Connecticut unemployment rate

Public Act 26-149 required reading-intervention guidance, revised aspiring-educator scholarship eligibility and teacher-shortage reporting, and established an American Sign Language working group. It continued and revised paraeducator health-benefit subsidies, including charter-school participation, subject to appropriations and eligibility conditions. The act amends existing scholarship and subsidy programs. It does not guarantee an award to every aspiring teacher or paraeducator, and it does not establish better reading scores or that teacher shortages were resolved. This topic relationship does not establish an effect on a state statistic.

Retained Connecticut evidence context: People under 65 without health insurance · education · reviewed policy-topic context. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

AN ACT CONCERNING STUDENT LITERACY, ASPIRING EDUCATORS, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AS PART OF THE WORLD LANGUAGES CURRICULUM AND THE PARAEDUCATOR HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN SUBSIDY PROGRAM. Approved June 4, 2026 Governor Lamont signed the following legislation of the 2026 Regular Session on June 4: AN ACT CONCERNING STUDENT LITERACY, ASPIRING EDUCATORS, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AS PART OF THE WORLD LANGUAGES CURRICULUM AND THE PARAEDUCATOR HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN SUBSIDY PROGRAM.

Training concerns coordination of existing adult-education programs, which include diploma and equivalency pathways. It may support future adult attainment but does not itself award diplomas or change the earlier age-25-and-older statistic. This connection does not establish causation or a change in the earlier measured value.

Retained Connecticut evidence context: Adults with at least a high school diploma · Median household income. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Sec. 28. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than October 1, 2026, the Substitute House Bill No. 5003 Public Act No. 26-12 56 of 124 Chief Workforce Officer shall develop, in consultation with educational institutions, the regional workforce development boards and the Governor's Workforce Council, training on adult education programs in the state, including, but not limited to, funding streams for such programs and performance measures in order to ensure informed collaboration. (b) Not later than December 30, 2026, such training developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be provided to regional workforce navigators described in section 31 -3l of the general statutes, as amended by this act.

Training concerns coordination of existing adult-education programs, which include diploma and equivalency pathways. It may support future adult attainment but does not itself award diplomas or change the earlier age-25-and-older statistic. This connection does not establish causation or a change in the earlier measured value.

Retained Connecticut evidence context: Adults with at least a high school diploma · Median household income. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Sec. 28. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than October 1, 2026, the Substitute House Bill No. 5003 Public Act No. 26-12 56 of 124 Chief Workforce Officer shall develop, in consultation with educational institutions, the regional workforce development boards and the Governor's Workforce Council, training on adult education programs in the state, including, but not limited to, funding streams for such programs and performance measures in order to ensure informed collaboration. (b) Not later than December 30, 2026, such training developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be provided to regional workforce navigators described in section 31 -3l of the general statutes, as amended by this act.

The fact measures residents under 65 without health insurance. Insurance eligibility, enrollment, coverage continuity and premium assistance concern the covered population. Provider payments and covered services alone do not establish a coverage change, and Medicare-only changes mostly concern a different age population. This connection does not establish causation. Actions after the measurement period cannot explain the earlier observed value.

Retained Connecticut evidence context: People under 65 without health insurance. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

(88)beginning January 1, 2027, provide for making medical assistance available to relief-eligible survivors of disasters during relief coverage periods in accordance with section 1949.; and(2)by adding at the end the following new section:1949.Disaster relief Medicaid for survivors of major disasters(a)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of this title, a State plan shall provide medical assistance to a relief-eligible survivor of a disaster in accordance with this section.(b)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)DisasterThe term disaster means any of the following:(A)A major disaster that is declared on or after January 1, 2027, by the President in accordance with section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) and which the President has determined warrants individual or public assistance from the Federal Government under such Act. (B)A national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).(C)A public health emergency declared by the Secretary pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d).(2)Direct impact area(A)In generalThe term direct impact area means, with respect to a disaster, the geographic area in which the disaster exists.(B)Website posting of direct impact areasAs soon as practicable after a disaster is declared (as described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), as applicable), the Secretary shall post on the websites of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency a list of the areas identified as the direct impact areas of the disaster.(3)Home StateThe term home State means, with respect to a survivor of a disaster, the State in which the survivor was a resident (as determined in accordance with section 435.403 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)) on the date on which the disaster is declared (as described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), as applicable).(4)Relief coverage periodThe term relief coverage period means, with respect to a disaster, the period that begins on the date the disaster is declared (as described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), as applicable) and ends on the day that is 2 years after such date.(5)Relief-eligible survivor(A)In generalSubject to subparagraph (C), the term relief-eligible survivor means an individual who is a survivor of a disaster whose family income does not exceed the higher of—(i)133 percent (or, in the case of a survivor who is a pregnant individual, a child, or a recipient of benefits under title II on the basis of a disability, 200 percent) of the poverty line; or(ii)the income eligibility standard that would otherwise apply to the survivor under the State plan of the survivor's home State (or a waiver of such plan).(B)Disregard of unemployment income and FEMA individual assistance grantsFor purposes of this section, and notwithstanding section 1902(e)(14)(B), the income of a survivor of a disaster shall not include—(i)any amount received by the survivor during the relief coverage period of the disaster under a law of the United States or a State which is in the nature of unemployment compensation; or(ii)any amount received during the relief coverage period of the disaster by the survivor (or the survivor's household) as assistance under a program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.(C)Limitation to relief coverage period(i)In generalExcept as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), for purposes of this section, an individual shall not be considered to be a relief-eligible survivor on the basis of the individual's status as a survivor of a disaster after the end of the relief coverage period of the disaster.(ii)Continuous eligibility for disaster relief coverage for pregnant and postpartum individualsIn the case of an individual who, while pregnant, receives medical assistance as a relief-eligible survivor of a disaster under a State plan (or a waiver of such a plan) in accordance with this section, such individual shall continue to be eligible for medical assistance as a relief-eligible survivor through the end of the month in which the 60-day period (beginning on the last day of the pregnancy) (or, if longer, the period of postpartum continuous eligibility that otherwise applies to individuals who, while pregnant, are eligible for medical assistance under the State plan or waiver) ends, without regard to whether the pregnancy ends before or after the end of the relief coverage period of the disaster.(iii)Continuous eligibility for individuals with pending applicationsIf an individual who receives medical assistance as a relief-eligible survivor of a disaster under a State plan (or a waiver of such a plan) in accordance with this section has an application pending for medical assistance under the State plan (or waiver) under this title or for child health assistance or pregnancy-related assistance under a State plan under title XXI (or a waiver of such a plan) on the date that the relief coverage period of the disaster ends, such individual shall continue to be eligible for medical assistance as a relief-eligible survivor through the earlier of—(I)the end of the month in which the 60-day period (beginning on the last day of such relief coverage period) ends; and(II)the date on which the individual's application for medical assistance, child health assistance, or pregnancy-related assistance (as applicable) is approved or denied.(6)Survivor(A)In generalThe term survivor means, with respect to a disaster, an individual who is described in subparagraph (B) or (C).(B)Residents and evacuees of direct impact areasAn individual described in this subparagraph is an individual who, on the date on which a disaster is declared (as described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), as applicable), has a primary residence in the disaster's direct impact area.(C)Individuals who lost employmentAn individual described in this subparagraph is an individual—(i)whose worksite was located in the disaster's direct impact area;(ii)who was employed by an employer that—(I)conducted an active trade or business in such area on the date on which the disaster was declared (as so described); and(II)was unable to operate such trade or business as a result of the disaster on any day during the disaster's relief coverage period; and(iii)whose employment with such employer was terminated.(D)Treatment of homeless personsIn the case of an individual who is homeless (as such term is defined in section 103(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a))) on the date on which a disaster is declared (as so described), the individual's residency for purposes of subparagraph (B) shall be determined in accordance with section 435.403 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).(E)Effect of concurrent eligibility for Medicaid or CHIPAn individual's eligibility for medical assistance under a State plan (or waiver of such plan) (or for child health assistance or pregnancy-related assistance under a State plan under title XXI (or a waiver of such a plan)) on a basis other than under this section shall not prevent the individual from being treated as a survivor under this section, and the rights afforded to an individual who is eligible for or enrolled under a State plan (or waiver) under either such title shall not be affected by the individual's receipt of medical assistance as a relief-eligible survivor of a disaster in accordance with this section.

Executive Order 7H required businesses to use remote work where safely possible and nonessential entities to reduce their workplace in-person workforces by 100 percent from March 23 at 8 p.m. It exempted essential entities, required state guidance and addressed coordination of municipal emergency orders. This is a historical emergency restriction with essential-business exceptions. The order does not establish how many jobs were lost, businesses closed or infections prevented. This topic relationship does not establish an effect on a state statistic.

Retained Connecticut evidence context: health · reviewed policy-topic context. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT BY HIS EXCELLENCY NED LAMONT EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 7H I ,J PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND RESPONSE - RESTRICTIONS ON WORKPLACES FOR NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES, COORDINATED RESPONSE EFFORT WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, I issued declarations of public health and civil preparedness emergencies, proclaiming a state of emergency throughout the State of Connecticut as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States and confirmed spread in Connecticut; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7, dated March 12, 2020, among other things, prohibited gatherings of 250 people or more for social and recreational activities, including but not limited to, community, civic, leisure, and sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; movie screenings; plays or performances; conventions; and similar activities, and suspended various statutes and regulations to protect public health and safety; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7A, dated March 13, 2020, authorized the Commissioner of Public Health to restrict entrance into nursing homes and similar facilities to protect people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7B, dated March 14, 2020, among other things, modified in-person open meetings requirements, waived certain rules to mitigate the critical shortage of hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment (PPE), maintain and increase the availability of childcare, and provide for increased healthcare resources and facilities; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7C, dated March 15, 2020, among other things, cancelled classes in public schools for at least two weeks, provided for closure and remote conduct of business at Department of Motor Vehicle branches, extended deadlines for municipal budget preparations, and suspended or modified laws and regulations governing health care data and visitation at ce1iain health care and congregate care settings; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7D, dated March 16, 2020, restricted social and recreational gatherings of all types to fewer than 50 people, closed bars and restaurants to all service except food and non-alcoholic beverage takeout and delivery, closed gyms, fitness centers and movie theaters, and prohibited on-site operations at off-track betting facilities; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7E, dated March 17, 2020, among other things, waived the requirement for an 180-day school year, suspended fingerprinting availability to that for critical requirements, extended the duration of various licenses and permits under the authority of the Commissioner of Emergency Services and public protection, and suspended certain requirements for recoupment of overpayment and hearings conducted by the Department of Social Services; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7F, dated March 18, 2020, ordered the closure of Large Shopping Malls, the closure of places of public amusement except public parks and open recreation areas, expanded Medicaid telehealth coverage, waived in-person service, hearing, and screening requirements for ce11ain Probate Com1 proceedings in vulnerable group care settings, and clarified my order cancelling school classes; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7G, dated March 19, 2020, ordered the postponement of the presidential primaty, suspended non-critical court operations, expanded the availability of telehealth services, and enacted additional public health measures; WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that spreads easily from person to person and may result in serious illness or death; and WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic; and WHEREAS, the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 appears to be higher for individuals who are 60 years of age or older and for those who have chronic health conditions; and WHEREAS, to reduce spread ofCOVID-19, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Connecticut Depattment of Public Health recommend implementation of community mitigation strategies to increase containment of the virus and to slow transmission of the virus, including cancellation of gatherings of people and social distancing in smaller gatherings; and WHEREAS, to facilitate the most timely and effective response to the COVID-19 emergency disaster, it is critical for the State of Connecticut to act quickly to gather, coordinate, and deploy goods, services, professionals, and volunteers of all kinds; WHEREAS, in a short period of time, COVID-19 has rapidly spread throughout Connecticut, necessitating updated and more stringent guidance from federal, state, and local officials; and NOW, THEREFORE, I, NED LAMONT, Governor of the State of Connecticut, by vittue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Connecticut, do hereby ORDER AND DIRECT: I. Restrictions on Workplaces for Non-Essential Businesses. Effective on Mm·ch 23, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. and through April 22, 2020, unless earlier modified, extended, or terminated by me, all businesses and not-for-profit entities in the state shall employ, to the maximum extent possible, any telecommuting or work from home procedures that they can safely employ. Non-essential businesses or not-for-profit entities shall reduce their in-person workforces at any workplace locations by 100% not later than March 23, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. Any essential business or entity providing essential goods, services or functions shall not be subject to these in-person restrictions. Not later than 8 p.m. on March 22, 2020, the Department of Economic and Community Development ("DECD") shall issue lawfully binding guidance about which businesses are essential. Those business shall include, but not be limited to, the 16 critical infrastructure sectors as defined by the Depa11ment of Homeland Security and available at https://wv./w.cisa.gov/critical￾infrastructure-sectors, essential health care operations including hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, elder care and home health care workers, companies and institutions involved in the research and development, manufacture, distribution, warehousing, and supplying of phmmaceuticals, biotechnology therapies, health care data, consumer health products, medical devices, diagnostics, equipment, services and any other healthcare related supplies or services; essential infrastructure, including utilities, wastewater and drinking water, telecommunications, airports and transportation infrastructure; manufacturing, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, and industries supp011ing the essential services required to meet national security commitments to the federal government and U.S. Militmy; the defense industrial base, including aerospace, mechanical and software engineers, manufacturing/production workers, aircraft and weapon system mechanics and maintainers; essential retail, including grocery stores and big-box stores or wholesale clubs, provided they also sell groceries; pharmacies, gas stations and convenience stores; food and beverage retailers (including liquor/package stores and manufacturer permittees) and restaurants, provided they comply with previous and future executive orders issued during the existing declared public health and civil preparedness emergency; essential services including trash and recycling collection, hauling, and processing, mail and shipping services; news media; legal and accounting services; banks, insurance companies, check cashing services, and other financial institutions; providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations; construction; vendors of essential services and goods necessmy to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences or other essential businesses, including pest control and landscaping services; vendors that provide essential services or products, including logistics and technology support, child care and services needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and the provision of goods, services or functions necessmy for the health, safety and welfare of the public. Any other business may be deemed essential after requesting an opinion from DECD, which shall review and grant such request, should it determine that it is in the best interest of the state to have the workforce continue at full capacity to properly respond to this emergency. 2. Coordinated Response Effort. Effective immediately and for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency, notwithstanding Section 28-8a of the Connecticut General Statutes, in order to ensure the coordinated, clear and expeditious execution of civil preparedness functions for the protection of the public health, and pursuant to my emergency powers, including but not limited to Section 28-9(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes, no municipal chief executive officer or designee may enact or enforce any order that conflicts with any provision of any of my Executive Orders or an order issued by an executive agency pursuant to the existing public health and civil preparedness emergency, or issue any shelter-in-place order or order prohibiting travel, unless they first seek and receive written permission from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The provisions of this order shall not be deemed to invalidate any order previously issued by a municipal chief executive or designee or preclude a municipality from enforcing any existing local rule or ordinance that does not conflict with any executive order issued pursuant to my March 10, 2020 declaration of public health and civil preparedness emergency. Dated at Hartford, Connecticut, this 20th day of March, 2020. Jt:_ ;/~/t: Denise W. Merrill Secretary of the State Ned Lamont Governor STATE OF CONNECTICUT BY HIS EXCELLENCY NED LAMONT EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 7J PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND RESPONSE- CLARIFYING EO NO. 7H REGARDING OPERATIONS AT NON￾ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND PROVIDING FOR RAPID STATE GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, I issued declarations of public health and civil preparedness emergencies, proclaiming a state of emergency throughout the State of Connecticut as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States and confirmed spread in Connecticut; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7, dated March 12, 2020, among other things, prohibited gatherings of 250 people or more for social and recreational activities, including but not limited to, community, civic, leisure, and sporting events; parades; conceits; festivals; movie screenings; plays or performances; conventions; and similar activities, and suspended various statutes and regulations to protect public health and safety; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7A, dated March 13, 2020, authorized the Commissioner of Public Health to restrict entrance into nursing homes and similar facilities to protect people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7B, dated March 14, 2020, among other things, modified in-person open meetings requirements, waived certain rules to mitigate the critical shortage of hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment (PPE), maintain and increase the availability of childcare, and provide for increased healthcare resources and facilities; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7C, dated March 15, 2020, among other things, cancelled classes in public schools for at least two weeks, provided for closure and remote conduct of business at Depa1tment of Motor Vehicle branches, extended deadlines for municipal budget preparations, and suspended or modified laws and regulations governing health care data and visitation at certain health care and congregate care settings; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7D, dated March 16, 2020, restricted social and recreational gatherings of all types to fewer than 50 people, closed bars and restaurants to all service except food and non-alcoholic beverage takeout and delivery, closed gyms, fitness centers and movie theaters, and prohibited on-site operations at off-track betting facilities; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7E, dated March 17, 2020, among other things, waived the requirement for an 180-day school year, suspended fingerprinting availability to that for critical requirements, extended the duration of various licenses and permits under the authority of the Commissioner of Emergency Services and public protection, and suspended ce11ain requirements for recoupment of overpayment and hearings conducted by the Depat1ment of Social Services; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7F, dated March 18, 2020, ordered the closure of Large Shopping Malls, the closure of places of public amusement except public parks and open recreation areas, expanded Medicaid telehealth coverage, waived in-person service, hearing, and screening requirements for certain Probate Court proceedings in vulnerable group care settings, and clarified my order cancelling school classes; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7G, dated March 19, 2020, ordered the postponement of the presidential primmy, suspended non-critical com1 operations, expanded the availability of telehealth services, and enacted additional public health measures; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 7H, dated March 20, 2020, limited the workplace operations of non-essential businesses, and on-profit, created a process to designate those that are essential, and provided for consistency across the state in governmental response to the COVID￾19 pandemic; and WHEREAS, my Executive Order No. 71, dated March 21, 2020, among other things, granted various forms of financial relief to recipients of public health and economic assistance, enacted measures to protect the health of children in the care of the Depat1ment of Children and Families, and enacted a series of measures to allow municipalities and their administrative bodies to conduct essential business while reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission; and WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a respirato1y disease that spreads easily from person to person and may result in serious illness or death; and WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic; and WHEREAS, the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 appears to be higher for individuals who are 60 years of age or older and for those who have chronic health conditions; and WHEREAS, to reduce spread ofCOVID-19, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Connecticut Depat1ment of Public Health recommend implementation of community mitigation strategies to increase containment of the virus and to slow transmission of the virus, including cancellation of gatherings of fifty people or more and social distancing in smaller gatherings; and WHEREAS, if COVID-10 is transmitted to an elderly person, there is a high risk of serious illness or m011ality; and WHEREAS, the availability of methadone for ongoing medication assisted treatment is critical for the treatment of patients by Methadone Maintenance Clinics; WHEREAS the delive1y of methadone take-home doses will allow for patients that are unable to travel to the facility an opp01iunity to receive their medication in their home and decrease the risk of transmission of COVID-19; and WHEREAS, it is critical that fire service personnel in the midst of certification testing are able to to meet contractual, bylaw, and probationary requirements as mandated by their employers, and are able to perform their vital public safety role throughout this state of emergency; and WHEREAS, Governor Rell's Executive Order No. 27, adopted and extended by Governor Malloy's Executive Order No. 3, restricts the rehiring of Temporary Worker Retirees (TWRs) to two calendar years; and WHEREAS, Public Acts 3-01 and 03-2 prohibit the rehiring of any state employee who participated in the Early Retirement Incentive Program offered in 2003; and WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has created staffing disruptions in state agencies and has also increased the need for services provided by state agencies, resulting in critical skills sho1iages in ce1iain areas, including those related to healthcare and public safety; and WHEREAS, people who have retired from state service already possess the requisite knowledge, experience and/or licenses and are willing to return to work on a tempora1y basis can help agencies mitigate the such staffing shortages; and WHEREAS, during the current public health crisis, accommodations for safe and effective operations of state agencies and state employees and the clients of these agencies are rapidly changing and evolving; and WHEREAS, during the current public health crisis, additional accommodations and facilities beyond what is currently available in Connecticut may be necessaiy to address the effects of COVID-19, including but not limited to housing, health care, and medical treatment; and WHEREAS, it is imperative to the health and safety of the general public that the State of Connecticut is able to adapt to the current crisis on an emergency basis, and provide essential human services for the duration of this emergency; and WHEREAS, it is critical to the protection of the public health and safety that the Department of Administrative Services and the agencies for which it provides real estate services be able to respond to these emergency circumstances as expeditiously as possible; and WHEREAS, in order to effectively respond to and alleviate the effects of the emergency, ce1iain statutorily mandated procedures for the leasing, assignment and use of real estate for state agencies, employees and the general public should be condensed and streamlined, to enable the State to enter into leases relating to emergency needs created by the COVID-19 crisis; and WHEREAS, effective utilization of leased real estate may require the State to make ce1iain minor capital improvements, or acquire furniture, fixtures and equipment; and WHEREAS, non-essential retailers provide useful and necessaty products and employ tens of thousands of people throughout the state, and with proper precautions, may be able to conduct limited operations without increasing the risk of transmission of COVID-19; and WHEREAS, it is critical to the safety and recovery of non-essential businesses and nonprofit organizations that their buildings and grounds remain secure and in good working order and continue to receive and process mail and packages; and WHEREAS, upon a proclamation that a civil preparedness emergency exists, section 28-9(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes authorizes the modification or suspension in whole or in part by executive order of any statute or regulation or requirement or part thereof that conflicts with the efficient and expeditious execution of civil preparedness functions or the protection of public health; NOW, THEREFORE, I, NED LAMONT, Governor of the State of Connecticut, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Connecticut, do hereby ORDER AND DIRECT: 1. Clarification of Executive Order No. 7H Regarding Non-Essential Business Operations. Executive Order No. 7H, dated March 20, 2020 is hereby amended to permit 1) non-essential retailers to be staffed on site, provided that they may only offer remote ordering (e.g. phone, internet, mail, dropbox) and delive1y or curb-side pick-up, and 2) non-essential businesses and nonprofits to allow staff or third patties on site to the minimum extent necessary to provide security, maintenance, and receipt of mail and packages, or other services deemed essential in implementing guidance issued by the Department of Economic and Community Development. 2. Extension of Time Period for Fire Service Personnel Examinations. Section 7-3231-lSa (d) (!)of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is modified to authorize the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to extend the time by which examination components for a given level of certification for fire-service personnel must be completed, by 90 days, provided that he is authorized, in his sole discretion, to revoke such extensions as he deems necessmy to protect public safety, and to fmther extend such timeline as he deems necessary. 3. Delivery of Methadone to Homebound Patients by Methadone Maintenance Clinics. Section 21a-252 of the Connecticut General Statutes is modified to permit the delivery of take-home doses of methadone for the treatment of drug dependent patients who are determined to be unable to travel to the treatment facility due to COVID-19 or related concerns. The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may issue any implementing orders or guidance that she deems necessa1y to implement this order. 4. Suspension of Rehiring Procedures and Restrictions on Temporary Worker Retirees (TWR). In order to enable agencies to meet critical staffing needs caused by COVID-19 with skilled and experienced employees who require little to no additional training, Gov. Rell's Executive Order No. 37, Gov. Malloy's Executive Order No. 3, Section 6(b)(F) of Public Act 03-01 and Section 6(b)(G) of Public Act 03-02 are suspended to remove the two-year limitation TWRs and to authorize rehiring employees who participated in retirement incentive programs. Agencies shall expedite review and approval of any related extension or hiring requests. 5. Modification of Real Property Statutes to Facilitate Leasing, Repairs, Alterations and Use of Real Property to Address the COVID-19 Emergency. In accordance with the provisions of Section 28-9(b )(I) of the Connecticut General Statutes, the following statutes are modified as set forth herein to authorize the Secretmy of the Office of Policy and Management or her designee, or the Commissioner of Administrative Services, as applicable, to take any action they deem necessmy to expedite the leasing or use of real property by the State of Connecticut to respond to the COVID-19 emergency: a. subsections (a), (k) and (o) of Section 4b-23 of the Connecticut General Statutes, which require agencies to submit requests for space for approval by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management; to obtain approval for any space that was not included in the state facilities plan, and require the approval of the Secretmy of the Office of Policy and Management of all leases, lease renewals and holdover agreements proposed by the Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services; b. subsections (3) and (4) of Section 4-67g(f) of the Connecticut General Statutes, which requires the approval of the Secretmy of the Office of Policy and Management prior to any use of state real property by an entity other than a state agency, or use of state real prope1ty by a state agency other than the state agency with custody and control over such state real prope1ty; c. subsection (f) of section 4b-3 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as to that pmtion of the statute that requires the approval of the State Properties Review Board of real estate acquisitions, sales, leases and subleases proposed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services; d. section 4b-29 of the Connecticut General Statutes, only as to that portion of the statute that requires the approval of the State Prope1ties Review Board for the Commissioner of Administrative Services to order the assignment and removal of state agencies to and from real estate available to the state, through ownership or lease, when he deems it necessaiy to provide space, facilities and necessaiy accommodations to meet the needs of any of such agencies and when such assigrunent or removal will be in the best interests of the state; e. section 4b-33 of the Co1111ecticut General Statutes in its entirety, which requires any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation or other entity, seeking to enter into a lease or lease-purchase agreement with the state through the Commissioner of Administrative Services to file a sworn statement with said Commissioner disclosing the names of any persons having a financial interest in the property or premises involved, and which provides that failure to make such disclosure is punishable by a civil penalty; f. section 4b-34 of the Connecticut General Statutes in its entirety, which mandates adve1iising for leased space and notification to the Connecticut Association of Realtors of requirements for leased space by executive branch agencies; 6. State Contracting Statutes Modified to Facilitate Leasing, Repairs, Alterations and Use of Real Property to Address the COVID-19 Emergency. In accordance with the provisions of Section 28-9(b )(!) of the Co1111ecticut General Statutes, the following statutes are modified as set forth herein to authorize the Secretaiy of the Office of Policy and Management or her designee, or the Commissioner of Administrative Services, as applicable, to take any action they deem necessaiy to expedite the state-wide property transfers, assigrunents of space and leasing or use of real property by the State of Co1111ecticut to respond to the COVID-19 emergency: a. sections 4-252 and 9-612(f)(2)(E) of the Co1111ecticut General Statutes and Governor Malloy's Executive Order 49, which require disclosure of certain gifts and campaign contributions by state contractors and prospective state contractors for state contracts over $50,000; b. section 4e-70 of the Connecticut General Statutes, which requires state contractors to comply with certain confidentiality requirements; c. sections 4e-29 and 4e-30 of the Connecticut General Statutes, which require state contractors to permit certain audit and inspection activities by the State at the contractors' expense; d. section 4a-57 requiring competitive solicitations for all purchases and contracts for supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services, including, pursuant to section 4d-8, the purchasing, leasing and contracting for information system and telecommunication system facilities, equipment and services; and e. section 4b-91 that sets forth the process for competitive solicitation for public works contracts. 7. Approval for Transactions Covered by Sections 5 and 6 of This Order. Department of Administrative Services shall submit all proposed real estate transactions subject to this order to the Deputy Secretaiy of the Office of Policy and Management or his/her designee for review and approval. The Deputy Secreta1y or his/her designee shall have one (1) calendar day to respond to any proposed transaction pursuant to this Order, after which it shall be deemed approved. Unless otherwise specified herein, this order shall take effect inunediately and shall remain in effect for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency, unless earlier modified or terminated by me. Dated at Hartford, Connecticut, this 22nd day of March, 2020. 2!::;~;~ _ Denise W. Merrill Secretaiy of the State Ned Lamont Governor