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

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
Fourth Amended Executive Order 2020-20
On August 28, 2020 the 55,550 
			 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
			 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, Amended Executive
			 Order 2020-20, was issued on June 12, 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. 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. 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.