Maine extends COVID-19 state of emergency October 2020

On Thursday, October 29, 2020, Governor Janet Mills released a proclamation extending Maine’s state of civil emergency through November 27, 2020. This is the eighth proclamation renewing the state of civil emergency (which by law ends in 30 days unless it is be renewed by the governor), and keeps Maine in line with nearly every other state in the nation.

As with previous renewals, this proclamation allows Governor Mills to continue to deploy all available state resources to respond to the pandemic. The proclamation also continues to grant emergency powers to the Department of Health and Human Services and maintains Maine’s eligibility for certain federal COVID-19 assistance. With the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2020, the numbering of Executive Orders began at number one for fiscal year 2020/2021.

The new proclamation does not change the expiry date of Executive Order 55 (FY19/20), an order to continue implementing the restart plan, or Executive Order 14 (FY 20/21), Maine Economic Restart Plan Phase Four Implementation Order, both of which remain in effect until rescinded. It also does not change the expiration dates of Executive Order 57 (FY19/20), an order relating to travelers in Maine (which also authorizes the implementation of the Keep Maine Healthy), Where Executive Order 2 (FY 20/21), Order Reinforcing the Use of Face Coverings. These orders remain in effect unless modified, renewed or earlier terminated.

In addition, several other executive orders (listed below and summarized) have been extended as a result of the new proclamation. These orders remain in effect until the end of the civil emergency unless revoked sooner:

• Executive Order 23 (FY 19/20), Suspending Provisions of the Maine Pharmacy Act to Facilitate the Continuation of Out-of-State Clinical Trials of Investigational Drugs

• Executive Order 35 (FY 19/20), Suspension of Application of Provisions of Certain Licensing Acts

• Executive Order 42 (AF 19/20), COVID-19 Loan Guarantee Program

• Executive Order 43 (FY 19/20), Extraordinary Emergency Financial Orders

• Executive Order 46 (FY 19/20), Law Enforcement Licensing Requirements and Training Deadlines

• Executive Order 47 (FY 19/20), Eligibility for Homeless Children’s Shelters

• Executive Order 48 (FY 19/20), Drafting Rules for Federal Funding of MaineCare

• Executive Order 54 (FY 19/20), Admissions to the Department of Corrections

• Executive Order 5 (FY20/21), Rental Assistance and Housing Protections

• Executive Order 6 (FY 20/21), Outdoor Gatherings and Face Coverings for Children

• Executive Order 9 (FY 20/21), amending Executive Orders 55 FY 19/20 and 1 FY 20/21

• Executive Order 12 (FY 20/21), Job Search Requirements for Unemployment Benefit Eligibility

The following orders will expire 30 days after the end of the civil emergency, unless canceled sooner:

• Executive Order 18 (FY 19/20), Compliance Dates Under Certain Motor Vehicle Laws

• Executive Order 24 (AF 19/20), Recycling and Solid Waste Facility Hours of Operation

• Executive Order 30-A (FY 19/20), Extension of time to charge current usage

• Executive Order 31 (AF 19/20), Extending Deadlines Related to Certain Property Tax Exemptions

• Executive Order 37 (FY 19/20), Changes to Certain In-Person Notarization and Acknowledgment Requirements

• Executive Order 38 (FY 19/20), Expiration of Optometric Lens Prescriptions

• Executive Order 40 (fiscal year 2019/20), unlawful evictions, writs of possession and commencement of eviction proceedings

• Executive Order 44 (FY 19/20), Extension of a certain reporting period (regarding sentinel events)

• Executive Order 7 (fiscal year 20/21), pre-K-12 education

• Executive Order 8 (fiscal year 20/21), November 2020 general election

The following order will expire 90 days after the end of the civil emergency, unless canceled sooner:

• Executive Order 1 (FY 20/21), suspension of the application of certain statutes and licensing rules (regarding professional licensing)

Please refer to our alert for more information on reopenings and sector-specific guidance in Maine and throughout the region, as well as our alert regarding travel and quarantine restrictions.