R 097
2022 -- H 7256 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 02/11/2022

C O N C U R R E N T   R E S O L U T I O N
EXTENDING POWER CONFERRED UPON THE GOVERNOR PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (E) OF TITLE 30, CHAPTER 15, SECTION 9 OF THE RHODE ISLAND GENERAL LAWS

Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kazarian, Ackerman, Edwards, and Abney

Date Introduced: January 28, 2022

     WHEREAS, On August 19, 2021, the Governor issued Executive Order 21-86 declaring
a new state of emergency with respect to the Delta and other then-existing variants of COVID-19
(Declaration of Disaster Emergency for New COVID-19 Variants) and which said Order was
affirmed and amended via Executive Order 21-109, which has in turn been extended by the
Governor pursuant to subsequent orders, the most recent of which being Executive Order 22-12
issued on February 3, 2022; and
     WHEREAS, The Governor has issued various additional Executive Orders predicated on
the August 19, 2021 order Declaring a Disaster Emergency for New COVID-19 Variants; and
     WHEREAS, The state has experienced widespread community spread of one or more
highly transmissible variants of COVID-19 in recent months, resulting in the highest infection
and hospitalization rates during the course of the pandemic and thereby placing a dangerous strain
on the health care system in the state; and
     WHEREAS, Although at this time, infection and hospitalization rates appear to be in
decline, daily infections and hospitalization rates currently remain extremely high and the
COVID-19 virus has demonstrated a tendency to be dangerous and unpredictable to the citizens
of this state and the stability of the health care system; and
     WHEREAS, Certain powers relating to the Governor's management of disaster
emergencies are enumerated in § 30-15-9(e); and
     WHEREAS, In accordance with § 30-15-9(b) the General Assembly, by concurrent
resolution, may terminate a state of disaster emergency at any time; and
     WHEREAS, On July 1, 2021, the General Assembly passed 2021 - H 6122 Substitute A
as amended, entitled "An Act Making Appropriations for the Support of the State for the Fiscal
Year Ending June 30, 2022" which amended § 30-15-9 to impose a limit of one hundred eighty
(180) days on powers conferred upon the Governor pursuant to subsection (e) of such section
"unless and until the General Assembly extends the one hundred eighty (180) day period by
concurrent resolution"; and
     WHEREAS, The Governor signed said act on July 6, 2021 thereby making it operative;
and
     WHEREAS, The one hundred and eightieth (180th) day following the issuance of
Executive Order 21-86 occurs on or about February 14, 2022; and
     WHEREAS, Present conditions reasonably indicate that the health and safety of the
citizens of this state would benefit from a limited continuation of the judicious use of executive
emergency powers by the Governor; now therefor be it
     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island, without waiving
its powers pursuant to § 30-15-9(b) to terminate a state of disaster emergency at any time, hereby
adopts this concurrent resolution extending the Governor's additional powers contained in § 30-
15-9(e) of the General Laws with respect to Executive Order 21-86, as superseded by Executive
Order 21-109 together with extensions thereof and additional Executive Orders related thereto,
through March 31, 2022; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That after March 31, 2022, powers conferred upon the Governor pursuant
to the provisions of § 30-15-9(e) as they relate to the Declaration of Disaster Emergency for New
COVID-19 Variants shall expire, unless further extended by concurrent resolution of the General
Assembly; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That if the Governor finds that the threat of danger has passed to the extent
that emergency conditions no longer exist, the Governor shall terminate the state of disaster
emergency by executive order or proclamation in accordance with § 30-15-9(b); and be it further
     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel J. McKee, Governor of
the State of Rhode Island.
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LC004398/SUB A
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