EXECUTIVE ORDER
EO 21-07
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, I declared a State of Emergency in the State of Missouri and invoked the provisions in Chapter 44 through Executive Order 20-02, finding that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) poses a serious health risk for the citizens of the State of Missouri; and
WHEREAS, I issued Executive Orders 20-09, 20-12, and 20-19, extending the State of Emergency until March 31, 2021; and
WHEREAS, I have also issued other executive orders in response to COVID-19, aimed at protecting the health and safety of Missourians, as well as providing additional resources and flexibility to help Missouri residents and businesses recover from this emergency; and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-04 ordering the temporary suspension of certain statutory and regulatory provisions related to telemedicine and motor carriers, and vesting state agencies and executive boards and commissions with authority to waive or suspend statutory or regulatory requirements, subject to approval from the Governor’s Office, where strict compliance would hinder the State’s response to COVID-19, and to ease licensing requirements to eliminate barriers to the provision of health care services and other professions; and
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-05 ordering the temporary suspension of prohibitions on the sale of unprepared foods by restaurants; and
WHEREAS, on March 26, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-06 ordering and directing the Adjutant General of the State of Missouri, or his designee, to forthwith call and order into active service such portions of the organized militia as he deems necessary to aid the executive officials of Missouri, to protect life and property, and further ordered and directing that the Adjutant General or his designee, and through him, the commanding officer of any unit or other organization of such organized militia so called into active service take such action and employ such equipment which may be necessary in support of civilian authorities, and provide such assistance as may be authorized and directed by the Governor; and
WHEREAS, on September 3, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-14 ordering the temporary suspension of any physical appearance requirements as stated in Chapter 474 and authorizing the use of audio-visual technology with criteria established in the Order; and
WHEREAS, the provisions of Executive Orders 20-04, 20-06, and 20-14 were extended in whole or in part by Executive Orders 20-10, 20-12, 20-16, and 20-19 until March 31, 2021, and will expire at that time unless extended in whole or in part; and
WHEREAS, although Missourians have done much to protect themselves against the spread of COVID-19 and our State’s positivity and hospitalization rates have decreased significantly, I have been advised by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the State Emergency Management Agency that COVID-19 continues to pose a serious health risk for the citizens of the State of Missouri; and
WHEREAS, an invocation of chapter 44, RSMo, is still required to ensure the protection, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Missouri, to provide the resources the State of Missouri continues to need to combat the public health threat caused by COVID-19, and to aid in Missouri’s recovery to this emergency; and
WHEREAS, the actions taken under the aforementioned executive orders have allowed the waiver of overly burdensome statutory and regulatory requirements, which have provided critical flexibility to the state, businesses, and its citizens during these difficult times; and
WHEREAS, the prior executive orders and waivers have allowed the State of Missouri to respond to COVID-19 by mitigating health risks to citizens without the issuance of any statewide mandates and accelerating economic recovery; and
WHEREAS, extending the state of emergency will allow the state to continue those efforts and eliminate the need for any associated future statewide mandates and further accelerate economic recovery; and
WHEREAS, the state of emergency is needed to be extended through the remainder of the recovery period from COVID-19 and will aid in accelerating that recovery; and
WHEREAS, I therefore find it necessary to extend the state of emergency and extend Executive Order 20-04, in part, and Executive Orders 20-02, 20-05, 20-06, and 20-14 in whole.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL L. PARSON, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Missouri declare that a state of emergency continues to exist in the State of Missouri and direct the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan to continue to remain activated. I, therefore, extend until August 31, 2021, the state of emergency originally contained in Executive Order 20-02, as extended by Executive Orders 20-09, 20-12, and 20-19.
I also extend until August 31, 2021 the order suspending certain statutory and regulatory provisions related to telemedicine and motor carriers, and vesting state agencies and executive boards and commissions with authority to waive or suspend statutory or regulatory requirements, subject to my approval, where strict compliance would hinder the State’s response to COVID-19, and to ease licensing requirements to eliminate barriers to the provision of health care services and other professions contained in Executive Order 20-04, as extended by Executive Orders 20-10 and 20-12. The provision in Executive Order 20-04 which suspended the provisions of subsection 3 of section 161.210, RSMo, and 5 CSR 20-400.330, 500-560, 590-610, and 640 relating to teacher certification with regard to qualifying scores on exit examinations and culminating clinical experience in terms of semester hours, weeks, and number of placements was terminated on June 11, 2020 through Executive Order 20-12 and is not revived by this Order. All other provisions in Executive Order 20-04 remain in full force and effect. All statutory and regulatory waivers currently in effect will remain in effect through the duration of the state of emergency unless rescinded by the Governor or the state agency, executive board, or commission, subject to approval of the Governor’s Office.
I extend until August 31, 2021 the order allowing the temporary suspension of prohibitions on the sale of unprepared foods by restaurants contained in Executive Order 20-05, as extended by Executive Orders 20-10, 20-12, and 20-19.
I extend until August 31, 2021 the order to the Adjutant General of the State of Missouri, to forthwith call and order into active service such portions of the organized militia as he deems necessary to aid the executive officials of Missouri, to protect life and property contained in Executive Order 20-06, as extended by Executive Orders 20-10, 20-12, 20-16, and 20-19.
I extend until August 31, 2021 the order temporarily suspending any physical appearance requirements as stated in Chapter 474 and authorizing the use of audio-visual technology with criteria contained in Executive Order 20-14, as extended by Executive Order 20-19.
This order shall terminate on August 31, 2021 unless extended in whole or in part.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, on this 26th day of March, 2021.
[Michael L. Parson’s signature]
MICHAEL L. PARSON
GOVERNOR
ATTEST:
[Jay Ashcroft’s signature]
JOHN R. ASHCROFT
SECRETARY OF STATE
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