Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill (Senate Bill 40) to modify the procedure for the declaration and extension of a state of disaster emergency under the Kansas Emergency Management Act.
In a press release issued Wednesday, her administration said that this was done to ensure the state can continue providing communities with the necessary resources and support to further serve the state’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
The current disaster declaration has been extended to May 28th, 2021.
“This bipartisan compromise will extend the State of Disaster Emergency that allows us to provide hospitals with PPE, support food banks and pantries, and otherwise respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kelly said Wednesday.
There were many pandemic-related executive orders that were set to expire March 31st along with the expiration of the state of disaster emergency. Senate Bill 40 includes a provision to revoke all current executive orders related to the pandemic, but Governor Kelly retains the authority to re-issue orders under the new process imposed by the bill.
The Governor will re-issue the following orders on April 1st, which remain in effect until rescinded or until the state of disaster emergency expires:
- 20-40 – Temporarily allowing notaries and witnesses to act via audio-video communication technology during state of disaster emergency
- 20-43 – Temporary relief from certain restrictions concerning shared work programs during state of disaster emergency
- 20-56 – Amended Licensure, Certification, and Registration for persons and Licensure of “Adult Care Homes” during state of disaster emergency
- 20-61 – Temporarily prohibiting certain foreclosures and evictions
- 20-68 – Establishing a face coverings protocol (the re-issued order will apply to all counties)
- 20-69 – Requiring COVID-19 testing in certain adult care homes
- 20-70 – Provisions related to drivers’ license and identification cards during the state of disaster emergency
- 20-71 – Temporary relief from certain unemployment insurance requirements during state of disaster emergency
- 21-01 – Temporary provisions for employer payment of income tax withholding for work performed in another State of Kansas
- 21-04 – Temporary relief from certain tuberculin testing requirements during state of disaster emergency
- 21-05 – Extending time for Kansas rural water districts to hold annual meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic
- 21-06 – Temporary authorization for additional vaccinators during state of disaster emergency
The following orders will not be re-issued and therefore allowed to expire:
- 20-37 – Allowing certain deferred tax deadlines and payments during the state of disaster emergency
- 20-59 – Requiring COVID-19 mitigation procedures in K-12 schools
- 20-66 – Amending provisions related to drivers’ license and vehicle registration and regulation during state of disaster emergency
You can view Senate Bill 40 in its entirety by clicking here.
