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EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 7EEE

Posted 7/8/2020

STATE OF CONNECTICUT

BY HIS EXCELLENCY

NED LAMONT

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 7EEE

PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND RESPONSE – ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND, ONLINE CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR CERTAIN TRADES

WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, I issued a declaration of public health and civil preparedness emergencies, proclaiming a state of emergency throughout the State of Connecticut as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States and Connecticut; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to such declaration, I have issued fifty-seven (57) executive orders to suspend or modify statutes and to take other actions necessary to protect public health and safety and to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that spreads easily from person to person and may result in serious illness or death; and

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic; and

WHEREAS, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) recommend implementation of community mitigation strategies to slow transmission of COVID-19, including cancellation of gatherings of ten people or more and social distancing in smaller gatherings; and

WHEREAS, the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 is higher for individuals who are 60 or older and for those who have chronic health conditions; and

WHEREAS, public health experts have determined that it is possible to transmit COVID-19 even before a person shows symptoms and through aerosol transmission; and

WHEREAS, public health experts have indicated that persons infected with COVID-19 may not show symptoms, and transmission or “shedding” of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 may be most virulent before a person shows any symptoms; and

WHEREAS, the CDC has recommended that people with mild symptoms consistent with COVID-19 be assumed to be infected with the disease; and

WHEREAS, upon a proclamation that a public health or civil preparedness emergency exists, section 28-9(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes authorizes the modification or suspension in whole or in part by executive order of any statute or regulation or requirement or part thereof that conflicts with the efficient and expeditious execution of civil preparedness functions or the protection of public health; and

WHEREAS, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, P.L. 116-136 (CARES Act) created the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), allocates approximately $1.382 billion in assistance to the State of Connecticut, through the Office of Policy and Management, to support Connecticut’s COVID-19 response efforts; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services (DSS) is authorized pursuant to section 17b-11 of the Connecticut General Statutes to accept allotments of federal funds and to manage and dispose of such funds in whatever manner is required by federal law; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order 7NN, issued May 13, 2020, authorized the Office of Policy and Management to direct DSS to provide CRF funding to nursing home facilities in support of Connecticut’s COVID-19 response efforts pursuant to the CRF and in accordance with distribution methodologies as established by the Department of Social Services in consultation with the Office of Policy and Management; and

WHEREAS, additional health care institutions and providers may continue to incur extraordinary costs related to COVID-19 and additional flexibility to potentially provide financial assistance for eligible expenditures through the CRF will further support healthcare institutions’ and providers’ ongoing efforts to provide exceptional care and service, protect staff and engage in effective infection control measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, as a result of distancing and other protection measures enacted to limit the transmission of COVID-19, electricians and plumbers may be unable to safely satisfy their continuing education requirements if their only option is to attend an in-person class as is currently required by Section 20-334d-1(c)(2) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, NED LAMONT, Governor of the State of Connecticut, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Connecticut, do hereby ORDER AND DIRECT:

  1. Authorization for OPM to Direct DSS to Provide CRF Funding to Additional Providers. Subsection (a) of Section 17b-11 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as modified pursuant to Executive Order 7NN, issued May 13, 2020, is hereby further modified to add a new subdivision (5) as follows: The Office of Policy and Management shall authorize the Commissioner of Social Services to distribute Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) funds received by the State of Connecticut under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, P.L. 116-136, to other healthcare institutions or providers as designated by the Office of Policy and Management and the Commissioner of Social Services pursuant to funding distribution methodologies established by the Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Office of Policy and Management, to cover necessary expenditures incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commissioner of Social Services shall require any such healthcare institution or provider to submit reports or attestations in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner to demonstrate that such CRF funds were used for eligible expenditures incurred to respond to COVID-19 in accordance with the CRF and associated federal requirements and guidance. The provisions of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of Section 17b-11 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as added pursuant to Executive Order 7NN, providing in part that CRF allocation and distribution determinations are not subject to any rehearing rights, reconsideration or appeal in any form or forum, shall also apply to this subdivision (5).
  2. Online Continuing Education for Plumbers and Electricians. Section 20-334d1(c)(2) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is modified to authorize the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to approve interactive online continuing education classes for electricians and plumbers through the end of the calendar year. The Commissioner may issue any implementing orders or guidance that she deems necessary to implement this order.

Unless otherwise specified herein, this order shall take effect immediately and remain in effect for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency, unless earlier modified, extended or terminated.

Dated at Hartford, Connecticut, this 30th day of June, 2020.

Ned Lamont Governor

By His Excellency’s Command

Denise W. Merrill Secretary of the State

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