Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 1 - EXECUTIVE ORDERS › Section 1:2020-13

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-13
On April 7, 2020, the 1,472 
			 nd 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
			 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 by Eighth
			 Amended Executive Order 2020-07 dated April 2, 2020) 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. Further, on April 2, 2020, I declared a
			 health emergency in the State of Oklahoma as defined in 63 O.S. § 6104 of
			 the Oklahoma Statutes.
Therefore, 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 and 63 O.S. §§ 6101-6900 of the Oklahoma Statutes,
			 specifically 63 O.S. § 6401, do hereby declare and order the following:
1. There is hereby declared an
		  emergency caused by the impending 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 State Wide
		  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. Effective immediately,
		  a moratorium is placed on all out-of-state travel for all employees and
		  officers of agencies that is paid for, in whole or in part, by the State of
		  Oklahoma. This moratorium shall apply to all travel expenses not already
		  incurred as of the date of this Order. Any state employee or officer seeking an
		  exception to this moratorium may submit a written request to the Governor, who
		  shall have the sole discretion to approve or deny the request.
5. State agencies, in responding to this
		  emergency, may employ additional staff without regard to the classification
		  requirements of such employment.
6.
		  State agencies shall continue to follow guidance for interaction with the
		  public provided by the Oklahoma Department of Health.
7. 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).
In addition, I direct as follows:
1. All State agencies shall transmit a clear
		  delegation of authority for state agency directors and designate an Emergency
		  Management Liaison by 5:00 p.m. on March 16, 2020;
2. All State agencies shall establish and, if
		  necessary, implement a remote work policy that balances the safety and welfare
		  of state employees with the critical services they provide;
3. All State agencies shall encourage
		  Oklahomans interacting with agency services to utilize online options whenever
		  possible;
4. All State agencies
		  shall ensure continued compliance with Executive Order 2019-13, which limits
		  non-essential out-of-state travel.
5. All State agencies shall promulgate any
		  emergency rules necessary to respond to the emergency and to comply with the
		  directives contained herein.
6. All
		  state agencies with licensing and certificate responsibility over medical
		  professionals, including the Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, State
		  Board of Osteopathic Examiners, and Board of Nursing shall, by April 15, 2020
		  promulgate emergency rules necessary to increase the number of medical
		  professionals able to practice in the State. Such action may include, but is
		  not limited to, the following:
a. Reduction
		  in supervisory requirements or limitations placed on non-physicians;
b. Removal of barriers of entry for retired
		  medical professionals from re-entering the workforce. Medical professionals who
		  have lapsed or inactive licenses or certifications may have their single-state
		  license or certification reinstated if they submit a reinstatement application
		  and fee proscribed by their respective licensing boards and meet the
		  qualifications for licensure or certification established by such Board,
		  provided such license shall only be valid as long as this Order is in effect.
		  The continuing qualifications as required for licensure or certification are
		  hereby waived for those reinstated licensees as long as this Order remains in
		  effect. It is strongly recommended any required fees be waived to the fullest
		  extent possible; and
c. Increase
		  opportunities for students and recent graduates who are not yet fully licensed
		  to practice.
Any license or certificate issued pursuant to such Emergency
			 Rules or this Order shall only be valid for as long as this Order is in effect.
			 Further, any retired physician who returns to practice to provide assistance
			 with the State's response to COVID-19 shall register with the Medical Reserve
			 Corps.