Special Session Recap- Emergency Powers

September 28, 2021
Please join me, Reps. Wood and Sanchez, and Sen. Lesser, TOMORROW, September 29th from 5pm-7pm for a Newington Community Conversation with updates from the state legislature at the Mill Pond Park Gazebo.

Don't forget a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. There will be donuts and apple cider served!

 

September Special Session

Yesterday the House held a special session to discuss the extension of Governor Lamont's emergency powers, until the legislature reconvenes in February.  

To learn more, please watch my two Live from the Legislature update videos, or read below.

Over the past year and a half we have witnessed tragic consequences of this virus and how serious its impact can be. I am very proud of Connecticut and our successful approach to handling COVID thanks to Governor Lamont and his ability to respond quickly to the rapidly changing circumstances. 

I voted to extend the Governor's emergency powers yesterday to ensure that we continue keeping our residents safe by continuing the strategies that have worked: listening to the advice of public health officials and keeping policies in place that allow the state to quickly respond to changing conditions.

The emergency declaration is not unilateral authority. Legislative leadership has the power to veto any executive order that the legislative body disagrees with. The legislature continues to play a pivotal role in working with the Governor and state agencies to analyze public health data and craft policies that will allow our schools to stay open and our economy to keep growing.

Currently, there are 26 states that still have emergency orders in effect and then many who do not (like NY, NJ, and MA), because they passed legislation to give their governor extended emergency powers.
 
Below is a list of the current Executive Orders issued by Governor Lamont in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that are still in effect:

  • Executive Order 7P, sec. 1: Authorization to Provide for Non-Congregant Housing for Persons at Risk
  • Executive Order 7EEE, sec. 1: Authorization for OPM to Direct DSS to Provide Coronavirus Relief Funding to Additional Providers
  • Executive Order 9, sec. 1: Commissioners of Early Childhood and Education May Issue Operational Rules
  • Executive Order 9Q, sec. 3: Out-of-Network COVID-19 Immunization
  • Executive Order 10, sec. 4: Use of Commuter Parking Facilities for COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination
  • Executive Order 11D, secs. 2 & 3:
    • Modification of State Contracting Statutes to Facilitate Emergency Procurement of Essential Goods
    • Modification of State Contracting Statutes to Facilitate the Emergency Procurement of Essential Services
  • Executive Order 12D: Application to UniteCT Required Before Delivering Notice to Quit for Nonpayment of Rent (tenant protections)
  • Executive Order 13A: Authorization for municipal leaders to implement universal mask requirements & modification of effective date on legislation that requires testing of nursing home staff
  • Executive Order 13C: COVID-19 Immunization Information Access
  • Executive Order 13D (Repealed by EO 13G): COVID-19 vaccination requirements for state employees, school employees, and childcare facility staff
  • Executive Order 13E: Establishment of temporary nurse aide program
  • Executive Order 13F: Modification of deadline for long term care facility staff to receive vaccinations
  • Summary of Executive Order 13G :
    • Requires all current and prospective executive branch state employees, state hospital employees (including long-term care workers), K-12 public and private employees, and child care facility employees to, by Sept. 27, 2021, be (1) fully vaccinated against COVID-19; (2) have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and be scheduled for a second dose; or (3) apply for a medical or religious exemption to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
    • Unvaccinated employees, regardless of exemption status, must provide weekly results of a COVID-19 test.
    • Information collected under this order is exempt from disclosure under state FOIA.