EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
(COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 20)
WHEREAS, Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among people through respiratory transmissions and present with symptoms similar to those of influenza; and,
WHEREAS, in a short period of time, COVID-19 has rapidly spread throughout Illinois, necessitating updated and more stringent guidance from federal, state, and local public health officials; and,
WHEREAS, social distancing, which requires maintaining at least a six-foot distance between people, is a paramount strategy for minimizing the spread of COVID-19 and as cases increase, drastic social distancing measures are needed even in communities where confirmed cases have not yet been identified; and,
WHEREAS, the number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois is increasing exponentially and across more locations in Illinois and is resulting in an increasing number of deaths; and,
WHEREAS, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, declared all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area on March 9, 2020 (the First Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation) in response to the outbreak of COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, I again declared all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area on April 1, 2020 (the Second Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, and, together with the First Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations) in response to the exponential spread of COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, I find it necessary to take additional measures for the preservation of public health and safety throughout the entire State of Illinois, to ensure that our healthcare delivery system is capable of serving those who are sick, and to ensure that funeral services can be provided appropriately for those who lives are lost during this public health crisis; and,
WHEREAS, social distancing guidelines, the order to stay at home except for essential operations, widespread teleworking, and the reduction of many governmental and business functions to minimum essential operations has led to challenges with respect to meeting certain government deadlines and adhering to certain in-person and other requirements;
THEREFORE, by the powers vested in me as the Governor of the State of Illinois, pursuant to Sections 7(1), 7(2), 7(8), and 7(12) of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305, I hereby order the following:
Section 1. The provisions of the Township Code, 60 ILCS 1/30-5(a) and 30-5(b), requiring that each township’s annual township meeting for calendar year 2020 be held on either April 14, 2020 or April 21, 2020 are suspended through the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations.
Section 2: During the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, section 10-35 of the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code, 225 ILCS 41/10-35, stating that no license of a funeral director and embalmer intern shall be renewed more than twice, is suspended. Licensees must meet all other requirements for renewal as set forth by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Section 3: During the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, sections 1-15 and 1-20 of the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code, 225 ILCS 41/1-15 and 225 ILCS 41/1-20, requiring that the transportation of deceased human remains to a cemetery, crematory or other place of final disposition shall be under the immediate direct supervision of a licensee, are suspended as they pertain to licensed funeral director interns. Licensed funeral director interns must meet all other requirements as set forth by the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code and its accompanying provisions at Title 68, Part 1250 of the Illinois Administrative Code, 68 IAC 1250.
Section 4: During the duration of and for sixty days following the termination of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, the definition of “child” under Section 2.01 of the Child Care Act of 1969, 225 ILCS 10/2.01, is suspended for the limited purpose of ensuring that persons in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services who are 18 years of age or older and are in a placement identified in the Child Care Act of 1969, are permitted to remain in their placement.
Section 5. During the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, the requirement in the Health Care Worker Background Check Act, 225 ILCS 46/33(e), and the accompanying regulations, that designated students, applicants, and employees must have their fingerprints collected electronically and transmitted to the Illinois Department of State Police within 10 working days is suspended, provided that the fingerprints are transmitted within 30 working days of enrollment in a CNA training program or the start of employment.
Savings Clause. If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.
Issued by the Governor April 7, 2020
Filed by the Secretary of State April 7, 2020