways needed to help many Kansans.”

For more information, or to apply for unemployment benefits, go to www.GetKansasBenefits.gov.

DCF Partners with Local Agencies to Distribute Food to Local Communities

National emergency triggers disaster household distribution program

Editors note: see the fortscott.biz story on this subject and where the local distribution sites are by clicking below:

https://fortscott.biz/news/federal-emergency-food-assistance-coming-for-those-affected-by-covid-19

The Department for Children and Families along with its community partners is distributing food to Kansans as part of the disaster household distribution program. The program is triggered when a national emergency is declared.

The program provides a variety of canned meats, vegetables, fruits, rice, dried beans, peanut butter and in some cases frozen meats and fresh milk. The food is being distributed to impacted households through DCF’s existing network of Emergency Food Assistance Program or TEFAP agencies.

There are no income restrictions for the disaster household program. Anyone in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic may receive a food package. The program is first come, first served. Quantities are limited.

Distributions are expected to last through May 6.

To find a distribution site nearest to your community see the list of sites at: http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Documents/Food_Distribution_Programs/TEFAP%20Distribution%20Sites%20by%2 0County.pdf

Governor signs two Executive Orders as part of her administration’s ongoing COVID-19 response

Governor Laura Kelly today signed two new Executive Orders to help the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Order #20-26 temporarily waives physician supervision or collaboration requirements for certain medical licensees, including advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants and licensed practical nurses.

“These are qualified health care professionals who provide safe, high-quality, routine care to Kansans on a daily basis,” Kelly said. “They diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications and work in numerous medical settings and fields. Temporarily easing some regulatory measures will help give doctors more capacity to focus on COVID-19 patients.”

The order permits registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, who hold a license that is exempt, inactive or has lapsed within the past five years to provide medical services appropriate to their qualifications.

The order also allows out-of-state health care providers to practice in Kansas, if necessary, without a Kansas license, but only if they are in good standing in their home state.

Through the order, health care providers assisting the state in its response as coordinated by the Kansas Division of Emergency Management will be covered by the liability protections of the Kansas Emergency Management Act.

“Addressing those broader challenges is not something I can, or should, do on my own through executive action,” Kelly said. “I encourage the Kansas Legislature to explore how we can adjust current statutes to better enable our doctors and nurses to adequately protect both their patients and protect themselves from liability as we adjust to a ‘new normal’ in the coronavirus era.”

Executive Order #20-27 allows the sale of alcoholic beverages for carryout consumption and permits the sale of liquor in a container that is not the original container for any establishment holding a class A club license, class B club license or drinking establishment license.

“I understand how many Kansas restaurants rely on the sale of alcoholic beverages,” Kelly said. “My administration is doing all it can to ease the burden on Kansas employees and their families who have lost income due to this crisis.”

The sale of alcoholic beverages for carryout consumption is subject to the following requirements:

• It must be legal for the establishment (the licensee) to sell alcoholic liquor;
• Each container of alcoholic liquor must have been purchased on the licensed premises;
• The licensee or the licensee’s employee must provide the patron with a dated receipt for the unfinished container or containers of alcoholic liquor; and
• Before the container of alcoholic liquor is removed from the licensed premises, the licensee or the licensee’s employee must place the container in a transparent bag sealed in a manner that makes it visibly apparent if the bag is subsequently tampered with or opened.

To view E.O. #20-26, click here.

To view E.O. #20-27, click here.

State Treasurer Jake LaTurner to Give Away $50,000 in Scholarships to 50 Nurses in the State of Kansas

Topeka— In honor of National Nurse’s Week and in recognition of all those in Kansas who continue to serve the people of our state by working in the field of nursing, Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner with the support of the Kansas State Board of Nursing will be giving away fifty, $1000 scholarships to Kansas residents with a current nursing license as defined by the Kansas Nurse Practice Act (https://ksbn.kansas.gov/npa/).

“You certainly don’t have to look very far to find someone you know that is serving in the nursing field in Kansas. These are hard-working individuals who spend many hours on their feet caring for people in some of their most trying times, physically and mentally. If you know someone you’d like to thank for the work that they do, now is your opportunity to nominate them for one of these scholarships,” said Treasurer LaTurner.

“Nurses time after time have proven how dedicated and passionate they are about helping others.  They have been heroes on the frontline in providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an excellent way to show them how appreciated they are.  Please nominate a nurse for one of these scholarships, in honor of National Nurse’s Week, as a way to say, “Thank You” for your dedication to the nursing profession!” said Executive Administrator for the Kansas State Board of Nursing Carol Moreland, MSN, RN.

The full contest rules can be found at https://kansasstatetreasurer.com/nan.html. The scholarship money will be placed into a Kansas LearningQuest 529 account, which can be used to pay off student loans, pay for continuing education at a qualified higher education institution, or may be saved for the future educational costs of a loved one. Nominations will be accepted through midnight May 12, 2020. All completed entries will be considered and winners will be notified by May 19, 2020.

No taxpayer funds are being used to fund these scholarships.