The Emergency Amendment of Rule 123:1-46-05 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services

WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death, is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is a new strain of coronavirus that had not been previously identified in humans and can easily spread from person to person.  The virus is spread between individuals who are in close contact with each other (within about six feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.  It may be possible that individuals can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes; and

WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary, Alex M. Azar II, declared a public health emergency for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19 and

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, testing by the Department of Health confirmed that three (3) patients were positive for COVID-19 in the State of Ohio.  This confirmed the presence of a potentially dangerous condition which may affect the health, safety and welfare of citizens of Ohio; and

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I declared a State of Emergency in Executive Order 2020-01D; and

WHEREAS, there exists a need to amend current administrative rules as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and 

WHEREAS, Section 119.03 (G) of the Ohio Revised Code authorizes the Governor, on the request of a State agency, to suspend the normal rule making procedures with respect to specific rules when an emergency exists necessitating the immediate adoption, amendment or recession of such rules.  When such a determination is made, the agency may immediately adopt, amend or rescind such rules, but the rules are only valid for one hundred and twenty (120) days; and

WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Administrative Services has requested a determination whether an emergency exists that requires the amendment of rule 123:1-46-05 on an emergency basis and that would therefore permit the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, pursuant to Section 124.391 of the Ohio Revised Code, to make immediate and necessary changes to the rule.  

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike DeWine, Governor of the State of Ohio, have determined, upon request of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, that an emergency exists requiring the immediate amendment of rule 123:1-46-05 of the Ohio Administrative Code. 

I hereby order that the procedures prescribed by Section 119.03 of the Ohio Revised Code with respect to the amendment of the specified rule be suspended and that the Ohio Department of Administrative Services be permitted to amend the rule immediately by filing it electronically with the Secretary of State, the Director of the Legislative Services Commission and the Joint Commission on Agency Rule Review ("JCARR"). 

Furthermore, I hereby order that this Executive Order be filed in electronic form with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, the Secretary of State, the Director of the Legislative Services and JCARR.  

I signed this Executive Order on May 7, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio, and it will expire one hundred twenty (120) days from the effective date of the emergency rule, or upon the adoption of the rule through the normal JCARR process, whichever is sooner. 

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Mike DeWine, Governor

ATTEST:

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Frank LaRose, Secretary of State