Signed by Governor Gary Herbert

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission and requires a COVID-19 coronavirus response plan, which will supersede any stricter local ordinances.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission to advise and make recommendations to the governor regarding the state’s response to the COVID-19 emergency (Sec. 4 & 5).

• Requires the Commission to (Sec. 5):

• Identify at least 3 economic and health guidance levels that may be used to establish an overall risk assessment for the state and provide targeted risk assessments based on:

• Geographic areas of the state; 

• Groups of individuals, based on each group’s risk level of serious illness from COVID-19 due to demographic characteristics, including age or underlying health conditions; 

• Groups of individuals, based on each group’s personal experience with COVID-19, including testing positive for, having symptoms of, or having recovered from COVID-19; or

• Industries;

• Establish criteria for assigning each economic and health guidance level; 

• Identify the social and economic activities that the Commission recommends take place or be restricted under each economic and health guidance level; 

• Develop a plan to promote widespread testing of individuals for COVID-19; 

• Develop a plan to encourage individuals to use available technology to allow the state to identify and track the prevalence and transmission of COVID-19; and

• Develop universal communication elements for governmental entities to use in messaging related to the COVID-19 emergency.

• Requires the Commission present a plan to the governor that does the following, by April 22, 2020 (Sec. 5):

• Provides for the state to operate under an economic and health guidance level that is immediately below the highest risk economic and health guidance level; 

• Includes reasonable guidances under which health care providers may perform elective surgeries and procedures, and restaurants may resume or continue, subject to the reasonable guidelines, normal operations; and

• Is available to the public. 

• Requires an adopted recommendation by the governor to supersede any portion of a local ordinance or order that is more restrictive than or in direct conflict with the governor’s adopted recommendation made by the commission, unless the governor allows an exception (Sec. 3).

• Requires the governor to issue a public statement of explanation, including the generally accepted data the governor relies upon in reaching their decision, if the governor does not implement the Commission’s plan by April 30, 2020 (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission and requires a COVID-19 coronavirus response plan, which will supersede any stricter local ordinances.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission to advise and make recommendations to the governor regarding the state’s response to the COVID-19 emergency (Sec. 4 & 5).

• Requires the Commission to (Sec. 5):

• Identify at least 3 economic and health guidance levels that may be used to establish an overall risk assessment for the state and provide targeted risk assessments based on:

• Geographic areas of the state; 

• Groups of individuals, based on each group’s risk level of serious illness from COVID-19 due to demographic characteristics, including age or underlying health conditions; 

• Groups of individuals, based on each group’s personal experience with COVID-19, including testing positive for, having symptoms of, or having recovered from COVID-19; or

• Industries;

• Establish criteria for assigning each economic and health guidance level; 

• Identify the social and economic activities that the Commission recommends take place or be restricted under each economic and health guidance level; 

• Develop a plan to promote widespread testing of individuals for COVID-19; 

• Develop a plan to encourage individuals to use available technology to allow the state to identify and track the prevalence and transmission of COVID-19; and

• Develop universal communication elements for governmental entities to use in messaging related to the COVID-19 emergency.

• Requires the Commission present a plan to the governor that does the following, by April 22, 2020 (Sec. 5):

• Provides for the state to operate under an economic and health guidance level that is immediately below the highest risk economic and health guidance level; 

• Includes reasonable guidances under which health care providers may perform elective surgeries and procedures, and restaurants may resume or continue, subject to the reasonable guidelines, normal operations; and

• Is available to the public. 

• Requires an adopted recommendation by the governor to supersede any portion of a local ordinance or order that is more restrictive than or in direct conflict with the governor’s adopted recommendation made by the commission, unless the governor allows an exception (Sec. 3).

• Requires the governor to issue a public statement of explanation, including the generally accepted data the governor relies upon in reaching their decision, if the governor does not implement the Commission’s plan by April 30, 2020 (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text