Article Archive > COVID-19 Legislation Update

COVID-19 Legislation Update

March 31, 2020

Dear U.S. Schools and Teachers,

By now, you have heard and read a lot about the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was recently signed into law in the United States. The sweeping legislation includes $2 trillion in stimulus funding to support states, businesses, and individuals during the COVID-19 emergency. To make the CARES Act and other recent emergency legislation and initiatives more manageable for yoga professionals—school and studio owners, teachers, and other employees—we have created two new briefs that explain the important provisions.

Our CARES Guide for Yoga Businesses highlights provisions that may benefit schools and studios. We detail Small Business Administration (SBA) paycheck protection loans, including who is eligible, for what the funds can be used, available loan amounts, and any payback requirements. Also detailed is information on applying for SBA economic injury disaster loans and tax benefits for employers and businesses. Beyond federal government assistance, we list other possible sources of relief funding.

Our CARES Guide for the Yoga Public provides details on the wide variety of CARES Act provisions designed to benefit individuals, including teachers and employees. Our breakdown includes detail on subjects from tax rebate checks and student loan assistance to health insurance coverage and unemployment benefits. Some of the other important information detailed in this brief are credit protection and a moratorium on evictions.

Finally, we developed an overview of the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), a new federal law enacted in mid-March, which establishes paid leave guarantees for certain workers. This law requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. This law may impact yoga schools, studios, teachers, and employees.

In these complicated and changing times, understanding what’s needed for you, your family, and profession can be challenging. We are working around the clock to continue to provide these and other resources to help our membership and the broader yoga community move through these uncertain times together. We thank you for the work that you do for your communities—always, and especially now in these difficult times.

Your Yoga Alliance