Apr. 16, 2020
HARRISBURG—Rep. Todd Polinchock (R-Bucks) has introduced legislation,
House Bill 2412, to require the secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development to issue a waiver to the COVID-19 Business Closure Order to allow all real estate-related activities that can adhere to social distancing practices and other mitigation measures defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protect workers and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“Pennsylvania is the only state to shut down all real estate activities, while issuing some waivers on an ad hoc basis,” Polinchock said. “There is no consistency. While governors in New Jersey, California, Illinois and New York have issued shelter-in-place orders, they have all included exemptions for real estate.”
Polinchock questioned the governor’s decision to deem the purchasing of a house as non-essential.
“It doesn’t make sense,” Polinchock said. “Food and shelter are two of the most essential elements in life. Citizens of the Commonwealth need to be able to find housing. Real estate licensees are equipped with the skills to complete the process and transactions safely and with minimal further risk to the health of the people of Pennsylvania.”
The governor’s business closure order has crippled the housing market and devastated the lives of the tens of thousands of Pennsylvania real estate professionals and their families as well as their clients, many of whom are now stuck with two mortgages or between closings with no place to live.
The state Department of Labor and Industry has reported that over 1.3 million Pennsylvanians have applied for unemployment compensation benefits in the past few weeks and the number is expected to continue to rise.
Representative Todd Polinchock
144th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Rene Morrow
717.260.6273
rmorrow@pahousegop.com
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