Following is a listing of executive and legislative action from the week of June 29. Both houses of the General Assembly were in recess at press time. The Pennsylvania Senate was subject to recall by Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, and the state House of Representatives was subject to recall by Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster.

Face Masks

Gov. Tom Wolf on July 1 announced that Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine has issued an order that requires Pennsylvanians to wear masks when they leave home, as a measure to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

The order, promulgated under the state Disease Prevention and Control Act, took effect immediately.

"This mask-wearing order is essential to stopping the recent increase in COVID-19 cases we have seen in Pennsylvania," Wolf said in a statement. "Those hot spots can be traced to situations where Pennsylvanians were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing—two practices that must be adhered to if we want to maintain the freedoms we have in place under our reopening."

Levine's order outlines the situations when a mask must be worn and includes limited exceptions to the face-covering requirement.

With the entire state in the "green phase" of reopening with Lebanon County set to join that group July 3, Wolf congratulated Pennsylvanians on curbing the spread of COVID-19, but Levine added that complacency was not an option, noting increasing spread in some locales.

"While cases increase in some areas, we cannot become complacent," she said. "Wearing a mask shows that you care about others, and that you are committed to protecting the lives of those around you."

Higher Education

Wolf signed into law a measure to overhaul the governing body for the 14 state-owned and -operated universities.

House Bill 2171 gives the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Board of Governors the power to create, expand, consolidate, transfer or affiliate member schools. The goal is to ensure all schools in the system remain open and available to meet the needs of students, according to Sen. Scott Martin, R-Lancaster.

The measure, sponsored by state Rep. Curt Sonney, R-Erie, would require a thorough review of the institution and a detailed implementation plan from the PASSHE chancellor in order to make major changes. This includes holding at least two public hearings, consulting with faculty and other stakeholders, opening a public comment period and reporting quarterly to the General Assembly.

HB 2172 was enrolled as Act 50 of 2020.

Unemployment Extension

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak on June 30 announced that persons who exhaust their regular unemployment compensation and federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation may now qualify for 13 additional weeks of payments through the state's Unemployment Compensation Extended Benefits program.

Since March 15, nearly $22 billion in benefits have been paid to Pennsylvanians for job loss; $9.7 billion in regular unemployment compensation; $9.8 billion from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, which provides an extra $600 per week; $2.3 billion issued so far to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claimants, who are self-employed, gig workers and independent contractors; and $133 million in extended pandemic benefits, according to a Wolf administration statement.

Opioid Recovery

Wolf announced June 2 that the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) is awarding more than $2 million in federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants to provide employment support services for persons with opioid use disorder.

The grants are part of the $55.9 million SAMSHA grant secured by the Wolf administration to bolster the state's response to the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic.

"We have not lost focus on the continuing opioid crisis in Pennsylvania," Wolf said. "And now more than ever, employment services are vital to help people struggling during the pandemic with the loss of a job or need to find employment. These grants will help those with substance use disorder have a better chance at recovery by helping to access employment."

According to a Wolf administration statement, the grants—of up to $200,000—are set to go to 14 organizations across Pennsylvania, including recovery centers and other agencies that offer among other services, vocational assessments and job training.