State Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) this week introduced House Bill 2386, which seeks to aid businesses closed by Gov. Tom Wolf’s March 19 order to suspend operations conducted by “non-essential” industries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My legislation would create a program through which business owners can obtain assistance similar to the recourse offered by their insurance providers,” Mehaffie said. “I believe this will provide the necessary means to alleviate the impact of recent events without putting additional burdens on our business owners.”
Business interruption grants are commonly underwritten into insurance policies to assist when something happens out of the business owner’s control, such as a tree falling on a building’s roof. The business interruption insurance ensures that the business owners can file a claim to recoup lost income and associated costs when physical damage stops their operations. It does not typically cover governmental proclamations or pandemics.
Mehaffie said that business owners have been left without recourse and are suffering the economic consequences because of the governor’s order to close all non-essential businesses.
House Bill 2386 was immediately referred to the House Commerce Committee upon introduction of the bill.