PRLA Restaurant & Lodging Matters Winter 2021

12 • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • Winter 2021 Local Politics PHILADELPHIA ELECTION All members of City Council were up for re-election in 2019. The Council now consists of 14 Democrats, 2 Republicans, and 1 Working Families Party. PHARMA BILL Legislation in Philadelphia that would have banned pharmaceutical companies from spending money at restaurants was defeated in 2019. CASHLESS BAN Philadelphia City Council passed legislation that would ban companies from not accepting cash for payment. PRLA worked with the City on regulations to ensure there are reasonable exceptions to the rule. PLASTIC BAG BAN Council passed legislation that would ban the use of “single use plastic bags” in the City. It was supposed to take effect July 1, 2020, but implementation was pushed back to January 1, 2021, because of the pandemic. The effective date for businesses that provide take out was delayed again, until April 1, 2021. PREDICTIVE SCHEDULING Council passed legislation that require companies that are part of a multi-unit company to provide predictable schedules to employees, compensate employees for a changed schedule, and guarantee a certain amount of hours/week to employees. THIRD PARTY DELIVERY Council passed legislation that cap delivery fees from third-party delivery companies at 15% during the COVID crisis, requires disclosure if a company doesn’t have an agreement with the restaurant, and ensure that fees being charged are iterated on the transaction receipt. EVICTION PROTECTION Council passed legislation that would ban the eviction or foreclosure on restaurants with three units or less that have been impacted by COVID-19. EMERGENCY PAID LEAVE Council passed legislation requiring businesses that are not covered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to offer emergency paid leave the employees impacted by COVID-19. RECALL LEGISLATION Council passed legislation that put standards into place on how hotels, businesses at the airport, and stadiums must bring back employees once the COVID crisis ends. PITTSBURGH EMERGENCY PAID LEAVE Pittsburgh City Council passed legislation requiring businesses to provide emergency paid leave to employees impacted by COVID. Join Today! POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE What is PRLA PAC? Supports candidates from both parties who are champions for Pennsylvania’s tourism & hospitality industries. Why join PRLA PAC? ENGAGE SHAPE ELECT Increase opportuni- ties for the PRLA government affairs team to educate of- ficials on our issues Influence public policy through member participation Achieve legislative success by electing candidates who support our priorities How can you join PRLA PAC? Make a personal* contribution today or online at www.prla.org/prlapac *Corporate contributions are not accepted by law SESSION REVIEW 2019–2020