Memo to NHLRA members and NH’s restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality community:
President and CEO Mike Somers met with Governor Sununu today to advocate for industry needs for both businesses and employees. There are a number of other items in the works and updates will be sent out as soon as we receive the details. 
We have received a number of questions from hotels that offer foodservice seeking clarification about how they feed their guests. We have reached out to the Governor's office for clarification and we will share that information as soon as we have it.
Below are the latest updates from this afternoon.


TAKE-OUT AND DELIVERY GUIDELINES
Establishments should adhere to the take-out and delivery best practices we've compiled in this guide. 


SBA DISASTER RELIEF 
Earlier today Governor Sununu officially submitted a request that the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration provide SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small businesses across NH. We urge our members to apply for assistance on the SBA website here.  


GUIDE TO UNEMPLOYMENT FOR HOSPITALITY EMPLOYEES
Individuals who are unable to work or who have reduced hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic now have immediate access to unemployment benefits.

• Individuals will need to file for each week of unemployment.
• The waiting period for receiving benefits is also temporarily suspended.

You can do this online from your home internet connection or your phone. The website to access is http://nhes.nh.gov and the phone number to call is 603-271-7700.


DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Per our discussions with the Department of Labor, it is our understanding there will be no audits or inspections for the time being. 

Exceptions to this will be if there is a complaint filed for non-payment of wages for hours worked or for not having Workers' Compensation Insurance coverage for employees working.

The Department will also be deferring any current penalties until June 1st. 


HOW WE'RE PROMOTING YOUR TAKE-OUT AND DELIVERY
Over on our NH Flavors Instagram, we're asking people to tag us in their take-out photos so that we can repost all of the great options customers have for dining at home. 
We're also pushing the National Restaurant Association's #carryoutwednesday campaign on our social media. ​
Do you have a story to share about food donations? We know that members have stepped up in a big way to support their communities with food donations to local pantries and schools during this critical time. Please send any of your stories to Pam Baker at pbaker@nhlra.com. We will be highlighting these efforts during the next few weeks.
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HOSPITALITY INSURANCE GROUP'S COVID-19 RESPONSE
Our partners at Hospitality Insurance Group are adjusting their business practices to reduce the financial impact of recent restrictions. The changes include: 

• Billing invoice extensions - All premium invoices due dates are extended by 30 days. 
• Non-Pay Cancellations - Effective March 16, 2020, they will not generate any cancellation notices due to non-payment of premium until April 15. 

Please visit their site at www.hmic.com or call (877)-366-1140 for more information. 


Our COVID-19 Guidance and Resource page is also now up-to-date with the newest information. Please check that site for the latest developments. 

ALLOWING TOWNS TO ADOPT A LOCAL ROOMS TAX:  on a vote of 174-113 the House passed  HB 1160.  The bill would allow cities and towns to collect a daily charge of up to $2 per room containing occupied beds, or as a percentage of the price of the room, provided that the rate doesn’t exceed $2 per occupancy per 24-hour period.  A similar bill passed the House last year and was tabled in the Senate.  NHLRA opposes this bill.  We will have to reach out to the entire Senate again to stop this there.

REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE NURSING MOTHERS WITH ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT SPACE AND BREAK TIME:   The Senate Finance Committee has voted 4-1 to recommend that  SB 618 be sent to interim study.  As amended the bill would require employers with 6 or more employees to provide nursing employees with an unpaid break of at least 30 minutes for every three hours of worked performed, and access to sufficient space for expression of milk during work hours.  This would have to be allowed for a period of one year from the date of birth of the child.  The bill also would provide a tax credit of up to $5,000 against the NH Business Enterprise Tax for costs an employer would incur to make sufficient space available.  The full Senate will vote on the bill next Thursday, March 19.

REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS FOR PREGNANT EMPLOYEES:  The Senate passed SB 759 with amendment.  As amended, the bill would require an employer to provide a pregnant employee with reasonable accommodations and/or permit the employee to take a leave of absence for the period of temporary physical disability resulting from pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, unless such employer can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the business of the employer.  The bill now goes to the House.

PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE:  The Senate voted on two competing bills establishing paid family and medical leave.  SB 730 is the Governor’s bill and would enable private employers to voluntarily participate in a state-run program.  The Senate sent this bill to interim study.  Meanwhile, the Senate voted along party lines to pass HB 712, which is the Democratic-lead legislative version that would establish a mandatory program for employers.  The legislature is not passing the Governor’s bill, and the Governor will veto the legislature’s bill, so this issue isn’t likely to go anywhere this year. 

LIMITING THE USE OF PAPER RECEIPTS:  The House sent HB 1508 to interim study.   The bill would have required a business to provide a customer with proof of purchase only at the customers’ option.  No business could have printed a paper receipt unless the customer asked for one.  No paper receipt printed by a business could contain bisphenol A or bisphenol S. 

BEDBUGS:  The House killed HB 1428.  The bill would have required Town Health Officers, upon a complaint of a guest of an inn, hotel, motel or other establishment which provides lodging to transient guests, to enter the premises to evaluate whether bedbugs are present. 

FOOD RECOVERY:  The House passed HB 1703.  The bill would establish a 17-member food recovery working group to reduce food waste and increase food recovery.  NHLRA is named as one of the stakeholders on the working group.  The working group would be directed to look at current regulations and policies that may be hindering food recovery and to make suggestions for changes.  The bill now goes to the Senate.

FOOD ALLERGIES:  The House passed HB 1102 with amendment.  As amended the bill would require food service establishments to include on all menus and menu boards a notice to customers of the customers obligation to inform their server of his or her food allergies.  It would also require food service establishments to have a person in charge at all times of operation trained and certified as a food protection manager.  This last provision is already a requirement of the new food code.  The bill now goes to the Senate.

SINGLE USE PLASTIC STRAWS:  On a vote of 197-135 the House passed HB 1472 with amendment.  As amended, will prohibit food service establishments from providing a single use plastic straw to a customer unless specifically requested.  The bill now goes to the Senate.

ALLOWING DOGS ON RESTAURANT PATIOS:  The House passed HB 1483.  As amended the bill would allow dogs on open air restaurant patios.  Access to the patio would have to be from the exterior of the restaurant.  The bill now goes to the Senate.

PROHIBITING THE USE OF POLYSTYRENE FOAM:  The House passed HB 1564 with amendment.  As amended, the bill would ban the use of polystyrene foam containers designed for one-time use in food service businesses such as restaurants and grocery stores.  The bill now goes to the Senate.

​Contact the NHLRA with your legislative questions or concerns at 603-228-9585 or info@nhlra.com.

REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE NURSING MOTHERS WITH ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT SPACE AND BREAK TIME:   The Senate passed SB 618 with amendment.  As amended the bill would require employers with 6 or more employees to provide nursing employees with an unpaid break of at least 30 minutes for every three hours of worked performed, and access to sufficient space for expression of milk during work hours.  This would have to be allowed for a period of one year from the date of birth of the child.  The bill also would provide a tax credit of up to $5,000 against the NH Business Enterprise Tax for costs an employer would incur to make sufficient space available.  The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee for more review.

REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS FOR PREGNANT EMPLOYEES:  The Senate Commerce Committee has voted 5-0 to recommend passage of SB 759 with amendment.  As amended, the bill would require an employer to provide a pregnant employee with reasonable accommodations and/or permit the employee to take a leave of absence for the period of temporary physical disability resulting from pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, unless such employer can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the business of the employer.  The full Senate will vote on the bill next Wednesday, March 11.

PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE:  Next week, the Senate will vote on two competing bills establishing paid family and medical leave.  SB 730 is the Governor’s bill and would enable private employers to voluntarily participate in a state-run program.  The Senate Commerce Committee voted along party lines to recommend that this bill be sent to interim study.  Meanwhile, the Committee voted along party lines to recommend passage of HB 712, which is the Democratic-lead legislative version that would establish a mandatory program for employers.  The legislature is not likely to pass the Governor’s bill, and the Governor will veto the legislature’s bill, so this issue isn’t likely to go anywhere this year. 

REGULATION OF FOOD TRUCKS:  The Senate passed SB 479 with amendment.  As amended, the bill would establish a committee to study and review state and municipal regulation of food trucks and to evaluate ways to reduce state and local barriers to operating food trucks in NH.  The Committee would be charged will filing a report by November 1, 2020.  The bill now goes to the House.

DOGS IN OUTDOOR AREAS OF BREW PUBS:  The Senate passed SB 450 with amendment.  As amended, the bill would allow brew pub licensees to enable patrons to bring their dogs onto outdoor patios provided that the access to the patio is from the exterior of the building.  The bill now goes to the House. 

ADDING THE SALE OF SKI TICKETS TO THE MEALS AND ROOMS TAX:  The House killed HB 1652 on a vote of 323-7.  The bill would have added the sale of ski tickets under the meals and rooms tax.  NHLRA opposed the bill. 

LIMITING THE USE OF PAPER RECEIPTS:  The House Commerce Committee has voted 19-0 to recommend that HB 1508 be killed.  The bill would require a business to provide a customer with proof of purchase only at the customers’ option.  No business could print a paper receipt unless the customer asks for one.  No paper receipt printed by a business could contain bisphenol A or bisphenol S.  The full House will vote on the bill next Wednesday, March 11.

BEDBUGS:  The House Health & Human Services Committee has voted 18-0 to recommend killing HB 1428.  The bill would require Town Health Officers, upon a complaint of a guest of an inn, hotel, motel or other establishment which provides lodging to transient guests, to enter the premises to evaluate whether bedbugs are present.  The full House will vote on the bill next week.

FOOD RECOVERY:  The House Health & Human Services Committee has voted 19-1 to recommend passage of HB 1703.  The bill would establish a 17-member food recovery working group to reduce food waste and increase food recovery.  NHLRA is named as one of the stakeholders on the working group.  The working group would be directed to look at current regulations and policies that may be hindering food recovery and to make suggestions for changes.

FOOD ALLERGIES:  The House Commerce Committee has voted 16-4 to recommend passage of HB 1102 with amendment.  As amended the bill would require food service establishments to include on all menus and menu boards a notice to customers of the customers obligation to inform their server of his or her food allergies.  It would also require food service establishments to have a person in charge at all times of operation trained and certified as a food protection manager.  This last provision is already a requirement of the new food code.  The full House will vote on the bill next week.

SINGLE USE PLASTIC STRAWS:  The House Commerce Committee has voted 12-8 to recommend passage of HB 1472 with amendment.  As amended, will prohibit food service establishments from providing a single use plastic straw to a customer unless specifically requested.  The full House will vote on the bill next week.

ALLOWING DOGS ON RESTAURANT PATIOS:  The House Commerce Committee has voted 14-6 to recommend passage of HB 1483.  As amended the bill would allow dogs on open air restaurant patios.  Access to the patio would have to be from the exterior of the restaurant.  The full House will vote on the bill next week.

Contact the NHLRA with your legislative questions or concerns at 603-228-9585 or info@nhlra.com.