Erie County Legislators Ed Rath, Joe Lorigo, Frank Todaro, and John Mills held a press conference Tuesday morning to announce the Business Closure Reporting Act, a law that would require county departments, employees, or elected officials ordering the closure of a business to submit a report of justification to the Legislature and business within 48 hours of making that decision.

Throughout the Covid-19 outbreak, businesses, including Erie County bars and restaurants, have been required to follow strict guidelines set in place by New York State. These rules and regulations have subjected businesses to higher scrutiny and regular check-ins from Erie County Health Department sanitarians, which have led to the recent closure of several establishments throughout the county. The Business Closure Reporting Act advocates for greater transparency and would require the following:

• A detailed written report that provides justification for the decision to order the closure, signed by the Erie County government official ordering the closure; 

• A copy of the official order or communication closing the place of business; and 

• Any and all evidence in the possession of Erie County government on which the closure was based.

Legislator Rath said, “If a business is ordered to close their doors, it hurts the owner and their employees. We don’t want to see more people out of work during these difficult times. The impact of a sudden business closure can be devastating, and we need to know that the decision to implement a closure was absolutely necessary and there is an appropriate legal justification for it. We believe this law achieves that and supports the best interests of all small businesses in Erie County.”

Legislators Rath, Todaro, Lorigo, and Mills hope to schedule a public hearing in the near future before the law is considered for full approval of the Legislature.