DeSantis renews emergency order for 60 days

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 21-94 (Emergency Management – Extension of Executive Order 20-52-COVID-19), which extends the state of emergency due to COVID-19. 

A copy of Executive Order 21-94 is provided below. A PDF copy is available HERE. 

STATE OF FLORIDA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 21-94(Emergency Management – Extension of Executive Order 20-52-COVID-19)

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-52, subsequently extended, declaring a state of emergency for the entire state due to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, no state of emergency declared pursuant to the Florida Emergency Management Act may continue for more than 60 days unless renewed by the Governor; and

WHEREAS, the impact of COVID-19 poses a continuing threat to the health, safety and welfare of the State of Florida and its residents; and

WHEREAS, an extension of Executive Order 20-52, as extended, is necessary to ensure Florida schools remain open for the remainder of the school year and to protect Floridians from being required to produce a so-called vaccine passport as a condition of participating in everyday life; and 

WHEREAS, the state continues to implement budgetary response efforts to help Floridians to the greatest extent possible; and

WHEREAS, as Florida recovers and re-launches its economy, I am committed to providing all available resources to assist Floridians and local communities with their efforts.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section l (a) of the Florida Constitution and by the Florida Emergency Management Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:

Section 1. The state of emergency declared in Executive Order 20-52, as extended by Executive Orders 20-114, 20-166, 20-192, 20-213, 20-276, 20-316, and 21-45 will be extended for 60 days following the issuance of this order for the entire State of Florida.

Section 2. All actions taken by the Director of the Division of Emergency Management as the State Coordinating Officer with respect to this emergency before the issuance of this Executive Order are ratified, and he is directed to continue to execute the State’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other response, recovery, and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency.

Section 3. As Florida continues to realize a manageable trend in COVID-19 cases, over 8.5 million vaccinated individuals, a 4.7 % unemployment rate well under the national average, and state revenues improving significantly from worst-case projections during the pandemic, gaining $4.1 billion additional projected revenue over three fiscal years from the August 2020 estimate, the state should prepare to resume non-emergency operations.

Section 4. Except as amended herein, Executive Order 20-52, extended by Executive Orders 20-114, 20-166, 20-192, 20-213, 20-276, 20-316, and 21-45 is ratified and reaffirmed.