Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 1 - EXECUTIVE ORDERS › Section 1:2020-20H

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
EIGHTH AMENDED EXECUTIVE ORDER
On December 14, 2020, the 239,767 
			 th case of a novel coronavirus
			 ("COVID-19"), was confirmed in the State of Oklahoma. As noted in a previous
			 Executive Order, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
			 ("CDC") has identified the potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 as
			 "high" both globally and in the United States. In addition, on March 14, 2020,
			 the President of the United States declared a national health emergency in the
			 United States as a result of the national spread of COVID-19. On March 15,
			 2020, I issued Executive Order 2020-07, which was last amended in Eighth
			 Amended Executive Order 2020-07, declaring an emergency caused by the impending
			 threat of COVID-19 to the people of this State and the public's peace, health,
			 and safety, and I have issued a series of Executive Orders over the last few
			 months addressing this health crisis, the last of which, Seventh Amended
			 Executive Order 2020-20, was issued on November 16, 2020. This health crisis
			 still exists, and still needs to be addressed in various ways by Executive
			 Order.
As COVID-19's impact continues to affect our State and its
			 citizens, it is important to continue to take measures to protect all
			 Oklahomans against this threat. Therefore, I believe, after consultation with
			 numerous health experts within my administration, it is still necessary to
			 provide for the rendering of mutual assistance among the State and political
			 subdivisions of the State and to cooperate with the Federal Government with
			 respect to carrying out emergency functions during the continuance of the State
			 emergency pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Emergency Management Act
			 of 2003.
In view of the foregoing, I, J. Kevin Stitt, Governor of the
			 State of Oklahoma, pursuant to the power vested in me by Section 2 of Article
			 VI of the Oklahoma Constitution hereby declare and order the following:
1. There is hereby declared an emergency
		  caused by the threat of COVID-19 to the people of this State and the public's
		  peace, health, and safety. The counties included in this declaration are:
All 77 Oklahoma Counties
2. The State Emergency Operations
		  Plan has been activated, and resources of all State departments and agencies
		  available to meet this emergency are hereby committed to the reasonable extent
		  necessary to prepare for and respond to COVID-19 and to protect the health and
		  safety of the public. These efforts shall be coordinated by the Director of the
		  Department of Emergency Management with comparable functions of the federal
		  government and political subdivisions of the State.
3. State agencies, in responding to this
		  emergency, may make necessary emergency acquisitions to fulfill the purposes of
		  this declaration. If using a P-Card to make such acquisitions, agencies may
		  purchase the necessary acquisitions without regard to the current P-Card policy
		  limitation of $5,000.00 purchase limit. Agencies may make the necessary
		  emergency acquisitions without the requirement to follow bidding
		  requirement/limitations on such emergency acquisitions, without the need to
		  purchase from State Use Vendors, or to purchase from mandatory Statewide
		  contracts. Such necessary emergency purchases shall be capped at $250,000.00
		  per transaction. All such purchases must be readily identifiable as such, as
		  following the conclusions of this threat, all such necessary emergency
		  acquisitions will be audited to determine if they were made for emergency
		  purposes.
4. State agencies, in
		  responding to this emergency, may employ additional staff without regard to the
		  classification requirements of such employment.
5. State agencies engaging in rulemaking as
		  set forth in 75 O.S. § 303 may conduct virtual public comment hearings via
		  videoconference.
6. The
		  requirement in Amended Executive Order 2019-3 that the Chief Administrative
		  Officer request and obtain approval from the Cabinet Secretary for an exemption
		  to the personnel freeze for agencies under the Secretary of Health and Mental
		  Health shall be waived.
7. State
		  agencies shall continue to follow guidance for interaction with the public
		  provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Health ("OSDH").
8. Emergency responders employed by the State
		  of Oklahoma who are correctional officers, law enforcement officers, and fire
		  personnel shall not be excluded from the application of and benefits under the
		  Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
		  ("FFCRA") if:
a. They are subject to a
		  coronavirus quarantine or isolation order;
b. They have been advised by a healthcare
		  provider to self-quarantine due to coronavirus concerns; or
c. They are experiencing symptoms of
		  coronavirus and are seeking a medical diagnosis.