Gun Bunker in Shrewsbury, York County on March 23, 2020.
Ed Mahon / PA Post
Updated: 2020-04-03 15:35:00
Coronavirus and business restrictions in Pennsylvania: Possible penalties, waivers and what else you need to know
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Ed Mahon
Ed Mahon / PA Post
Gun Bunker in Shrewsbury, York County on March 23, 2020.
This story was updated at 3:35 p.m. on April 3 to reflect an increase in the number of waiver requests, an expansion of a stay-at-home order and other developments. This page will be an ongoing resource for businesses, so check back for updates.
Listen to an audio story about challenges from Republican lawmakers and businesses to Gov. Tom Wolf’s shutdown order:
More than 100 types of businesses are to remain closed under an order issued by Gov. Tom Wolf on March 19 that’s aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania.
Here’s what you need to know about the order, the penalties businesses could face for violating it, and how businesses can obtain an exemption.
Businesses: What is life-sustaining vs. non-life sustaining?
Wolf’s office published the first list of businesses affected by the order on March 19.
He revised the list the next day, allowing laundromats, timber tract operators and certain manufacturers to remain open. The updated list also noted that construction could continue on health care facilities and for certain emergency repairs.
Grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies and many other businesses are also allowed to remain open.
Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said he’s continuing to work with the Wolf administration to identify businesses where people can continue to work while maintaining appropriate social distancing.
The latest list is available here.
Possible penalties
The Wolf administration has provided guidance to police departments, telling them to first issue a warning to alleged violators.
After that, the administration recommends two main enforcement options:
- a $10 to $50 fine for violating an order or regulation of the Department of Health;
- a $25 to $300 fine for violating the state’s Disease Prevention and Control Law of 1955.
Both are summary offenses. People could contest them, but if a court finds them guilty and they don’t pay the fine, violators could face up to 30 days in jail.
Pennsylvania State Police issued 27 warnings on Monday, but no citations.
In York city, inspectors found three businesses out of compliance after visiting about 400 by Tuesday, the York Dispatch reported.
Wolf also ordered bars and restaurants to stop dine-in service.
His guidance notes that businesses that violate the state’s liquor laws could face harsher penalties, including a $100 to $500 fine, or one month to three months in jail if they don’t pay the fine. Penalties are greater for repeat offenses.
Wolf’s office said that “more serious violators” could be charged with the second degree misdemeanor of obstructing administration of law or other governmental functions. That would only be appropriate in certain situations, such as if a business uses force or violence to resist, Wolf’s office said.
Businesses can receive other penalties, including losing access to disaster relief money and state grants.
Should I call 911 if I see a “non-life sustaining” business operating?
No.
Pennsylvania State Police say you should contact a local law enforcement agency’s non-emergency number. It’s also possible that a business type that is not on the “life-sustaining” list might have received a waiver to remain open.
How to apply for a waiver
By noon on March 22, state Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin said nearly 10,000 businesses and organizations had applied for a waiver.
By the end of the day Monday, the department had received more than 15,000 waiver requests, according to a department spokesperson. Of those:
- 2,486 were approved;
- 2,135 were denied;
- 1,279 were not required.
As for the others, department spokesperson Casey Smith said staff “are working to process them as quickly as possible.”
The number of waiver requests increased.
At the end of day April 2, the Department of Community and Economic Development received 35,373 requests for exemptions from Pennsylvania’s businesses. Of those: 5,693 have been approved, 8,952 have been denied, and 8,365 were submitted for activities as to which no waiver was required, Smith said.
State Rep. Seth Grove, a York County Republican and chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said on March 24 that he would like the state to make waiver information available to the public, so that businesses can see if and how similar businesses obtained one.
Since then, House and Senate Republican leaders have called for more transparency in the process. The Wolf administration has declined to release the names of businesses that received them, and the deadline to apply for one is 5 p.m. April 3
Businesses can apply for a waiver online at the Department of Community and Economic Development website. Questions include how the business plans to meet guidelines for maintaining employee safety and how many workers will be in the company’s physical location.
For more on waivers and the debate over how transparent and consistent the process is, check out these stories:
- Spotlight PA and PA Post: Businesses tied to Gov. Tom Wolf, top Pa. senator close after questions about how they qualified as ‘life-sustaining’
- Spotlight PA and PA Post: Gov. Tom Wolf’s former business keeps operating during coronavirus shutdown despite losing state waiver
- PA Post: What businesses applied for ‘life-sustaining’ waivers? Wolf administration agency won’t release list, process open records request for now
- WHYY: ‘Just insanity’: Closed Pa. businesses cry foul as competitors snag waivers to reopen
- The Caucus and Spotlight PA: Pa. to close waiver process for businesses affected by coronavirus shutdown as calls for transparency mount
What about child care centers?
The waiver process for child care centers began earlier, as Wolf moved to close them down statewide on March 16 — before he ordered “non-life sustaining” businesses to close.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the state approved 670 child care center waivers, according to a spokesperson for the state Department of Human Services.
What about gun stores?
Nearly all shut down their physical locations after Wolf’s order, said Kim Stolfer, president of Firearms Owners Against Crime. He said most of the ones he knows that still operated had an exemption as a home-based business.
Late March 22, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by a gun shop, a gun owner and attorney to have Wolf’s shutdown order thrown out. The court didn’t explain its ruling, so there’s always the chance that another challenge could be more successful.
On March 24, the Wolf administration updated its list and allowed gun stores to remain open with certain restrictions in place, including conducting business by appointments during limited hours.
What about businesses in counties with a stay-at-home order?
Businesses considered “life-sustaining” can continue to operate in counties where stricter restrictions have been imposed, and workers can continue traveling to them.
People in all Pennsylvania counties are now under a stay-at-home order.
Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your back. Each weekday morning, host Tim Lambert will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.
