The conditionality aspect “if you don’t lay-off” wasn’t explicitly stated when I saw Rubio interviewed on CNBC, but that seems to be what is in the bill.
That part is the tricky part, because while small businesses are WAITING to see what Congress is going to pass they have to make decisions about preserving capital today. If given the choice of saving the business absolutely or risking it on faith that Congress will pass this conditional forgivable loan, then some will take the sure thing and lay people off.
Regardless, a conditional forgivable loan is good, too, and the real important thing is it needs to have been done more than a week ago, so every further hour of delay since then just comes at the expense of more jobs as businesses make the call to stay viable.
Now, I have also heard of another wrinkle that seems to make the part forgivable if you “hire back.” That would seem to resolve the issue to address the delay.
There is also this problematic aspect of the first Coronavirus bill that was passed which, effective April 2, requires an employer to provide PAID medical leave for up to 12 weeks if someone has to leave to take care of someone with Coronavirus or if they have a kid that is out of school for closure. This also forces businesses’s hand to NOT have employees at that time if there is no forgivable loan.