New York State
The Executive Order makes the following directives through January 29, 2021:
- Allows individuals who hold a certification from a nationally-accredited pharmacy technician certification program acceptable to the Department of Health, is of good moral character, and who meets additional qualifications for licensure as required by the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, to be eligible to be temporarily licensed as a “pharmacy technician” in the State of New York. In such capacity, these individuals may administer COVID-19 vaccinations at Points of Dispensing sites under certain oversight and training requirements. Temporary licensure as a “pharmacy technician” does not entitle any individual to rights or licensing status except for those granted by this order.
- Modifies the suspensions and directives contained in Executive Order 202.82 that permit individuals to administer vaccinations against COVID-19 to permit these individuals to administer vaccinations against COVID-19 provided that they meet all training requirements and conditions determined appropriate by the Commissioner of Health.
The Executive Order makes the following suspensions and modifications through January 29, 2021:
- Authorizes a licensed pharmacist to supervise up to a total of four persons who are either unlicensed assistants or pharmacy technicians holding a temporary license, as established pursuant to this Executive Order.
- Modifies the suspensions and modifications contained in Executive Order 202.82 that permit certain healthcare professionals to administer vaccinations against COVID-19 to permit these individuals to administer COVID-19 vaccinations provided that the individuals meet conditions set by the Commissioner of Health.
Through February 6, 2021, the Executive Order makes the following directives:
- Modifies a previous directive contained in Executive Order 202.88 relating to vaccine administration requirements, to allow a facility to request an extension of the deadline by which the facility’s allotment must be administered, which may be granted by the Commissioner of Health for good cause.
- Establishes temporary minimum signature requirements for nominating petitions due by February 6, 2021 in New York City and for town or village elections held prior to July 1, 2021.
Through February 6, 2021, the Executive Order makes the following suspensions and modifications:
- Any suspension of law or directives contained in the Executive Orders 202.23, 202.24, and 202.26 relating to the conduct of an election which occurred in the calendar year 2020 are no longer in effect, except for the provision relating to the collection of unemployment insurance for a worker who is hired for purposes of early voting or voting for a special election to occur in 2021.
- The suspension contained in Executive Order 202.81 modifying the Education law related to absentee ballots are continued.
- Extends the terms of certain hospital administration laws to COVID-positive only facilities, enabling these facilities to engage a facility manager, provided that the facility manager is an established operator of a general hospital, and subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Health.
- Allows all party nominations made by a party caucus in a village election to be conducted remotely in whole or in part as set forth by the chair of such party.
- Includes the potential for contraction of the COVID-19 virus as an illness for purposes of request or receipt of an absentee ballot.
- The means of electronic participation in a caucus if not included in the caucus notice shall be noticed in a supplemental notice in the same manner as the caucus notice not less than five days before such caucus.
- Election inspectors shall not attend or visit facilities to provide absentee ballots physically, and will send them by mail or by personal delivery.
- Continues and modifies previously issue provisions to require all influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations for any individual (child or adult) to be reported to New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS) or the Citywide Immunization Registry (CIR), as applicable, within 24 hours of administration of such vaccine.
Additionally, the Executive Order the extends for 21 days the period for paying property taxes without interest or penalties that are due in the localities of the Village of Bayville and the City of Troy.
- Any healthcare facility, provider, or entity who has been allocated and has received the COVID-19 vaccine, or who has received redistributed COVID-19 vaccine, must administer all such vaccine within one week of receipt. Any healthcare facility, provider, or entity who is not on pace to administer all of their vaccine allocation must notify the Department of Health (DOH) on the 5th day after receipt. This directive is effective for any vaccine currently on hand at any healthcare facility, provider, or entity as of January 4, 2020, and remaining doses on hand must be administered no later than January 8, 2020. The failure to administer vaccine in accordance with this process may result in a civil penalty of up to $100,000, and/or a reduction or elimination of future allocations of vaccine. Failure to notify the Department of Health that the entity is not on pace may also cause the Department to reduce or eliminate future allocations of vaccine to the facility, provider, or entity.
- Modifies the previous directive contained in Executive Order 202.73 relating to testing of nursing home staff to authorize the Commissioner of Health to set forth testing of all nursing home personnel in any area of the State, irrespective of location in a micro-cluster zone.
The Executive Order makes the following suspensions and modifications through February 3, 2021:
- Modifies the provision of Executive Order 202.82 relating to the reporting of vaccinations to only require all influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations for any individual (child or adult) to be reported to the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS) or the Citywide Immunization Registry (CIR), as applicable, within 12 hours of administration of such vaccine.
- Permits the Department of Health to assess the civil penalties established in this Executive Order.
The Executive Order requires a quarantine for a period consistent with Department of Health guidance for all travelers entering New York from a state which is not a contiguous state, or from a country or territory subject to a CDC Level 2 or higher COVID-19 Risk Assessment Level or for which the COVID-19 risk level is designated by the CDC as Unknown, unless such traveler has traveled for less than 24 hours, is deemed an essential worker, or obtains two negative COVID-19 diagnostic test results in accordance with Executive Order 205.2.
Additionally, the Executive Order extends through January 29, 2021 the suspensions and modifications of law and any directives, unless they are superseded by a subsequent order, contained in Executive Orders 202 up to and including 202.21, and 202.27, 202.28, 202.29, 202.30, 202.31, 202.38, 202.39, 202.40, 202.41, 202.42, 202.43, 202.48, 202.49, 202.50, 202.51, 202.52, 202.55, 202.55.1, 202.56, 202.60, 202.61, 202.62, 202.63, 202.67, 202.68, 202.72, as continued and contained in Executive Order 202.79 for another thirty days through January 29, 2021.
The Executive order also makes the following suspensions and modifications through January 29, 2021:
- Provides that any qualified member who dies after December 31, 2020 is eligible to receive accidental death benefits.
- Extends the ability of an individual to request an absentee ballot under previous provisions.
- Removes limits on working hours for physicians and postgraduate trainees.
- Allows, for purposes of an approved Department of Health demonstration program, an operator or an operator’s agent to utilize a paperless ticketing system that only allows a customer to transfer the ticket through the operator or the operator’s agent and subject to the terms and conditions set by the operator or the operator’s agent provided that a refund shall be offered for such ticket’s face value to any customer, subject to the terms and conditions set forth by the operator and consistent with the demonstration program.
- Suspends criminal procedure law to toll any time periods for the period during which the criminal action is proceeding on the basis of a felony complaint through arraignment on the indictment or on a superior court information, and thereafter shall not be tolled.
- On a form to be determined by the Department of Health (DOH), healthcare providers must require any person who is receiving a COVID-19 vaccine to provide an attestation that they are a member of a specific priority group that has been determined by the DOH to be eligible for the vaccine. A licensed healthcare provider may be subject to civil penalties of up to one million dollars per dose administered and/or the revocation of any State-issued license for administering a COVID-19 vaccine to an individual who has not certified to being a member of a priority group, or to a person known to the provider to not be a member of an eligible priority group.
- The New York State Comptroller will not implement the salary increases planned for January 1, 2021 for New York State Agency Commissioners or elected officials holding statewide offices.
The Executive Order makes the following suspensions and modifications through January 27, 2021:
- Authorizes retired physicians, registered professional nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse practitioners licensed to practice and in current good standing in New York State, but not currently registered in New York State, to re-register through the use of an expedited automatic registration form developed by the State and to waive any registration fee for the triennial registration period.
- Permits the Department of Health to assess the civil penalties established in this Executive Order.
The Executive Order makes the following suspensions and modifications through January 17, 2021:
- Allows a governing body of an assessing unit under the Real Property Law to adopt a resolution directing the assessor to grant exemptions on the 2021 assessment roll to all property owners who received that exemption on the 2020 assessment roll. The governing body may include the procedures by which the assessor may require a renewal application to be filed in the resolution.
- Relieves heath care providers from record keeping requirements to the extent necessary for health care providers to perform tasks as may be necessary to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Any person acting reasonably and in good faith under this provision will be afforded absolute immunity from liability for any failure to comply with any recordkeeping requirement.
- Modifies Executive Order 202.76 to provide that all suspensions of the Family Court Act shall remain in effect until the expiration of this Executive Order, as extended or modified by future Executive Order.
- Modifies the COVID-19 Rent Relief Act to authorize the payment of rent relief without requiring that a tenant provide proof that they were paying more than 30 percent of gross monthly income towards rent prior to March, 2020.
The Executive Order makes the following directive through January 17, 2021:
- Expands the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance’s authority to authorize the abatement of interest, for a period of 91 days, for restaurants and other food service establishments that are required to file returns and remit sales and use taxes by December 21, 2020, for the sales tax quarterly period that ended November 30, 2020, and that were required to cease indoor dining by Executive Order 202.81 or by Executive Order 202.68 because they are located in an area that was designated an “orange zone” on December 18, 2020.
Through January 12, 2021, the Executive Order makes the following suspensions and modifications of law:
- Modifies the Insurance Law to ensure health coverage for COVID-19 immunizations and its administration, including visits necessary to obtain the vaccine.
- Permits licensed physicians, certified nurse practitioners to issue non-patient specific regimens to nurses, physician assistants, specialist assistants, pharmacists, or other permitted by this Order, as well as non-nursing staff, permitted by law or Executive Order and upon completion of training deemed adequate by the Commissioner of Health, to: (1) collect throat, nasal, or nasopharyngeal swab specimens, as applicable and appropriate, from individuals suspected of being infected by COVID-19 or influenza, for purposes of testing; (2) collect blood specimens for the diagnosis of acute or past COVID-19 disease; (3) administer vaccinations against influenza or COVID-19, and (4) where applicable and to the extent necessary, to perform tasks, under the supervision of a nurse, otherwise limited to the scope of practice of a licensed or registered nurse to provide care for individuals diagnosed or suspected of suffering from a COVID-19 or influenza infection.
- Permits non-patient specific regimens to be prescribed, ordered to, and executed by registered professional nurses, newly licensed (issued a limited permit) and licensed pharmacists certified to administer immunizations for the administration of COVID-19 vaccine.
- Under the supervision of licensed physicians, licensed physician assistants, or certified nurse practitioners with additional training permits non-patient specific regimens for the administration of COVID or influenza vaccination to be prescribed, ordered to, and executed by:
- licensed practical nurses;
- licensed pharmacists not certified to administer immunizations by the State Education Department;
- midwives;
- dentists;
- dental hygienists who have been issued a dental hygiene restricted local infiltration anesthesia/nitrous oxide analgesia certificate;
- podiatrists; and
- emergency medical care technicians.
- Permits licensed pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccine less than 90 days after approval of such vaccine by the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, subject to the certification by the Commissioner of Health and Commissioner of Education.
- Suspends certain requirements so that licensed pharmacists may administer vaccinations against influenza and COVID-19 without reporting such administrations to patients’ attending physicians, but must, at a minimum, report the vaccination to the City Immunization Registry (CIR) or New York State Immunization Information Registry (NYSIIS).
- Suspends certain recordkeeping requirements as it pertains to vaccinations against influenza or COVID-19, provided that health professionals must comply with all recordkeeping requirements directed by the Department of Health.
- Sets certification standards for registered nurses administering COVID-19 vaccines for cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Permits physician assistants and nurse practitioners to provide medical services appropriate to their education, training and experience without oversight from a supervising physician, including, but not limited to, administering COVID-19 and influenza vaccine and medically supervising points of dispensing or other types of vaccination sites, without civil or criminal penalty related to a lack of oversight by a supervising physician.
- Suspends the requirement that persons 19 years of age or older must consent to have their immunization information reported to the NYSIIS or the CIR.
- Requires all influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations for any individual (child or adult) to be reported to the NYSIIS or CIR, as applicable, within 24 hours of administration of such vaccine.
- Allows laboratories holding a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Acts (CLIA) certificate in the relevant specialty of testing and meeting the CLIA quality standards to perform testing for the detection of influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus RNA, or other respiratory panels as approved by the Department of Health, in specimens collected from individuals suspected of suffering from a COVID-19 infection, including postmortem specimens.
- Allows individuals authorized to perform testing for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, or its antibodies to perform any clinical laboratory test on any specimen, provided such individual is under appropriate supervision and meets the federal requirements for testing personnel appropriate to the assay or device authorized by the FDA or the New York State Department of Health.
- Allows licensed pharmacists to order tests for the detection of influenza virus or respiratory syncytial virus RNA, in specimens collected from individuals suspected of suffering from a COVID-19 or influenza infection; and to administer tests for the detection of influenza virus or respiratory syncytial virus RNA, subject to certificate of waiver requirements, in patients suspected of suffering from or having recovered from a COVID-19 or influenza infection, upon completion of appropriate training developed by the Department of Health.
- Allows temporary vaccination sites to be constructed and extensions to be approved by the Commissioner of Health.
- Permits an authorized vaccine provider within New York State to furnish federal COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary supplies (obtained as a result of enrollment in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program) to another authorized vaccine provider within New York State, who has also enrolled in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program, for the purposes of administering such vaccination at no cost and subject to applicable storage and handling requirements and any guidance issued by the New York State Department of Health in consultation with the New York State Education Department.
Through January 12, 2021 the Executive Order makes the following directives:
- Individuals enrolled in the following educational programs may administer vaccinations against influenza and COVID-19 after receiving training and under the proper oversight of authorized medical professionals:
- A medical program approved and/or registered the State Education Department;
- A registered professional nursing program or licensed practical nursing program approved and/or registered by the State Education Department;
- A physician assistant program approved and/or registered by the State Education Department;
- A pharmacy program approved and/or registered by the State Education Department;
- A dentistry program approved and/or registered by the State Education Department;
- A podiatric medicine program approved and/or registered by the State Education Department; or
- A midwifery program approved and/or registered by the State Education Department.
- Requires the medical professional supervising POD sites or other types of vaccination sites to have a current certification in CPR.
- Within 60 days of this Order, all clinical laboratories permitted by the Department of Health, and having more than 25 employees, must become qualified entity participants and connect to the SHIN-NY and must allow private and secure bi-directional access to patient information by other qualified entity participants authorized by law to access such patient information.
Through January 10, 2021, the Executive Order makes the following suspensions and modifications:
- Allows the Gaming Commission to reduce the standards for jockeys to qualify for health insurance due to race date cancellations as a result of governmental closure orders.
- Includes the potential for contraction of COVID-19 as an illness for purposes of request or receipt of an absentee ballot under the Education Law.
Through January 10, 2021, the Executive Order makes the following modifications and continuations of previous directives:
- The prohibition on the initiation of a proceeding or enforcement of an eviction of any commercial tenant for nonpayment of rent or a foreclosure of any commercial mortgage for nonpayment is continued until January 31, 2021.
- General hospitals may discharge a patient who has not obtained a negative result to a COVID-19 test, provided that such patient is beyond the infectious period of time as required to be measured by centers for disease control policy, only to a COVID-positive only facility if the facility first certifies that it is able to properly care for such patient.
- Indoor dining in New York City is suspended effective Monday December 14, 2020.
- Gyms, fitness centers or classes, located within designated “orange zones” are allowed to operate at 25% capacity subject to strict adherence to Department of Health guidance, effective December 14, 2020.
- Personal care services, including barbers, hair salons, spas, tattoo or piercing parlors, nail technicians and nail salons, cosmetologists, estheticians, the provision of laser hair removal and electrolysis, and all other personal care services located in a designated “orange zone” may operate subject to strict adherence to Department of Health guidance, effective December 14, 2020. Employees performing services directly on, or to, customers must receive diagnostic testing for COVID-19 on a weekly basis for the duration of time that the business remains within an “orange zone.” No employee may provide services at a reopened business without first obtaining a negative COVID-19 test result within the preceding 7 days of providing such service.
Additionally, the Executive Order extends the suspensions and modifications of law and any directives, unless they are superseded by a subsequent order, contained in Executive Orders 202 up to and including 202.21, and 202.27, 202.28, 202.29, 202.30, 202.31, 202.38, 202.39, 202.40, 202.41, 202.42, 202.43, 202.48, 202.49, 202.50, 202.51, 202.52, 202.55, 202.55.1, 202.56, 202.60, 202.61, 202.62, 202.63, 202.67, 202.68, as continued and contained in Executive Order 202.72 through January 1, 2021.
The Executive Order makes the following suspensions, modifications, and directives through January 1, 2021:
- Permits general hospitals licensed pursuant to Article 28 of the Public Health Law that are treating patients during the disaster emergency to rapidly transfer, or receive such patients, and to enable inter- or intra-system patient load balancing as may be required by the Commissioner of Health, provided such facilities take all reasonable measures to protect the health and safety of such patients, including safe transfer practices.
- The directive contained in 202.68 that required the Department of Health to determine areas in the State that require enhanced public health restrictions based on cluster-based cases of COVID is hereby modified to provide that schools located within geographic areas designated by the Department of Health as “red zones” and “orange zones” may conduct in-person instruction during the period of time that the zone is designated “red” or “orange,” subject to compliance with guidance and directives of the Department of Health.
- Pursuant to Executive Order 202.72, all suspensions of the Family Court Act shall remain in effect until December 18, 2020 and thereafter continue to remain in effect for those juvenile delinquency matters not involving a detained youth and for those child abuse and neglect proceedings not involving children that have been removed from their homes.
- Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Criminal Procedure Law, any appearance at a criminal proceeding may be conducted virtually by electronic appearance with the consent of the parties, including but not limited to bench trials, evidentiary hearings, CPL 440 hearings, and/or probation or parole violation hearings.
The Executive Order also suspends through December 19, 2020:
- Sections 1205, 1263, and 1266 of the Public Authorities Law, to the extent necessary to permit the relevant public authorities to receive comments concerning proposed fare, toll, rental, rate, charge, or other fee adjustments through public hearings held remotely and through use of telephone conference, video conference, and/or other means of transmission, including acceptance of public comments electronically or by mail, and to permit all required documentation and records to be available in an electronic format on the internet and upon request.
- All “liquor stores” and “wine stores” that are licensed by the State Liquor Authority (SLA) are required to cease all off premises sales and close at or before 10:00 p.m., and not reopen before relevant county opening hours permit.
- All businesses that are licensed by the SLA for on premises service of alcoholic beverages, are required to cease all on premises service and consumption of food and beverages (including alcoholic beverages), inside or outside, at or before 10:00 p.m. and not reopen before the later of any stipulated opening hours or existing county opening hours permit. To-go and delivery service of food, and non-alcoholic beverages only, may continue until the earlier of any stipulated closing hours or existing county closing hours.
- All restaurants, even those not licensed by the SLA, are required to cease in-person dining at 10:00 p.m., but may continue curbside takeout and delivery service after 10:00 p.m. so long as otherwise permitted, and may reopen no earlier than 5:00 a.m.
- The above provisions will be subject to reasonable limitations and procedures set by the Chairman of the State Liquor Authority and/or any relevant Department of Health guidance.
- Gyms and fitness centers must close to the public at 10:00 p.m., and cannot reopen until 5:00 a.m.
- Previous Executive Order provisions limiting non-essential gatherings are modified only insofar as to further limit non-essential private residential gatherings to 10 or fewer individuals for any lawful purpose or reason, provided that social distancing, face covering, and cleaning and disinfection protocols required by the Department of Health are adhered to.
- The provision that suspended the requirement for annual vehicle safety inspections and at least biennial emissions inspections is no longer suspended, but no penalty will be administered for failure to obtain such inspections until December 1, 2020.
- The provisions that provided for a period of validity and expiration of a non-driver identification card, is no longer suspended.
- The provision that provided for a period of validity and expiration of a registration certificate or number plate for a motor vehicle or trailer, a motorcycle, a snowmobile, a vessel, a limited use vehicle, and an all-terrain vehicle is no longer suspended, but no penalty will be administered for the failure to extend such registration until December 1, 2020.
- The provision that provided an expiration for temporary registration documents issued by auto dealers is no longer suspended.
- The provision that tolled any specific time limit for the commencement, filing, or service of any legal action, notice, motion, or other process or proceeding is no longer in effect as of November 4, 2020. Any criminal procedure law suspension remains in effect and all suspensions of the Family Court Act remain in effect until November 18, 2020, and thereafter continue to remain in effect for juvenile delinquency matters not involving a detained youth and child neglect proceedings not involving foster care.
- The provision requiring the reporting of COVID-19 and influenza test results by additional clinical laboratories within three hours is continued and amended to permit such laboratories to report results to the Department of Health (DOH) within 24 hours. DOH may require more frequent reporting if deemed necessary.
The Executive Order also makes the following modification and directive:
- The Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law are modified to provide that the time to answer in any summary eviction proceeding for nonpayment of rent that is pending on the date of the issuance of this Executive Order will be sixty days.
The directive contained in Executive Order 202.61, along with implementing guidance, requiring clinical laboratories and licensed professionals authorized by the Department of Health Physician Office Laboratory Evaluation Program to administer a test for COVID-19 or influenza to report results of COVID-19 and influenza tests to DOH within three hours, is modified to permit clinical laboratories and those licensed professionals with reporting requirements to report results to DOH within 24 hours. DOH may require more frequent reporting if deemed necessary
- All travelers entering New York from a state which is not a contiguous state shall quarantine for a period of 14 days consistent with Department of Health regulations for quarantine unless:
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- For travelers who travel outside of New York for less than 24 hours, the traveler does not need to test prior to departure from the state, and does not need to quarantine upon arrival back in New York. However, such travelers must continue to fill out the traveler form upon entry; and shall take a diagnostic test upon the fourth day after arrival in New York.
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- For any traveler who has traveled outside of New York for more than 24 hours, such traveler must seek testing prior to departure from that state, within 72 hours of departure, prior to arrival in New York. The traveler must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine according to Department of Health guidelines for a minimum of three days, measured from time of arrival, and on day four may seek a diagnostic test to exit quarantine. The traveler may exit quarantine upon receipt of the second negative test result.
- The Commissioner may issue additional protocols for essential workers, or for other extraordinary circumstances, when a quarantine is not possible, provided such measures continue to safeguard the public health.
- The modified Travel Advisory is effective at 12:01 a.m. on November 4, 2020, until rescinded by the Commissioner.
- Any violation of a quarantine or isolation order issued to an individual pursuant may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000.
The Executive Order makes the following directives:
- The moratorium on evictions of any commercial tenant for nonpayment of rent or a foreclosure of any commercial mortgage for nonpayment of such mortgage is extended through January 1, 2020.
- Movie theatres are allowed to open effective October 23, 2020 at 25% capacity with up to 50 people maximum per screen, subject to adherence to Department of Health guidance, provided that movie theatres in the New York City region, in counties with infection rates above 2% over a 14-day average, and in counties with red cluster zones continue to be closed.
- The suspension of the requirement for annual safety inspections and at least biennial emissions inspections under the Vehicle and Traffic Law, shall no longer be suspended or modified as of November 3, 2020.
Physicians and certified nurse practitioners under previous Executive Orders that have been allowed to issue non-patient specific regimen to nurses or others authorized to collect throat or nasopharyngeal swab specimens are also authorized under this Executive Order to collect saliva swab specimens in COVID-19 testing.
Additionally, the Executive Order authorizes the Director of the Budget to withhold funds appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2020 Enacted Budget to or for, directly or indirectly, a public or nonpublic school or school district and/or to a locality for the period of time that the school district, school or locality is found to have been in violation of Executive Order 202.68, or any order of the Department of Health issued pursuant to Executive Order 202.68
The Executive Order makes the following suspensions and modifications through November 5, 2020:
- Any individual who encourages, promotes or organizes a non-essential gathering as set forth in Department of Health regulation, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $15,000 per day.
- Authorizes any local government official to assess, and the local government to retain, a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for violations of Executive Orders or any regulations of the Department of Health, that impose requirements pertaining to maintaining social distance and wearing of face coverings, for the duration of the disaster emergency.
The Executive Order makes the following directives through November 5, 2020. The directives are effective immediately, and once notice is provided to affected areas, may be enforced. The directive will be enforced no later than Friday, October 9, 2020, as determined by the county in which the red zones, orange zones, and yellow zones are located.
The Department of Health shall determine areas in the State that require enhanced public health restrictions experiencing clusters of high positivity rates. Certain activities will be restricted and any permitted activities, in all three zones will be conducted in strict adherence to Department of Health guidance.
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- Based upon the severity of the cluster activity, the Department of Health shall adopt in the most severe, or “red zones,” the following mitigation measures:
- Non-essential gatherings of any size shall be postponed or cancelled;
- Based upon the severity of the cluster activity, the Department of Health shall adopt in the most severe, or “red zones,” the following mitigation measures:
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- All non-essential businesses, as determined by the Empire State Development Corporation based upon published guidance, will reduce in-person workforce by 100%;
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- Houses of worship shall be subject to a capacity limit of 25% of maximum occupancy or 10 people, whichever is fewer;
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- All restaurants and taverns shall cease serving patrons food or beverage on-premises and may be open for takeout or delivery only; and
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- The local Department of Health shall direct closure of all schools for in-person instruction, except as otherwise provided in Executive Order.
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- In moderate severity warning areas or “orange zones” the following mitigation measures:
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- Non-essential gatherings shall be limited to 10 people;
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- Certain non-essential businesses, for which there is a higher risk associated with the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, including gyms, fitness centers or classes, barbers, hair salons, spas, tattoo or piercing parlors, nail technicians and nail salons, cosmetologists, estheticians, the provision of laser hair removal and electrolysis, and all other personal care services shall reduce in-person workforce by 100%;
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- Houses of worship shall be subject to a maximum capacity limit of the lesser of 33% of maximum occupancy or 25 people, whichever is fewer;
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- All restaurants and taverns must cease serving patrons food or beverage inside on-premises but may provide outdoor service, and may be open for takeout or delivery, provided however, any one seated group or party shall not exceed 4 people; and
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- The local Department of Health shall direct closure of all schools for in-person instruction, except as otherwise provided in an Executive Order.
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- In precautionary or “yellow zones,” the following mitigation measures:
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- Non-essential gatherings shall be limited to no more than 25 people;
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- Houses of worship shall be subject to a capacity limit of 50% of its maximum occupancy and shall adhere to Department of Health guidance
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- All restaurants and taverns must limit any one seated group or party size to 4 people; and
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- The Department of Health shall issue guidance by October 9, 2020 regarding mandatory testing of students and school personnel, and schools shall adhere to such guidance.
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- The provision that provides for a period of validity and expiration of a non-driver identification card, will expire on November 3, 2020.
- The provisions that provide for a period of validity and expiration of a registration certificate or number plate for a motor vehicle or trailer, a motorcycle, a snowmobile, a vessel, a limited use vehicle, and an all-terrain vehicle, will expire on November 3, 2020.
- The provision that provides an expiration for temporary registration documents issued by auto dealers will expire on November 3, 2020.
- The provisions that tolled any specific time limit for the commencement, filing, or service of any legal action, notice, motion, or other process or proceeding as prescribed by the procedural laws of the state, including but not limited to the criminal procedure law, the family court act, the civil practice law and rules, the court of claims act, the surrogate’s court procedure act, and the uniform court acts, or by any statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation, or part thereof, is continued, as modified by prior executive orders, provided however, for any civil case, such suspension is only effective until November 3, 2020.
- The suspension and modification of Section 30.30 of the criminal procedure law, as continued and modified in EO 202.60, is no longer in effect, except for felony charges entered in the counties of New York, Kings, Queens, Bronx, and Richmond, where such suspension and modification continue to be effective through October 19, 2020.
The Executive Order modifies the labor law to exclude from the definition of “total unemployment” per diem, part-time work performed between September 18, 2020 and November 3, 2020 for the New York State Board of Elections or a local board of elections where the total earnings for the week from all work performed for any employer do not exceed $504.00 and the employer is not the separating employer identified in the original claim, and not to require claimants to report such part-time work when certifying for weekly benefits.
The Executive Order extends previous directives that prohibited the initiation of a proceeding or enforcement of an eviction of any commercial tenant for nonpayment of rent or a foreclosure of any commercial mortgage for nonpayment through October 20, 2020.
- Allows indoor food services and dining in New York City beginning September 30, 2020, so long as the Department of Health and any other applicable State-issued guidance is strictly adhered to.
- Requires every licensed professional to report COVID-19 and influenza test results immediately (not more than 3 hours) to the Department of Health through the Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System (ECLRS) when a result is received.
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- Every professional authorized to administer a test for COVID-19 must inquire if the individual attends school, and if so, where such individual attends school, and their place of employment, and whether the individual works or volunteers in an elementary, secondary school, or post-secondary school, and to report the information to ECLRS.
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- Every professional authorized to administer a test for COVID-19 must obtain the individual’s local address, if the local address differs from the individual’s permanent address, and the local address must be reported to ECLRS.
- Requires every licensed laboratory in the state of New York to obtain and transmit information via ECLRS related to school of attendance, or place of employment, or volunteer work for any adult prior to processing any specimen for a COVID-19 test to the laboratory along with such sample.
- Every local health department in the state of New York must report to the Department of Health on a daily basis all COVID-19 testing and diagnoses for any individual who is a student, teacher, and any other individual who is a school employee or volunteer, for both higher and lower education institutions and districts.
- Every school and school district must report to the Department of Health on a daily basis all COVID-19 testing and diagnoses among students, teaching staff, and any other employees or volunteers.
- Every higher education institution must report to the Department of Health, on a daily basis, all COVID-19 testing and diagnoses among any on-campus students, teaching staff, and any other employees or volunteers. Additional notification to the Department of Health is required once an institution reaches 100 positive cases.
- Any directive, modification or suspension previously issued to authorize individuals to administer or process any COVID-19 test shall apply to any FDA approved method to test for COVID-19 in conjunction with any other communicable disease.
- All boards of elections must develop a plan to allow a registered voter to drop off a completed absentee ballot at a board of election, early voting location, or election day voting location, without requiring they wait in line with in-person voters, to help minimize delays during in-person voting and promote contactless voting. Plans must be submitted to the State Board of Elections by September 21, 2020, and made publicly available in the county board of elections office and on their website when submitted.
- The board of elections will not send a voter a paper absentee ballot application with their ballot, and the voter will not be required to complete a paper application either prior to or simultaneously to receiving the ballot, if the voter previously requested an absentee ballot by other means.
The Executive Order makes the following suspensions and modifications:
- The Public Health Law is modified to the extent necessary to require immediate reporting (not more than 3 hours) of results of COVID-19 and influenza testing containing information pertaining to attendance and employment in schools as required by the directives contained in this Executive Order.
The Executive Order makes the following directives:
- Authorizes schools statewide to be open for instruction, effective September 1, 2020, subject to adherence to Department of Health issued guidance and directives.
- Whenever a coroner or medical examiner has a reasonable suspicion that COVID-19 or influenza was a cause of death, but no such tests were performed within 14 days prior to death the coroner or medical examiner shall administer both a COVID-19 and influenza test within 48 hours after death.
- Suspend the deadline to pay 2019-2020 second half general taxes appearing on the Nassau County tax roll without interest or penalties from August 10, 2020 to August 31, 2020 for residential property.
- Provide a discount of one percent on payments of second half 2020-2021 school district taxes in Nassau County which are made on or before December 10, 2020.
- Allows facilities authorized to conduct video lottery gaming or casino gaming to open beginning on or after September 9, 2020, subject to adherence to Department of Health guidance.
- Allows malls in New York City to open beginning on or after September 9, 2020, subject to adherence to Department of Health guidance.
The Executive Order makes the following suspensions and modifications:
- Permits public authorities to receive comments concerning a proposed toll adjustment through public hearings held remotely, use of telephone conference, video conference, and/or other means of transmission, including acceptance of public comments electronically or by mail.
- Provides that in addition to any travel to a country for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a level two or three travel health notice, an employee is not be eligible for paid sick leave benefits or any other paid benefits if the employee voluntarily travels to a state is on the travel advisory list pursuant to Executive Order 205.
- Provide that the tolling of civil statutes of limitation shall be lifted as it relates to any action to challenge the approval by any municipal government or public authority of a construction project that includes either affordable housing or space for use by not-for-profit organizations.
- Eliminates the minimum in-person quorum requirements in Rural Electric Cooperatives Law Section 17(d).
- Title 5 of Article 11 of the Real Property Tax Law, is suspended with respect to the ability of a municipality to sell liens.
- Any extension of the period for paying property taxes without interest or penalties pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 925-a; and
- The directive permitting telephonic or virtual party nominating conventions which has been superseded by Chapter 142 of the Laws of 2020.
The Executive Order also directs the Commissioner of Health to develop by emergency regulations, comprehensive statewide protocols for the timely testing and reporting of all COVID-19 and Influenza cases to continue to ensure, as flu season approaches, the State has the most accurate data to evaluate the number of positive cases and to best ensure timely contact tracing efforts are implemented in all regions.
- Includes the potential for categorizing contraction of the COVID-19 virus as an illness for purposes of request or receipt of an absentee ballot for special district elections not administered by the County Board of Elections taking place before November 3rd, 2020.
- Provides that every eligible voter to vote in any election on or before November 3, 2020 may be able to request an absentee ballot via phone, internet or electronically. Eligible voters who request an absentee ballot will be sent one, and the board of elections receiving the request will maintain a record of the request. No ballot will be deemed invalid for lack of a complete absentee ballot application for any reason.
- Requires Board of Elections to provide a five-day cure period for any eligible deficiency instead of seven if an absentee ballot is received after November 3, 2020. The Board of Elections will notify any voter of any eligible deficiency within 24-hours by phone or e-mail, if available, and will only mail a notification to the voter if notice to the voter by phone or e-mail is not possible.
- Provides that no cause of action shall be maintained against a Board of Elections for the November General Election if notice is not able to be made within the time period after a good faith effort, and through no fault of the Board of Elections.
- Allows a Board of Elections to procure and provide absentee ballot applications, absentee ballots, envelopes, mail notification cards pursuant to this executive order, or any other means of transmitting an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot to voters in accordance with the timeframes set forth in Executive Order 202 or any subsequent Executive Order.
Additionally, the Executive Order makes the following directives through September 23rd:
- All county Boards of Elections and the City of New York Board of Elections are required to send an informational mailing to every registered voter by September 8, 2020, containing the following information:
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- The dates, hours, and locations for early voting in such voter’s county, including the early voting location for which the voter is assigned, if applicable.
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- Information regarding how to apply for an absentee ballot, including the opportunity to apply online or by phone, and including the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot.
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- Information regarding the date and hours of the November 3, 2020 General Election, and the voter’s election day polling place location.
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- Information regarding how the voter can look up their registration status.
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- An explicit reminder or communication of the opportunities to vote prior to Election Day, including application for an absentee ballot and early voting options.
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- Expected mail times, if a voter chooses to request an absentee ballot.
- All county Boards of Elections and the City of New York Board of Elections must submit staffing plans and any staffing needs for early voting and Election Day polling site operations, as well as post-election canvass of results, to the state Board of Elections no later than September 20, 2020, to provide adequate time for the state Board of Elections to assist as feasible.
- All county Boards of Elections and the City of New York Board of Elections must take all steps possible to count ballots as soon as possible, including reviewing absentee or military ballot envelopes prior to Election Day, including establishing objections by the Board to ballot envelopes prior to Election Day, and any reporting of affidavit ballots by counties to the state board to compare against absentee ballots must be completed 48 hours after the election.
- The State Board of Elections must develop a uniform envelope for absentee ballots for use by local Boards of Elections by September 8, 2020. The envelope must establish where a voter must sign to be valid. All local county Boards of Elections and the City of New York Board of Elections must use the uniform envelope for absentee ballots.
- Section 28-66 of the Charter of the City of Buffalo.
- Any extension of the period for paying property taxes without interest or penalties pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 925-a.
Additionally, the Executive Order issues the following directives through September 19, 2020:
- Allows bowling alleys to open as of August 17, 2020, subject to adherence to the Department of Health issued guidance.
- Allows gyms and fitness centers to open August 24, 2020, subject to adherence to the Department of Health issued guidance and facility inspections by local health departments.
- Extends the State’s moratorium on COVID-19 related commercial evictions and foreclosures through September 20, 2020.
- Allows low-risk indoor arts and cultural activities to open in New York City as of August 24th, subject to adherence to the Department of Health issued guidance.
Executive Order 202.22
Executive Order 202.23
Executive Order 202.24
Executive Order 202.25
Executive Order 202.26
Executive Order 202.32
Executive Order 202.33
Executive Order 202.34
Executive Order 202.35
Executive Order 202.44
Executive Order 202.45
Executive Order 202.53
- Allows the Nassau County Executive to extend the following deadlines:
- The County Assessor to complete the extension of taxes for 2020-2021 school district purposes from September 18, 2020 to October 16, 2020;
- The County Legislature to levy such taxes from September 18, 2020 to October 16, 2020;
- The County to deliver to the town tax receivers the 2020-2021 school district assessment roll and warrants from September 28, 2020 to October 26, 2020;
- The first half 2020-2021 school district taxes shall be due and payable from October 1, 2020 to November 1, 2020; and
- The first half 2020-2021 school district taxes may be paid without interest or penalties from November 10, 2020 to December 10, 2020, with payments made after such date to be subject to interest and penalties beginning on December 11, 2020.
- Extends the deadline for filing a 2020 small claims assessment review petition for property located in Nassau County to September 4, 2020.
- Suspends and modifies any law or regulation that would otherwise create a landlord tenant relationship between any individual assisting with the response to COVID-19 or any individual that has been displaced due to COVID-19, and any individual or entity, including but not limited to any hotel owner, hospital, not-for-profit housing provider, hospital, or any other temporary housing provider who provides temporary housing for a period of thirty days or more solely for purposes of assisting in the response to COVD-19.
- States that various deadlines shall be tolled during the duration of this Executive Order plus an additional period of 120 days for cooperatives, condominiums, timeshares, homeowner associations, and senior residential communities regarding closing, occupancy, acceptance of an offering statement or prospectus, mortgage recording tax etc..
- The directive contained in Executive Order 202.47 regarding political party proxies is amended to provide that any party committee rule in place prior to the issuance of this order that authorized more than ten proxies is in full force and effect.
- The suspensions of law allowing school budget revotes to occur on July 28, are no longer suspended.
- Any extension of the period for paying property taxes without interest or penalties is no longer in effect.
The Executive Order also retroactively extends by twenty-one days the period for paying without interest or penalty the property taxes that were due by July 1, 2020, in the Village of Atlantic Beach, Nassau County.
Additionally, the Executive Order indefinitely extends previous directives which allowed eligible regions to enter phase four. New York City entered phase four on Monday, July 20th; but unlike the rest of the state, indoor common portions of retail shopping malls and places of low-risk indoor arts and entertainment continue to be closed.
- the directives made by Executive Order 202.31;
- the suspensions and directives contained in Executive Order 202.41;
- the directive contained in Executive Order 202.42, and;
- the suspensions and directives contained in Executive Order 202.43.
However, Section 5-18.0(2) of the Nassau County Administrative Code is no longer suspended or modified and any extension of the period for paying property taxes without interest or penalties pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 925-a is no longer in effect.
The Executive Order makes the following new suspensions and modifications through August 12, 2020:
- Reduces the required number of signatures on registered public or free association library funding petitions;
- Changes the minimum threshold requirement of signatures on nominating petitions for library trustee elections to a number equal to 70% of the minimum number required by Education Law or the governing statutory provisions of such library.
The Executive Order continues the suspensions and modifications of law, and any directives, not superseded by a subsequent directive, made by Executive Order 202 and each successor Executive Order up to and including Executive Order 202.14, as continued and contained in Executive Order 202.27, 202.28, and 202.38, for another thirty days through August 5, 2020, except:
- The directives contained in Executive Order 202.3, that closed video lottery gaming or casino gaming, gym, fitness center or classes, and movie theaters, and the directives contained in Executive Order 202.5 that closed the indoor common portions of retail shopping malls, and all places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, as amended, are hereby modified to provide that such directives remain in effect only until such time as a future Executive Order opening them is issued.
- Allows for in-person special education services and instruction required under Federal, State or local laws, rules, or regulations for the summer term by school districts. Any districts offering such services must follow State and Federal guidance.
- Allows a questionnaire administered through an asynchronous electronic interface or electronic mail that is approved by a physician licensed in the State of New York to be sufficient to establish a practitioner-patient relationship for purposes of ordering a clinical laboratory test.
- Extends the directive allowing the opening of barbershops and hair salons, in regions in phase two reopening, and requires operations to be consistent with Department of Health guidance.
- Extends the directive allowing any licensee or franchisee of a racetrack to operate.
- Extends the modification of Executive Order 202.35 in relation to New York On PAUSE as follows:
- Any region that meets the prescribed public health and safety metrics as determined by the Department of Health for phase one reopening may allow outdoor, low-risk recreational activities and businesses providing such activities, as determined by Empire State Development Corporation, to be permitted to operate, in accordance with Department of Health guidance.
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- Independent nominating petitions shall be filed between July 27th through July 30, 2020.
- A certificate of acceptance or declination for an independent nomination shall be filed not later than August 3, 2020.
- A certificate to fill a vacancy caused by a declination of an independent body shall be filed not later than August 6, 2020.
- A signature made earlier than July 1, 2020, or later than July 30, 2020, shall not be counted upon a petition for an independent nomination.
- Signature requirements for independent nominating petitions, as outlined in the Executive Order.
- Rescinds the directive contained in Executive Order 202.13, insofar that independent nominating petitions may be circulated, and signatures collected beginning July 1, 2020, consistent with this Executive Order.
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