EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
(COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 21)
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, 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, eliminating obstacles or barriers to the provision of supplies and health care services is necessary to ensure the Illinois healthcare system has adequate capacity to provide care to all who need it; and,
WHEREAS, the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and the danger the virus poses to the public's health and wellness requires an expansion of the healthcare workforce to ensure there are sufficient practitioners to help support the healthcare response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois; 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, including by ensuring that individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 are able to be tested and treated in an effective and expeditious manner; and,
WHEREAS, the Department of Professional Regulation Law, 20 ILCS 2105-400, and its accompanying regulations, authorize the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to take certain critical actions during the period of a gubernatorial disaster proclamation to address the need to increase the number of licensed professionals responding to the disaster; and,
WHEREAS, the actions that the Secretary of IDFPR may take to increase the number of licensed professionals engaged in disaster response include (a) suspending requirements for permanent and temporary licensure of persons who are licensed in another state, (b) modifying the scope of practice restrictions under any licensing act administered by the Department, and (c) expanding the exemption in Section 4(a) of the Pharmacy Practice Act; and,
WHEREAS, the Department of Professional Regulation Law, 20 ILCS 2105-400(a)(1), (2) and (3), authorizes the Secretary to take these actions for licensed professionals who are “working under the direction of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Public Health pursuant to a declared disaster”;
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. During the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, the requirement in the Department of Professional Regulation Law, 20 ILCS 2105-400, and its accompanying regulations, authorizing the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to take certain actions to increase the number of licensed professionals responding to the disaster is suspended to the extent it limits the Secretary’s authority to those persons working under the direction of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Illinois Department of Public Health pursuant to a declared disaster by the Governor. The requirement that the Secretary shall only exercise this authority “in coordination with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Public Health” remains in effect. In exercising this authority, the Secretary shall work closely with the Directors of the Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Public Health to ensure any impacted licensed professionals are aiding in the response to the disaster.
Issued by the Governor April 9, 2020
Filed by the Secretary of State April 9, 2020