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STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-93
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-93
(COVID-19 Emergency Order – Reemployment Assistance Program)
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-51 directing the Florida Department of Health to issue a Public Health Emergency; and
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer declared a Public Health Emergency exists in the State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-52 declaring a state of emergency for the entire State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, President Donald J. Trump and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") issued the "15 Days to Slow the Spread" guidance advising individuals to adopt far-reaching social distancing measures, such as avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people, and in states with evidence of community spread, recommending restrictions to certain establishments conducive to mass gatherings and congregations; and
WHEREAS, on March 29, 2020, the President extended such guidance to be in effect until April 30, 2020 and along with the White House Coronavirus Task Force urged Americans to continue to adhere to the guidelines and expand community mitigation efforts; and
WHEREAS, multiple Florida counties and local governments have ordered certain business closures and restricted public access outside of the home; and
WHEREAS, on April 1, 2020, in concert with the efforts of President Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and based on guidance provided by Florida Surgeon General and State Health Officer, Dr. Scott Rivkees, I directed all persons in Florida to limit their movements and personal interactions outside of home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities; and
WHEREAS, many Florida businesses have been negatively impacted by the spread of COVID-19 and the precautionary measures taken by the nation in response to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, thousands of Floridians are seeking help from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (“DEO”) Reemployment Assistance Program leading to significantly greater demand upon DEO’s personnel, infrastructure, technology, and resources; and
WHEREAS, I have already directed DEO to work in concert with the federal government and other state agencies to pursue all measures necessary to help Florida’s citizens during these challenging times.
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 Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order to take immediate effect:
Section 1. Personnel Support for Reemployment Assistance
I hereby direct all executive agency heads, in consultation with the Department of Management Services (“DMS”), to identify and deploy executive agency personnel to assist DEO with their reemployment assistance efforts, including call center operations and other citizen services. In order to improve the operation and responsiveness of DEO’s reemployment assistance efforts, assigned personnel shall, to the extent reasonably possible, cease their current governmental responsibilities and fully devote their services to the DEO program. All deployed personnel shall maintain current benefits and salary and DEO shall determine how best to quickly utilize these employees to serve Floridians negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Section 2. Training
Training shall be streamlined and administered quickly and for a short duration so that agency personnel can be deployed as soon as possible.
Section 3. Reemployment Applications
In light of the unprecedented and increasing call volume at DEO’s reemployment assistance call center during the COVID-19 statewide emergency, DEO shall pursue, in addition to internet and telephonic reemployment applications, new or alternative forms and methods for receiving applications, including making paper applications readily available on DEO’s website and throughout the state at each of the 24 Local Workforce Development Boards. I hereby direct CareerSource Florida and the Local Workforce Development Boards to assist DEO with dissemination and collection of paper applications and receiving claimant calls as needed. I further direct DEO to identify a third-party company to assist with collection of physical applications and delivery to DEO. DEO shall immediately establish a secure system through which applications may be efficiently submitted for organized processing and review.
Section 4. Emergency Procurement
DEO shall immediately procure additional capacity, software, technology and/or other resources as needed to ensure the state’s reemployment assistance call center, website and staff can accommodate the increasing volume of applications and queries.
Section 5. Implementation
DMS and DEO shall supplement and provide guidance as necessary to implement this order.
Section 6. Duration
This directive shall remain in effect until the expiration of Executive Order 20-52 including any extensions.
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer declared a Public Health Emergency exists in the State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-52 declaring a state of emergency for the entire State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, President Donald J. Trump and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") issued the "15 Days to Slow the Spread" guidance advising individuals to adopt far-reaching social distancing measures, such as avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people, and in states with evidence of community spread, recommending restrictions to certain establishments conducive to mass gatherings and congregations; and
WHEREAS, on March 29, 2020, the President extended such guidance to be in effect until April 30, 2020 and along with the White House Coronavirus Task Force urged Americans to continue to adhere to the guidelines and expand community mitigation efforts; and
WHEREAS, multiple Florida counties and local governments have ordered certain business closures and restricted public access outside of the home; and
WHEREAS, on April 1, 2020, in concert with the efforts of President Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and based on guidance provided by Florida Surgeon General and State Health Officer, Dr. Scott Rivkees, I directed all persons in Florida to limit their movements and personal interactions outside of home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities; and
WHEREAS, many Florida businesses have been negatively impacted by the spread of COVID-19 and the precautionary measures taken by the nation in response to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, thousands of Floridians are seeking help from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (“DEO”) Reemployment Assistance Program leading to significantly greater demand upon DEO’s personnel, infrastructure, technology, and resources; and
WHEREAS, I have already directed DEO to work in concert with the federal government and other state agencies to pursue all measures necessary to help Florida’s citizens during these challenging times.
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 Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order to take immediate effect:
Section 1. Personnel Support for Reemployment Assistance
I hereby direct all executive agency heads, in consultation with the Department of Management Services (“DMS”), to identify and deploy executive agency personnel to assist DEO with their reemployment assistance efforts, including call center operations and other citizen services. In order to improve the operation and responsiveness of DEO’s reemployment assistance efforts, assigned personnel shall, to the extent reasonably possible, cease their current governmental responsibilities and fully devote their services to the DEO program. All deployed personnel shall maintain current benefits and salary and DEO shall determine how best to quickly utilize these employees to serve Floridians negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Section 2. Training
Training shall be streamlined and administered quickly and for a short duration so that agency personnel can be deployed as soon as possible.
Section 3. Reemployment Applications
In light of the unprecedented and increasing call volume at DEO’s reemployment assistance call center during the COVID-19 statewide emergency, DEO shall pursue, in addition to internet and telephonic reemployment applications, new or alternative forms and methods for receiving applications, including making paper applications readily available on DEO’s website and throughout the state at each of the 24 Local Workforce Development Boards. I hereby direct CareerSource Florida and the Local Workforce Development Boards to assist DEO with dissemination and collection of paper applications and receiving claimant calls as needed. I further direct DEO to identify a third-party company to assist with collection of physical applications and delivery to DEO. DEO shall immediately establish a secure system through which applications may be efficiently submitted for organized processing and review.
Section 4. Emergency Procurement
DEO shall immediately procure additional capacity, software, technology and/or other resources as needed to ensure the state’s reemployment assistance call center, website and staff can accommodate the increasing volume of applications and queries.
Section 5. Implementation
DMS and DEO shall supplement and provide guidance as necessary to implement this order.
Section 6. Duration
This directive shall remain in effect until the expiration of Executive Order 20-52 including any extensions.
