News & Events

By Mike King

QUESTION:         ARE ELECTRONIC NOTARIZATIONS LEGAL?

ANSWER:             ELECTRONIC NOTARIZATIONS ARE LEGAL IN MOST STATES.

Remote electronic or online notarizations are not legal in Arizona until June 30, 2020!

Electronic notarizations have been legal in Arizona for years, but they still require the signer to physically appear before the notary for the electronic signature and the electronic notarization of documents.

Remote electronic notarizations will become effective from and after June 30, 2020 in Arizona.  In 2019, Arizona Senate Bill 1030 adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (2018).

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By Camila Alarcon

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arizona Legislature suspended their second 54th Regular Session on Monday, March 23, 2020, a little more than a month before the 100-day marker that loosely defines adjournment. Before they recessed, they passed a basic budget, some COVID-19 specific legislation, and several bills that had already made it through the legislative process. Governor Ducey signed all bills into law passed by the Legislature.

Though originally set to reconvene on April 13, 2020, it is unknown when or if the Legislature will reconvene. Its other options include adjourning this session altogether (i.e., sine die) or adjourning and calling a special session for specific areas (e.g., more COVID-19 legislation).

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By Julie Pace, Chris Raddatz, and Tim Forsman

The Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has issued new guidance regarding the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), which offers unprecedented financial relief to many businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis.  These new rules include changes and clarifications for borrower eligibility requirements, loan forgiveness, program penalties for non-compliant borrowers, as well as updated guidance on how SBA affiliation rules will apply to PPP loan borrowers.  The Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (the “SIGPR”) will be responsible for auditing and investigating fraud and abuse relating to CARES Act funds, including PPP loans. 

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By  David Selden, Julie Pace and Heidi Nunn-Gilman

Kudos to companies and their teams on adapting and implementing COVID-19 policies, practices, and strategies.  It is estimated that the evolving situation will last approximately one year while we wait for a tested and approved vaccine.  Your GB Covid-19 Legal Team is there to assist when needed.  Let’s review what your Company should know and implement to make sure COVID-19 does not kill your business. 
 
First, make sure you understand the Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA), post the required posters, implement the two new types of leave: FMLA and Paid Sick Emergency leave, identify the coding to use in your payroll system, distribute a new temporary policy and an application to obtain the leave to employees,  understand how to use the tax credit to pay for the new leaves, understand what to write in response to unemployment requests from DES, develop a protocol to handle positive tests or exposures of employees and the notices to provide, identifying questions and self-certifications before employees are allowed to work at some jobs sites, evaluating WARN Act considerations, understanding requirements of workers compensation and OSHA 300 log reporting, and our team has been busy drafting Infectious Disease Plans and Business Continuity Plans.

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New Department of Labor Families First
Coronavirus Response Act Interim Guidance
Exemptions for Small Business,
Health Care Workers, and  First Responders

By Julie Pace, David Selden, and Heidi Nunn-Gilman

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) just released new guidance on The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)’s partial exemption for small businesses with under 50 employees.  Also, there are certain employers who may exclude specific employees from coverage, and DOL has identified which employers are considered health care providers and emergency responders.

The FFCRA includes the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act. 

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