Mar 18, 2020

Executive actions in response to COVID-19

Gov. Ned Lamont has issued near daily executive orders in response to COVID-19. He extended expiration dates for permits, licenses, and other credentials administered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection on March 17. The executive order also makes modifications to the 180-day school-year waiver; allows police departments to limit or eliminate fingerprinting for background checks; suspends the requirements that public assistance benefit overpayments be immediately recouped; and suspends in-person hearing attendance requirements for certain Department of Social Services hearings.

Those orders follow Monday’s orders that all Connecticut restaurants and bars stop allowing diners access to sit-down service, and transition to delivery and take-out transactions only. Lamont joined the governors of New York and New Jersey in this decision, and, together, they remain committed to making similar decisions on a regional level. Meanwhile, the impact on businesses is devastating—10,000 unemployment claims were submitted on Monday, and more than 5,000 were submitted by Tuesday at noon. Lamont is working closely with Connecticut’s federal delegation to provide guidance on the federal stimulus package that is currently being decided. Workers and small businesses—particularly in the service industry—continue to be a priority for the Lamont administration.

PIACT will continue to provide immediate updates on its website as Lamont further addresses COVID-19 in Connecticut and the region. If you want to reach out to the governor’s office or your elected representatives to convey the affect on your community, PIA’s Advocacy tool makes it easy. Questions? Email the PIACT Government & Industry Affairs Department.