As of Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration announced that all but 5% of COVID-19 related regulations will end by June 30, but the state of emergency would not end. Defending its decision Friday, Newsom urged others to do the same, Fox40 reported.
“Right now, to shut down the emergency would leave the state in a situation where they couldn’t run the basic programs that I think Californians are expecting the state to run for them,” Legal Affairs Secretary Ann Patterson said.
“When we’re at a point where those programs are no longer necessary to protect people, they can be wound down.”
On the list of rules to be discontinued, 19 are ending immediately, including state-owned property, the Employment Development Department and the federal COVID-19 relief funds.
18 of these rules will expire on March 31, including those regarding virtual meetings and teacher staffing, and 15 will expire on June 30.
By doing this, California will have 30 emergency provisions in place that will assist with vaccinations, testing, hospital capacity, and workplace safety.
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“The essential nature of having these options and powers to help us manage not just the current public health challenge but certainly the future in California will not be without its risks,” Dr. Mark Ghaly, California Department of Health and Human Services secretary said.
Kevin Kiley, a Republican assemblyman from Rocklin, has supported numerous efforts to have the state of emergency ended by Governor Newsom, saying the state of emergency gives Newsom an unprecedented amount of power over the state.
Newsom’s pandemic-related state of emergency will be considered by a state senate committee on March 15.
“This has reached a point of utter absurdity,” Kiley stated.
“If the Senate does pass it, and then the Assembly passes it, then Newsom’s emergency powers will be cut off … If I were the governor, I would make sure it doesn’t reach that point.”
The governor’s office declined to comment on pending legislation.
