STATE OF INDIANA
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
INDIANAPOLIS
FOR: ADDITIONAL DIRECTIVES TO MANAGE INDIANA'S HEALTH CARE RESPONSE DURING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, TO IMPLEMENT THE CARES ACT AND TO EXTEND OTHER PORTIONS OF COUNTY PROPERTY TAX BILLS
TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAY COME, GREETINGS:
WHEREAS, on March 6, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-02
[20200311-IR-GOV200091EOA] which declared a public health emergency exists throughout the State of Indiana as result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States and a confirmed report of the disease in our state;
WHEREAS, since then, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national emergency with respect to this dangerous virus;
WHEREAS, the virus has now spread to every county throughout Indiana. On March 6th, the ISDH confirmed the first case of COVID-19 and on March 16th, the ISDH reported the first death in Indiana due to COVID-19. Within the span of 6 weeks, Indiana now has 8,527 confirmed cases with 387 deaths. Unfortunately, we expect these numbers to continue and rapidly increase in the days ahead. On April 3, 2020, I extended the declaration of a public health emergency for an additional thirty (30) days;
WHEREAS, the financial impact on Hoosiers has been significant and severe with over 300,000 Hoosiers applying for unemployment in the first 3 weeks of the public health emergency;
WHEREAS, despite significant steps being taken in our State, this virus remains a serious threat to the health, safety, and welfare of all residents of Indiana;
WHEREAS, those who work in clinics, hospitals, and care facilities are the dauntless heroes fighting this disease and are being stretched to capacity and beyond, requiring additional steps to reinforce them;
WHEREAS, as Governor, under Indiana's Emergency Management and Disaster Law, Ind. Code ch. 10-14-3 ("Emergency Disaster Law"), I have been given broad authority to take actions necessary to prepare for and respond to the prompt and efficient rescue, care and treatment of persons victimized or threatened by disasters, which include an epidemic, public health emergency and any other public calamity requiring emergency action;
WHEREAS, as Governor, my authority and powers under the Emergency Disaster Law to declare and respond to public health emergencies on behalf of our State, specifically include:
° making, amending and rescinding the necessary orders, rules and regulations to carry out the response to a disaster;
° suspending the provisions of any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business, including the orders, rules or regulations of any state agency if strict compliance with any of these provisions would in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action in coping with the emergency; and
° allowing persons who hold a license to practice certain health care and other professions to practice their respective professions in Indiana during the period of the state of emergency if the state in which a person's license or registration was issued has a mutual aid compact for emergency management with Indiana.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Eric J. Holcomb, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor by the Indiana Constitution and the laws of the State of Indiana, and for the duration of this public health emergency unless otherwise specified, do hereby order:
1. Temporary Licensure of Recent Health Care Graduates
Graduate Pharmacists: If a pharmacy student has successfully completed all required course work at an accredited school, has applied for licensure with the PLA, and has supplied PLA a certificate of completion, the provisions of Ind. Code § 25-26-13-11, requiring the NAPLEX and MPJE exams be taken and a background check being completed, will be suspended. Any license issued under these provisions shall only be effective during this public health emergency and further, will be initially limited to a period of 90 days which may be renewed in 30-day increments so long as the public health emergency continues. Upon the lifting of this emergency, all application procedures for initial licensure will be reinstituted and must be followed.
2. Registration Requirement for Health Care Providers Granted a Temporary License
Any person receiving a temporary license under ¶ 1 of this Executive Order must register with the PLA via their website at www.in.gov/pla.
3. Continuing Education Requirements for Health Care Providers
To the extent in-person or live continuing education requirements cannot be met for calendar year 2020 due to social distancing requirements imposed under the public health emergency or to the cancellation or postponement of courses during the public health emergency, any credit-hour limitations on distance education courses in the following statutes are waived Ind. Code § 25-33-2-2 for Pyschologists, Ind. Code § 25-14-3-8 for Dentists and Ind. Code § 25-13-2-6 for Dental Hygienists.
4. Miscellaneous Assessments & Fees on Property Tax Bills
For the period beginning on May 12, 2020, and lasting for 60 days, counties are to waive penalties on special assessments and fees which are included on the county's property tax bill and collected as part of the property tax payment. This waiver applies to conservancy district assessments for exceptional benefits, ditch and drain assessments, solid waste management fees, and storm water assessment fees. This waiver shall also apply to any fee or special assessment not herein described and that is imposed by a local government and paid along with the May 11, 2020 installment of property taxes.
5. Distributions from Defined Contribution Plans Under the CARES Act
The relevant provisions of: Ind. Code § 5-10.2-3-6.5 pertaining to the Public Retirement and Disability Benefits; Ind. Code § 5-10.3-12-26 pertaining to the Public Employees Retirement Fund (PERF); Ind. Code § 5-10.4-8-12 pertaining to the Teachers' Retirement Fund (TRF); and Ind. Code § 2-3.5-5-6 pertaining to the Legislators' Defined Contribution Plan (LEDC); are suspended for the limited purpose of authorizing the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) to permit distributions from the defined contribution accounts in PERF, TRF and LEDC for calendar year 2020 for active and inactive members pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2022 of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act which was signed into law on March 27, 2020.
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| | IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I, Eric J. Holcomb, have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Indiana, on this 15th day of April, 2020. |
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| | Eric J. Holcomb |
| | Governor of Indiana |
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| SEAL | |
| ATTEST: | Connie Lawson |
| | Secretary of State |
Posted: 04/22/2020 by Legislative Services Agency
DIN: 20200422-IR-GOV200240EOA
Composed: May 18,2024 11:39:47AM EDT
A
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