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COVID-19: State of Connecticut Governor's Executive Orders

State of Connecticut Governor's Executive Orders

Executive Order No. 9B:
  • Amends mandatory self-quarantine for travelers from states with high COVID-19 levels
  • Authorizes issuance of fines for the violations listed below:
    • Any person who, while in any public place or in any location where and for whom wearing a mask or face covering is required by Executive Order No. 7NNN or any DECD Sector Rules, or other lawful authority, as each is amended from time to time, other than a person who qualifies for the medical exemption set forth in Executive Order No. 7NNN or who while outdoors maintains a distance of approximately six feet from every other person, who fails to wear a mask or cloth face covering shall be guilty of a violation and fined one hundred dollars. A business entity, rather than the employee, is liable for a fine of the same amount for any employee’s failure to wear a required mask or cloth-face covering while at work.
    • Any person or business entity who organizes, hosts, or sponsors a gathering that violates the gathering size restrictions set forth in the DECD Rules for Gatherings and Venues and Sector Rules for Outdoor Events issued pursuant to Section 2 of Executive Order No. 7ZZ and Section 2 of Executive Order No. 7NNN, as amended from time to time, shall be guilty of a violation and fined five-hundred dollars.
    • Any person who attends a gathering that violates the gathering size restrictions set forth in the DECD Rules for Gatherings and Venues and Sector Rules for Outdoor Events issued pursuant to Section 2 of Executive Order No. 7ZZ and Section 2 of Executive Order No. 7NNN, as amended from time to time, shall be guilty of a violation and fined two-hundred and fifty dollars.
  • Repeals executive orders extending liquor permittee credit period
Executive Order No. 9A:
  • Reissues and extend currently enacted COVID-19 Executive Orders until November 9, 2020
  • Extends agency and municipality orders of Concurrent donation with public health and civil preparedness emergencies
Executive Order No. 9:
  • Authorizes Commissioners of Early Childhood and Education to issue operational rules to promote and secure the safety and protection of adults and children while returning to public schools
  • Extends prohibition on sale of alcohol by certain Permitees without the sale of food

Executive Order No. 7OOO:
  • Extends expansion of outdoor dining authorized under Executive Order No. 7MM through November 12, 2020
  • Modifies the extension of the 30-day period of credit for liquor permittees
    • Executive Order No. 7S, which addressed the maximum period of credit available to certain liquor permittees, is amended so that the maximum period of credit shall be sixty days after the date of delivery for all permittees that were restricted from engaging in on premise sales per Executive Order No. 7D and its subsequent modifications
    • The extension of credit shall not apply to permits that were delinquent at the time Executive Order No. 7D became effective on March 16, 2020
    • The period of delinquency shall begin on the sixty-first day after the date of delivery
    • All other requirements addressing the maximum period of credit, including Section 30-48(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes and Sections 30-6-A36 and 30-6-A37a of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, shall continue to apply, except as modified to reflect the increased period of credit, and the standard thirty-day period of credit will continue to apply to all permittees whose businesses were not engaging in on premise sales at the time Executive Order No. 7D became effective.
  • Suspends the requirements and deadlines by Executive Order No. 7G
    • The suspension of statutory requirements or deadlines shall not apply to defaults and nonsuits, as the case may be, in civil matters or family matters pending before the Superior Court
  • Extends eviction moratorium
    • The provisions of Executive Order No. 7X, Section 1, as modified by Executive Order Nos. 7NN, Section 4 and 7DDD, Section 1, shall remain in effect until October 1, 2020, with the following modifications:
      • (a): No Notice to Quit or Service of Summary Process Before October 1. Section 47a-23 of the Connecticut General Statutes is modified to additionally provide, “(g) No landlord of a dwelling unit, and no such landlord’s legal representative, attorney-at-law, or attorney-in-fact, shall, before October 1, 2020, deliver or cause to be delivered a notice to quit or serve or return a summary process action, for any reason set forth in this chapter or in sections 21-80 et seq. of the Connecticut General Statutes, except for nonpayment of rent due on or before February 29, 2020, for serious nuisance as defined in section 47a-15 of the Connecticut General Statutes, or, provided the notice to quit is not delivered during the term of any existing rental agreement, for a bona fide intention by the landlord to use such dwelling unit as such landlord’s principal residence.” All notices to quit for nonpayment of rent issued before October 1 shall specify and recite the period of nonpayment of rent before February 29, 2020 for which rent has not been paid. All notices to quit issued before October 1, 2020 based upon the bona fide intention by the landlord to use such premises for the landlord’s principal residence shall state that reason, and specify the date of the expiration of the lease.
      • (b): Extension of Ability to Apply Security Deposit to Rent. The provisions of Executive Order No. 7DDD, Section 1 concerning application of security deposits in excess of one month’s rent shall additionally apply to rent due for the month of September 2020.
      • See below for the relevant Executive order provisions that this No. 7OOO modifies
      • Executive Order No. 7X, Section 1:
        • (a): No Notice to Quit or Service of Summary Process Before July 1. Section 47a-23 of the Connecticut General Statutes is modified to additionally provide, “(f) No landlord of a dwelling unit, and no such landlord’s legal representative, attorney-at-law, or attorney-in-fact, shall, before July 1, 2020, deliver or cause to be delivered a notice to quit or serve or return a summary process action, for any reason set forth in this chapter or in sections 21-80 et seq. of the Connecticut General Statutes, except for serious nuisance as defined in section 47a-15 of the Connecticut General Statutes.”
        • (b): Automatic 60-Day Grace Period for April Rent. Section 47a-15a of the Connecticut General Statutes is modified to additionally provide, “Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if rent due in April 2020 is unpaid when due and paid within sixty days thereafter, the tenant of a dwelling unit shall not be in default or violation of the rental agreement and the landlord of such unit may not deliver or cause to be delivered a notice to quit or serve or file a summary process action for nonpayment of rent; impose late fees, interest, or penalties; report such rent as late to any credit bureau or tenant screening service; or otherwise retaliate against the tenant. As used in this section, ‘tenant’ includes a resident of a mobile manufactured home park, as defined in section 21-64, including a resident who owns his own home, and ‘landlord’ includes a ‘licensee’ and an ‘owner’ of a mobile manufactured home park, as defined in section 21-64.”
        • (c): 60-Day Grace Period for May Rent, Upon Request. Section 47a15a of the Connecticut General Statutes is further modified to additionally provide, “Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if rent due in May 2020 is unpaid when due and paid within sixty days thereafter by a tenant who, on or before the 9th day after such rent is due, notifies the landlord or landlord’s representative in writing, including but not limited to in written electronic communication, that the tenant needs to delay all or some payment of rent because he or she has become fully or partially unemployed or otherwise sustained a significant loss in revenue or increase in expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tenant of a dwelling unit shall not be in default or violation of the rental agreement and the landlord of such unit may not deliver or cause to be delivered a notice to quit or serve or file a summary process action for nonpayment of such rent; impose late fees, interest, or penalties; report such rent as late to any credit bureau or tenant screening service; or otherwise retaliate against the tenant.”
        • (d): Application of Additional Security Deposit to Rent, Upon Request. Section 47a-21 is modified to additionally provide, “(m) Upon the written request of a tenant of a dwelling unit who is not enrolled in the security deposit guarantee program established by the Commissioner of Housing pursuant to Section 8-339 of the Connecticut General Statutes, who has paid a security deposit in an amount that exceeds one month’s rent, and who provides written notice, including but not limited to in written electronic communication, that he or she has become fully or partially unemployed or otherwise sustained a significant loss in revenue or increase in expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a landlord of such unit shall withdraw an amount of said deposit equal to the amount in excess of one month’s rent from an escrow account and apply it toward the rent due in April, May, or June 2020. Notwithstanding subsection (h) of this section, an escrow agent may withdraw funds from an escrow account to comply with such a request. The amount withdrawn by the escrow agent and applied toward the rent due shall no longer be considered an amount of the security deposit for any purpose, including but not limited to the calculation of interest, assignment to successor, and the payment of security deposit and interest at the termination of a tenancy. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, no landlord who has complied with such a request may demand the security deposit be restored to an amount that exceeds one month’s rent earlier than the later of the end of the public health and civil preparedness emergency declared on March 10, 2020, including any period of extension or renewal of such emergency, or the date the rental agreement is extended or renewed
      • Executive Order No. 7DDD Section 1:
        • (a): No Notice to Quit or Service of Summary Process Before August 22. Section 47a-23 of the Connecticut General Statutes is modified to additionally provide, “(g) No landlord of a dwelling unit, and no such landlord’s legal representative, attorney-at-law, or attorney-in-fact, shall, before August 22, 2020, deliver or cause to be delivered a notice to quit or serve or return a summary process action, for any reason set forth in this chapter or in sections 21-80 et seq. of the Connecticut General Statutes, except for nonpayment of rent due on or prior to February 29, 2020 or for serious nuisance as defined in section 47a-15 of the Connecticut General Statutes.” All notices to quit for nonpayment of rent issued before August 22 shall specify and recite the period of nonpayment of rent prior to February 29, 2020 for which rent has not been paid.
        • (b): Extended Opportunity to Apply Additional Security Deposit to Rent, Upon Request. Executive Order No. 7X, Section 1.d. is superseded by the following: Section 47a-21 is modified to additionally provide, “(m) Upon the written request of a tenant of a dwelling unit who is not enrolled in the security deposit guarantee program established by the Commissioner of Housing pursuant to Section 8-339 of the Connecticut General Statutes, who has paid a security deposit in an amount that exceeds one month’s rent, and who provides written notice, including but not limited to in written electronic communication, that he or she has become fully or partially unemployed or otherwise sustained a significant loss in revenue or increase in expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a landlord of such unit shall withdraw an amount of said deposit equal to the amount in excess of one month’s rent from an escrow account and apply it toward the rent due in April, May, or June, July or August 2020. Notwithstanding subsection (h) of this section, an escrow agent may withdraw funds from an escrow account to comply with such a request. The amount withdrawn by the escrow agent and applied toward the rent due shall no longer be considered an amount of the security deposit for any purpose, including but not limited to the calculation of interest, assignment to successor, and the payment of security deposit and interest at the termination of a tenancy. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, no landlord who has complied with such a request may demand the security deposit be restored to an amount that exceeds one month’s rent earlier than the later of the end of the public health and civil preparedness emergency declared on March 10, 2020, including any period of extension or renewal of such emergency, or the date the rental agreement is extended or renewed.
        • Flush language: Except as expressly provided herein, nothing in this order shall relieve a tenant of liability for unpaid rent or of the obligation to comply with other terms of a rental agreement or statutory obligations pursuant to Connecticut law. Except as expressly provided herein, nothing in this order shall relieve a landlord of the obligation to comply with a rental agreement or statutory obligations pursuant to Connecticut law.
Executive Order No. 7NNN:
  • Repeals Executive Order No. 7BB, Section 2, issued on April 17, 2020
    • Effective immediately, any person in a public place in Connecticut, whether indoors or outdoors, who does not maintain a safe social distance of approximately six feet from every other person shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face-covering
    • In addition, individuals shall use a mask or cloth face covering when using the services of any taxi, car, livery, ride-sharing or similar service, or any means of mass public transit, or while within any semi-enclosed transit stop or waiting area
    • Any person who declines to wear a mask or face covering because of a medical condition shall be exempt from this order and any requirement to wear masks in Sector Rules or other rules issued by the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), but only if such person provides written documentation that the person is qualified for the exemption from a licensed medical provider, the Department of Developmental Services or other state agency that provides or supports services for people with emotional, intellectual or physical disabilities, or a person authorized by any such agency. Such documentation need not name or describe the condition that qualifies the person for the exemption.
Executive Order No. 7MMM:
  • Clarifies authority of election officials to accept and count absentee ballot sets issued pursuant to Executive Order No. 7QQ
  • Explains that inner envelope attestation shall be interpreted to include the sickness of COVID-19
  • Clarifies authority of election officials to open outer envelopes of absentee ballot sets issued pursuant to Executive Order No. 7QQ
  • Authorizes election officials to accept and count absentee ballots postmarked by August 11, 2020 and delivered by August 13, 2020
Executive Order No. 7LLL:
  • Resumes requirements and deadlines for child protection matters
Executive Order No. 7JJJ:
  • Creates a rebuttable presumption of eligibility for workers compensation for employees with COVID-19
  • Modifies Connecticut General Statute Section 31-290a to prohibit discharge, discrimination, discipline and deliberate misinformation or dissuasion
Executive Order No. 7III:
  • Repeals advisory self-quarantine under Executive Order No. 7BBB
  • Imposes a mandatory self-quarantine for travelers from states with high COVID-19 levels
  • Extends statutory and regulatory deadlines issued by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
Executive Order No. 7HHH:
  • Authorizes continued temporary suspension of the requirements for licensure, certification or registration of out-of-state providers
Executive Order No. 7GGG:
  • Authorizes temporary rental housing program
  • Authorizes temporary mortgage relief program
  • Establishes online continuing education program for plumbers and electricians
Executive Order No. 7FFF:
  • Modifies minimum service hours for private non-medical institutions (PNMIs) for adults
    • The Commissioner of Social Services is authorized to temporarily waive, suspend, or modify, to the extent the Commissioner deems necessary, retroactive to the beginning of the COVID-19 public health emergency, any requirements contained therein including, but not limited to:
      • (1) revising the minimum number of hours of rehabilitative services required to be provided in a month by a PNMI for adults as a condition for receiving its monthly Medicaid payment from not less than 40 hours per month to not less than 25 hours per month,
      • (2) waiving or modifying the requirement for Medicaid rates to be set based on semi-annual times studies, and
      • (3) waiving or modifying any other requirement for Medicaid payment of PNMIs for adults that the Commissioner deems necessary as a result of staffing and other constraints caused by or related to the COVID-19 public health emergency
Executive Order No. 7EEE:
  • Authorizes the Office of Policy and Management to direct the Commissioner of Social Services to provide Coronavirus Relief Funds to additional healthcare providers
    • Providers will receive aid pursuant to funding distribution methodologies established by the Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Office of Policy and Management, to cover necessary expenditures incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • The Commissioner of Social Services shall require any such healthcare institution or provider to submit reports or attestations in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner to demonstrate that such CRF funds were used for eligible expenditures incurred to respond to COVID-19 in accordance with the CRF and associated federal requirements and guidance
  • Authorizes the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to approve interactive online continuing education for plumbers and electricians through the end of the calendar year
Executive Order No. 7DDD:
  • Extends protection for residential renters affected by COVID-19
    • No notice to quit or service of summary process before August 22
    • Extended opportunity to apply additional security deposit to rent, upon request
Executive Order No. 7CCC:
  • Clarifies time periods in Executive Order 7I, Section 15
    • Provides that and Board of Assessment Appeals may extend application deadlines only if it has not yet completed its duties pursuant to Sections 12-110, 12-111 and 12-117 of the Connecticut General Statutes and filed its grand list reports pursuant to Section 12-120 of the Connecticut General Statutes with the Office of Policy and Management, which must be completed by July 10, 2020 for any non-motor vehicle appeals on the October 1, 2019 grand list.
  • Extends time period for fire service personnel examinations
  • Authorizes issuance of duplicate licenses and identity cards
Executive Order No. 7BBB:
  • Imposes a self-quarantine by travelers from states experiencing high infection rates
    • All travelers entering Connecticut from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or higher than a 10% test positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average, shall self-quarantine for a period of 14 days.
    • As of this date, June 30, 2020, the states on the list include:
      • Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, California, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and Tennessee.
  • Amends deadline for candidates to withdraw from presidential primary
  • Accelerates date to finalize order of names on presidential preference primary ballot
  • Provides for a temporary commercial pesticide junior operator certification
  • Grants authority to Commissioner of Early Childhood to modify enhanced health procedures in child care and day camps
Executive Order No. 8:
  • Prevents the Connecticut State Police from using chokeholds, strangleholds, arm-bar control holds, lateral vascular neck restraints, carotid restraints, chest compressions, or any other tactic that restricts oxygen or blood flow to the head or neck
  • Authorizes the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to review the Connecticut State Police Administrative and Operations Manual, and to update it where necessary
  • The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, in addition to the Resident State Trooper program, appoint and train one or more troopers in each Connecticut State Police Troop as community trust liaisons and instruct said liaisons to assist those Troops in building relationships with residents and community-based organizations
  • The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall not purchase or otherwise acquire military and military-style equipment from the federal government until further notice.
  • The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, by January 1, 2021, equip every Connecticut State Police uniformed trooper with a body camera and every Connecticut State Police marked vehicle with a dashboard camera.
Executive Order No. 7AAA:
  • Repeals Executive Order No. 7ZZ, Section 8 in its entirety and replaces it with new language
    • Reopening of Public Amusements. Executive Order No. 7F, Section 2 is repealed. Places of Public Amusement, as defined by that order, shall be permitted to operate pursuant to the DECD Sector Rules applicable to each business, which Sector Rules shall be legally binding and enforceable. Executive Order No. 7F, Sections 3, 4, and 5 shall remain in effect for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency, unless earlier modified or terminated
  • Authorizes the Commissioner of Early Childhood to modify or remove the limitation on the number of children permitted in one space within a child care facility, and the total number of children that a child care facility may provide care for
  • Waives requirement to hold annual agricultural fair and reporting requirement to maintain agricultural society property tax exemption
  • Requires Mandatory COVID-19 testing for staff, subject to various restrictions and requirements, of private and municipal nursing home facilities, managed residential communities, and assisted living services agencies
Executive Order No. 7ZZ:
  • Lifts prohibition on temporary lodging
    • Hotels and other commercial lodging, including commercially operated timeshares or multi-unit lodging that operate like hotels or employ staff on site, shall operate in accordance with DECD Sector Rules for Hotels/Lodging
  • Permits social and recreational gathering pursuant to DECD Rules for Gatherings and Venues and Sector Rules for Outdoor Events
  • Provides that a violation of the Rules for Gatherings and Venues shall be a public nuisance
  • Permits indoor dining pursuant to DECD Sector Rules for Restaurants
    • The sale of alcohol by certain vendors without the sale of food, shall remain in effect through July 20, 2020
    • The rules for restaurant takeout and delivery shall remain in effect
  • Allows holders of Hotel Liquor permits to sell alcoholic beverages consistent for pickup or delivery consistent with the requirements on other permit holders as set forth in prior executive orders and the DECD Sector Rules for Restaurants
  • Resumes personal services (barbershops, hair salons, tattoo/piercing parlors, and related public businesses)
    • Executive Order No. 7G, Section 4, is repealed. All businesses or services subject to that order shall be permitted to operate pursuant to the DECD Sector Rules for Personal Services
  • Reopens Gyms, Sports, Fitness and Recreation Facilities and Movie Theaters subject to DECD Sector Rules applicable to each business
  • Reopens Public Amusements subject to DECD Sector Rules applicable to each business
  • Restrictions on Off-Track betting extended through July 20, 2020
  • Extends essential business rules, as amended by Executive Order No. 7PP, through the public health emergency
  • Clarifies Executive Order No. 7MM
    • Any activity permitted pursuant to the expedited approval process provided in Executive Order No. 7MM shall be permitted to continue operating in accordance with such process for the duration of the public health emergency, subject to existing laws, regulations, executive orders, and any orders issued pursuant to an executive order, and therefore shall not be subject to any local restriction on its duration prior to the expiration of such emergency declaration
  • Extends remote notarization for the duration of the public health emergency
Executive Order No. 7YY:
  • Resumes Supreme and Appellate Court requirements and deadlines
  • Permits certain dealers, who are authorized by DMV, to issue new registrations for the following vehicles: passenger, camper, camp trailers, commercial (up to 64,500 pounds), combination, and motorcycles that are purchase through casual sales