PA To Audit Coronavirus Business Waiver Process

HARRISBURG, PA — State officials will conduct an audit of how Pennsylvania handled its business waiver process during the coronavirus shutdown, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced Thursday.

The waiver process, carried out by the Department of Community and Economic Development, followed the governor's March 19 order closing all non life-sustaining businesses. The order was aimed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed nearly 2,300 Pennsylvania residents as of Thursday.

DePasquale said the audit was ordered after complaints from business owners, who said the process was too slow and not transparent. “My audit is intended to help make sure that the waiver process is managed more smoothly should it be necessary to use it again in the future," he said.

Gov. Tom Wolf "agrees that performing this audit is both appropriate and necessary,” DePasquale said. The Department of Community and Economic Development has pledged full cooperation, he added.

More than 40,000 businesses sought a waiver from the governor’s closure order.

So far, 6,171 exemptions have been approved, 13,197 were denied, and 11,624 were submitted for activities as to which no exemption was required, said Department of Community and Economic Development spokesperson Casey Smith.

She added: "As DCED has refined its process for responding to requests for exemption, it developed a means to address requests from business that are subject to guidance that is specific to those industries. In particular, certain businesses, such as construction firms and auto dealers, have been moved from the previous “Yes”, “No”, and “Not Required” responses over to this new category, to ensure that they are fully informed of changes permitting certain activities, such as construction or limited auto sales. To date, more than 10,000 of those letters have been sent to various industries like automotive sales and construction, to explain their newly approved activities as a result of changing guidance issued by the administration."

The audit process will begin immediately and results will be made public once it has been completed.