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Govs On Deck – March 25, 2020

Govs on Deck

Good Wednesday afternoon and welcome to today’s edition of “Govs on Deck.” Yup, you read that right – we’re still daily.
Questions or suggestions? Send me a note at amestoy@dga.net. You can find us all on Twitter too – @A_Tall_Turner@CEAmestoy@JerusalemDemsas, and @andersonkayjay.
A different sort of week:
Because of the quickly evolving situation, we are changing this newsletter to become a daily roundup of how our states are responding to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Every day this week, we will send an overview of the actions our governors have taken the day before. We want this to be helpful, so let me know what other info/what other formats you’d like to see for these updates.
Dem Govs Get It Done:
NOTE: This is an overview of recent actions, not a comprehensive roundup of everything our incredible governors are doing. Want more examples? Send me an email and I can help you track down answers.
Stay home orders:

  • PENNSYLVANIA Gov. Tom WOLF extended his stay at home order to cover Erie County. The new order now includes eight counties: Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Monroe, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

Presidential Major Disaster Declaration:

  • LOUISIANA Gov. John Bel EDWARDS announced his request for a statewide Major Disaster Declaration was approved by President Trump. 
  • NORTH CAROLINA Gov. Roy COOPER requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration. 

Small Business Administration request:

  • Applications by MAINE for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans were approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration.   

Business operations:

  • KENTUCKY Gov. Andy BESHEAR announced he will issue guidance for all non-life-sustaining businesses to close to in-person service.
  • MAINE Gov. Janet MILLS ordered all non-essential businesses and operations to close their physical locations that are public facing, as well as all non-essential business sites that require more than ten workers to convene in a space where physical distancing is not possible.
  • MONTANA Gov. Steve BULLOCK extended the closure of dine-in food service and alcoholic beverage businesses through April 10th.
  • NEW JERSEY Gov. Phil MURPHY expanded the list of essential businesses allowed to operate.

Public gatherings:

  • CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin NEWSOM is closing parking lots at dozens of beaches and state parks to prevent the spread of coronavirus. 
  • NEVADA Gov. Steve SISOLAK signed a directive banning public gatherings of 10 or more in any indoor or outdoor public area.

Elections:

  • DELAWARE Gov. John CARNEY moved the state’s presidential primary to June 2nd.  

Schools:

  • CONNECTICUT Gov. Ned LAMONT extended the closure of public K-12 schools through April 20th.  
  • HAWAII will extend the closure of K-12 schools through April 30th.
  • KENTUCKY’s Department of Education has canceled plans to administer the K-PREP assessment for the 2019-2020 school year after being granted a waiver by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • MONTANA Gov. Steve BULLOCK extended the closure of K-12 schools through April 10th. 
  • NORTH CAROLINA Gov. Roy COOPER directed $50 million in school funding flexibility to help public schools and support the greatest needs to serve students during the COVID-19 crisis.
  • NEW JERSEY Gov. Phil MURPHY has requested that all standardized testing be cancelled for the 2019-2020 academic year. 

Health care:

  • CONNECTICUT Gov. Ned LAMONT signed an executive order enacting flexibility to maintain adequate medical marijuana access for patients.
  • ILLINOIS Gov. JB PRITZKER laid out steps to increase capacity at hospitals in the state, including setting up triage centers, repurposing old hospitals, and securing critical equipment. 
  • MAINE Gov. Janet MILLS took actions to expand the use of telemedicine and to lift requirements on out-of-state licensed medical professionals to practice in state.  
  • MICHIGAN Gov. Gretchen WHITMER issued a call for individuals and businesses to donate needed medical supplies. 
  • MONTANA Gov. Steve BULLOCK issued a directive waiving the bidding process to quickly procure or distribute emergency supplies or contract for additional space to care for patients, as well as waives reporting requirements around the transfer of certain patients in order to connect patients with the medical care they require quickly and to discharge recovering patients back to their home communities without delay.
  • NEVADA Gov. Steve SISOLAK signed an emergency regulation prohibiting the prescribing and dispensing of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for a COVID-19 diagnosis, requires an ICD-10 code on prescriptions for the drugs and limits the prescription amount to a 30-day supply for the drugs.
  • NEW YORK Gov. Andrew CUOMO announced the distribution of medical supplies and equipment to hospitals across New York City, Long Island and Westchester to help front line healthcare workers

Child care:

  • OREGON Gov. Kate BROWN issued an order allowing child care providers to continue to operate only if they limit their services to ten kids or fewer. 
  • RHODE ISLAND Gov. Gina RAIMONDO announced a new partnership with the website Care.com to give front-line workers three months of free access to its premium service to find caregivers for children as well as elders and pets. The Boys And Girls Club, Greater Providence YMCA, Children’s Workshop, Children’s Friend and Learning Brook will also offer on-site care for children of essential workers at some hospitals.

Worker support:

  • HAWAII’s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations made available a new digital form to apply for unemployment benefits on its website to ease the online applications process. 
  • NEW JERSEY Gov. Phil MURPHY announced the launch of a new online portal to connect New Jersey residents with jobs in critical industries responding to COVID-19. 

Response teams:

  • CONNECTICUT Gov. Ned LAMONT announced the creation of the COVID-19 Learn from Home Task Force to coordinate superintendents of districts that opt-in for philanthropic donations the state receives to ensure a safe and efficient distribution process of these critical learning materials to districts and families across the state. 
  • NEW JERSEY First Lady Tammy MURPHY announced the launch Tuesday of the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, a nonprofit that will marshal resources to identify critical needs and fight COVID-19’s impact on the state’s most vulnerable communities.

Other efforts:

  • CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin NEWSOM signed an executive order temporarily halting the intake and/or transfer of inmates and youth into the state’s prisons and youth correctional facilities.  
  • COLORADO Gov. Jared POLIS released guidance to local governments and law enforcement agencies to improve safety during interactions with Coloradans, detention center staff, and individuals held in custody.
  • CONNECTICUT Gov. Ned LAMONT ordered the early opening of fishing season in the state. 
  • CONNECTICUT Gov. Ned LAMONT suspended restrictions on the re-employment of retired municipal employees to help deal with critical staffing needs.
  • DELAWARE Gov. John CARNEY signed an executive order suspending residential foreclosures and evictions during the outbreak of coronavirus.
  • KENTUCKY Gov. Andy BESHEAR announced that state workers will begin helping at food banks across the state. 
  • MAINE Gov. Janet MILLS signed an agreement with the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System to coordinate requests for assistance and the deployment of resources to assist in Maine’s response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
  • NEW MEXICO’s Supreme Court ordered a temporary moratorium on evictions for inability to pay rent during the coronavirus COVID-19 public health emergency.
  • WASHINGTON Gov. Jay INSLEE signed additional measures addressing public meetings and public records access, notary services, and Liquor and Cannabis Board late payment waivers.

Stay safe everyone and wash your hands!