Pennsylvania State Capitol. Photo: Zack Frank/Shutterstock.com

Following is a listing of executive activity for the week of March 30. Both houses of the General Assembly were in recess at press time, subject to recall on 12 hours' notice. The Pennsylvania Senate has allowed remote voting; the state House of Representatives has authorized voting by proxy, through the party whips.

Stay-at-Home Order

Gov. Tom Wolf extended his stay-at-home executive order to all 67 counties of Pennsylvania, effective 8 p.m. April 1, in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The order, which was accompanied by an order by Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, was set to continue through April 30. It instructed residents to leave their homes only to perform tasks essential to maintaining the health and safety of household members, including pets; securing supplies for health, safety and sanitation; and engaging in outdoor activity while maintaining social distancing. The order also defines other essential activities.

"This is the most prudent option to stop the spread of COVID-19 across our commonwealth, where cases continue to grow daily," Wolf said. "We appreciate the shared sacrifice of all 12.8 million Pennsylvanians; we are in this together and this statewide stay-at-home order is being made after many discussions with multiple state agencies; Dr. Levine; and state, county and local officials as we continue to monitor the most effective ways to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19."

The new order extends to the entire state restrictions first put in place March 23 for seven counties.

The order includes the requirement of closure of non-life-sustaining businesses.

Life-sustaining business activities were exempted from the order, including among others health care and medical services, food banks, child care services, news media and law enforcement.

The state government was also maintaining a web page with information about the COVID-19 outbreak.

Disaster Declaration

Wolf on March 30 announced that President Donald Trump has approved part of his request for a major disaster declaration to support state, county and local response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Pennsylvania.

"We are grateful for federal funding that will support all levels of government as we work together to stop the spread, and support those who care for the ill," Wolf said. "But I remain unwavering in my call for the approval of the rest of my request, which will provide more direct support to our friends and neighbors who are facing financial difficulties that otherwise could be insurmountable."

Under the major disaster declaration, state, county and municipal governments, as well as eligible private nonprofits, can receive reimbursement for up to 75% of eligible expenses related to the response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Eligible expenses can include but are not limited to costs associated with paying overtime, or materials and equipment purchases. The declaration also provides direct federal assistance, which provides federal materials and supplies to support state and local response efforts.

Staff from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency will reach out to potential applicants to view the application process and necessary documentation, according to a Wolf administration statement. As the response period for the COVID-19 outbreak is continuing, the process will take weeks. All reimbursements are being handled electronically.

Wolf said his request for other federal aid remains under consideration. His letter to the Trump administration also asked for disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling, community disaster loans, disaster supplemental nutrition program, and statewide hazard mitigation.

Wolf signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the COVID-19 outbreak, which is a required step to request a federal major disaster declaration, March 6.

There was no timeline for federal decision-making on Wolf's outstanding assistance requests.

Construction Industry

The number of Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation claims since March 15 are the highest in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor statistics.

Speaker of the House Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, announced April 2 that House Bill 2400, with nearly 100 co-sponsors, will be assigned to the House State Government Committee with an expected committee vote next week.

The bill would allow all public and private construction activities to be undertaken that adhere to mitigation measures set forth by the CDC to protect workers and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

HB 2400 was not available on the General Assembly's website at press time.

"Our policies are aimed to save lives from coronavirus and beat back this scourge," Turzai said.

"We also need to make sure our economy does not collapse, causing severe public health issues like family disintegration, increased alcoholism and drug addiction, and higher prevalence of mental illness. "

Turzai said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has classified as essential "workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, builders, contractors, HVAC technicians, landscapers, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, businesses and buildings such as hospitals, senior living facilities, any temporary construction required to support COVID-19 response."

As of press time, the state Department of Labor and Industry reported 982,000 Pennsylvanians have applied for unemployment compensation benefits during the past two weeks—and the number is expected to continue to rise, Turzai pointed out.

In the Pennsylvania Senate, a measure sponsored by Sens. Dave Arnold, R-Lebanon, and Camera Bartolotta, R-Washington, would require the Department of Community and Economic Development to issue waivers for public and private construction activities that adhere to social distancing practices and other mitigation measures set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protect workers and mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

According to a March 31 statement from Arnold's office, Pennsylvania has been the only state to shut down all active public and private construction sites as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

While New Jersey, California, Illinois and New York have issued shelter in place orders, those states provide exemptions for construction personnel and construction activities, Arnold's statement said.

School Closures

All Pennsylvania schools will remain closed until further notice, Wolf announced March 30. The decision, according to a Wolf administration statement, was made as "COVID-19 cases continue to grow and the state continues to seek relief to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19."

The executive order removed the previous time limit for school closures to end in Pennsylvania.

The Department of Education is expected to provide updated guidance and resources on the continuity of education for students to schools, the statement said.

Health Care Equity

Wolf on March 30 released a statement on his commitment to ensuring all Pennsylvanians receive fair and equitable access to lifesaving health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Pennsylvania's standards of care—in times of crisis and not—are based on an ethical allocation framework, meaning care is provided equitably across all populations without regard to patient age, race, gender, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status," Wolf said in the statement. "We follow the provisions set forth in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and advise any Pennsylvanian who feels they or a loved one have been discriminated against in any way to contact" the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which enforces state civil rights laws.

"I am committed to protecting all Pennsylvanians affected by COVID-19, and we will not discriminate in this fight," he concluded.

Disability rights groups and the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee under the Department of Human Services have advocated for a clear policy prohibiting discrimination in the allocation of resources should the pandemic cause health care needs to exceed capacity. The Wolf administration has committed to establishing policy that strictly prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability or socioeconomic status in this fight against COVID-19.