A short while ago, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that, starting this Wednesday, May 19, 2021, vaccinated people will no longer need to wear masks in nearly every setting, including automotive dealerships. The only exceptions include those riding public transit, those in schools, and in some communal settings.
Read MoreLast week, Governor Cuomo signed the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (HERO Act) into law, making NY the first state to put healthcare protections imposed during the COVID crisis into permanent law. The HERO Act imposes two significant changes on all private-sector employers.
Read MoreIt may not be a return to total normalcy, but New York continues to ease safety restrictions on businesses as COVID infection rates drop.
This week Governor Andrew Cuomo joined Governors Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Ned Lamont of Connecticut to announce that the three states will move forward with plans to ease restrictions for most businesses, including auto dealerships.
GNYADA has received inquiries relating to the news from the CDC about not wearing masks outside. As the CDC continues to relax some requirements in the fight against the spread of COVID-19, New York has not yet rolled back requirements on businesses. Dealers must continue to follow their specific Safety Plans which include the use of masks for employees.
Read MoreThe Governor is expected to sign a bill this week that would require New York employers to adopt a plan to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the workplace. The bill has already passed in both houses and awaits the Governor signature. The law would also allow employees to sue their employer if they deviate from the plan in a way that creates “a substantial probability” of death or serious harm to their employees; the maximum fee for each violation is $20,000.
Read MoreDealers that received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in 2020 are reminded that their loan forgiveness application is due within 10 months after the last day of the borrower’s covered period. The PPP “covered period” is the date of your loan origination plus 24 weeks.
Read MoreGNYADA President Mark Schienberg joined 250 CEOs this week in calling on top state leaders to not raise taxes this year.
Read MoreEarlier this month, Governor Cuomo approved a law that all New York employers must provide employees with up to four hours of paid time off for each COVID-19 vaccination. The new law became effective on the date signed, March 12, 2021.
Read MoreDespite nearly $13 billion in federal aid made out directly to New York State, Albany lawmakers have proposed new bills that would generate billions in new tax increases for this year’s State Budget.
Read MoreGNYADA President Mark Schienberg met this week with a senior official from the New York Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) to urge the state agency to continue building on its efforts to promote the purchase and lease of Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV).
Read MoreThe state legislature recently adopted a bill that will give employees four hours of paid leave to get a COVID-19 vaccination. The bill still awaits delivery to Gov. Cuomo’s desk for his review and signature.
Read MoreOn Wednesday, during our Quarterly Meeting with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and his top staff, DMV officials addressed GNYADA’s top legislative issue: brokers. DMV informed GNYADA representatives, and New York’s metro dealer associations and the state association who participated in the meeting that DMV can penalize brokers that violate the Vehicle and Traffic Law and General Business Law. The agency told us they have the authority to pursue both registered and unregistered brokers who violate state law by holding a hearing and enforcing monetary penalties.
Read MoreOn Tuesday, Democrats in the state legislature reached an agreement to reign in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s emergency pandemic powers. The twin nursing home and sexual harassment scandals that emerged last month accelerated their decision as the Governor’s approval rating slid to 38% in the latest polling.
Read MoreGNYADA has advocated for controlling the problem of auto brokering in New York for years. The Association successfully passed several bills that increase consumer disclosures and registration requirements.
This week, the Association took another step forward in its effort to curtail this industry by forming a special committee with the single task of passing sorely needed broker reform legislation.
Governor Cuomo recently announced that New York adopted guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") changing quarantine recommendations for vaccinated persons. Those who are fully vaccinated and meet the criteria below are no longer required to quarantine following an exposure to someone with COVID-19.
Read MoreGNYADA is aware of recent consumer complaints objecting to dealers charging “disinfection fees”, “COVID Cleaning Fees” or other pandemic-related surcharges that have been passed along to customers.
Whether these “fees” are to cover the dealer’s cost for sanitizing the facility, the test-driven vehicle, the purchased vehicle, or anything else at the dealership to address the State Department of Health or CDC’s protocols, it is not permissible to preprint these fees on Buyer’s Orders or on customer Repair Orders.
For those dealers that applied for and received a Paycheck Protection Program loan in 2020, you have 10 months from the end of the covered period to apply for forgiveness, otherwise your loan will not be forgiven and you will have to repay the loan principal plus interest according to the terms of the note.
Read MoreThe Association's Government Affairs Committee met this week to discuss a range of issues on the Association's agenda for the year. This post contains a quick synopsis of the other various agenda items GNYADA is working on: Overhauling the States Titling & Registration System, Lien Release Issues, Auto Brokers, and COVID Vaccines for Essential Businesses.
Read MoreAs reported in previous GNYADA Legislative Updates, several pieces of legislation have been introduced this year in Albany to allow direct sales by electric vehicle manufacturers. GNYADA has already made it clear of its opposition to these initiatives. It has made it clear that these bills would be disastrous to the 1000 community based new car dealerships that employ more than 100,000 people statewide.
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