Coping with COVID: Kansas bill continues COVID recovery measures, extends disaster declaration

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed an emergency response bill Wednesday and said she will re-issue executive orders to protect the state’s COVID-19 recovery.

The governor’s office said Senate Bill 40 modifies the procedure for the declaration and extension of a state disaster emergency under the Kansas Emergency Management Act and extends the current disaster declaration to May 28.

Several executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic were set to expire on March 31 in conjunction with the expiration of the state of disaster emergency. The Senate bill includes a provision that revokes all current executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the governor still has the authority to re-issue orders under the new process imposed by the bill.

“This bipartisan compromise will extend the State of Disaster Emergency that allows us to provide hospitals with PPE, support food banks and pantries, and otherwise respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kelly said. “The bill includes provisions that I do not support and that could complicate our emergency response efforts. But I will continue to work with legislators and local leaders to keep Kansans safe and healthy during this pandemic.”

On April 1, the governor said she will re-issue some emergency orders, which will remain in effect until rescinded or until the statewide state of disaster emergency expires.