| R 097 |
| 2022 -- H 7256 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 02/11/2022 |
| C O N C U R R E N T R E S O L U T I O N |
| EXTENDING POWER CONFERRED UPON THE GOVERNOR PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (E) OF TITLE 30, CHAPTER 15, SECTION 9 OF THE RHODE ISLAND GENERAL LAWS |
Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kazarian, Ackerman, Edwards, and Abney |
| Date Introduced: January 28, 2022 |
| WHEREAS, On August 19, 2021, the Governor issued Executive Order 21-86 declaring |
| a new state of emergency with respect to the Delta and other then-existing variants of COVID-19 |
| (Declaration of Disaster Emergency for New COVID-19 Variants) and which said Order was |
| affirmed and amended via Executive Order 21-109, which has in turn been extended by the |
| Governor pursuant to subsequent orders, the most recent of which being Executive Order 22-12 |
| issued on February 3, 2022; and |
| WHEREAS, The Governor has issued various additional Executive Orders predicated on |
| the August 19, 2021 order Declaring a Disaster Emergency for New COVID-19 Variants; and |
| WHEREAS, The state has experienced widespread community spread of one or more |
| highly transmissible variants of COVID-19 in recent months, resulting in the highest infection |
| and hospitalization rates during the course of the pandemic and thereby placing a dangerous strain |
| on the health care system in the state; and |
| WHEREAS, Although at this time, infection and hospitalization rates appear to be in |
| decline, daily infections and hospitalization rates currently remain extremely high and the |
| COVID-19 virus has demonstrated a tendency to be dangerous and unpredictable to the citizens |
| of this state and the stability of the health care system; and |
| WHEREAS, Certain powers relating to the Governor's management of disaster |
| emergencies are enumerated in § 30-15-9(e); and |
| WHEREAS, In accordance with § 30-15-9(b) the General Assembly, by concurrent |
| resolution, may terminate a state of disaster emergency at any time; and |
| WHEREAS, On July 1, 2021, the General Assembly passed 2021 - H 6122 Substitute A |
| as amended, entitled "An Act Making Appropriations for the Support of the State for the Fiscal |
| Year Ending June 30, 2022" which amended § 30-15-9 to impose a limit of one hundred eighty |
| (180) days on powers conferred upon the Governor pursuant to subsection (e) of such section |
| "unless and until the General Assembly extends the one hundred eighty (180) day period by |
| concurrent resolution"; and |
| WHEREAS, The Governor signed said act on July 6, 2021 thereby making it operative; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, The one hundred and eightieth (180th) day following the issuance of |
| Executive Order 21-86 occurs on or about February 14, 2022; and |
| WHEREAS, Present conditions reasonably indicate that the health and safety of the |
| citizens of this state would benefit from a limited continuation of the judicious use of executive |
| emergency powers by the Governor; now therefor be it |
| RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island, without waiving |
| its powers pursuant to § 30-15-9(b) to terminate a state of disaster emergency at any time, hereby |
| adopts this concurrent resolution extending the Governor's additional powers contained in § 30- |
| 15-9(e) of the General Laws with respect to Executive Order 21-86, as superseded by Executive |
| Order 21-109 together with extensions thereof and additional Executive Orders related thereto, |
| through March 31, 2022; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That after March 31, 2022, powers conferred upon the Governor pursuant |
| to the provisions of § 30-15-9(e) as they relate to the Declaration of Disaster Emergency for New |
| COVID-19 Variants shall expire, unless further extended by concurrent resolution of the General |
| Assembly; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That if the Governor finds that the threat of danger has passed to the extent |
| that emergency conditions no longer exist, the Governor shall terminate the state of disaster |
| emergency by executive order or proclamation in accordance with § 30-15-9(b); and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel J. McKee, Governor of |
| the State of Rhode Island. |
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| LC004398/SUB A |
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