Signed by Governor Phil Murphy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that repeals the public health emergency declared by the governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the most recent executive order containing general coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mitigation measures regarding face coverings, social distancing, and gatherings prior to the effective date of this act, and this executive order from being more restrictive than the recommendations provided in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on social distancing and face coverings in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (Sec. 1).

• Requires The civil immunity bestowed upon health care professionals in connection with the State's COVID-19 response to continue beyond September 1, 2021, but only for individuals specifically engaged in vaccinations or testing related to COVID-19 (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Governor to notify the Legislature by January 1, 2022 if the Governor determines that it is necessary or appropriate to continue for an additional 90 days beyond January 11, 2022 any administrative order, directive, or waiver issued by the head of a State agency that relied on the existence of the public health emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order No. 103 of 2020, as extended (Sec. 3.b).

• Specifies the termination of the public health emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order No. 103 of 2020, as extended, will in no way diminish, limit, or impair the powers of the Governor or the head of a State agency pursuant to the provisions of the Civilian Defense and Disaster Control Act (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes the Governor, Commissioner of Health, and the head of any other State agency to issue orders, directives, and waivers related to (Sec. 5):

• Vaccination distribution, administration, and management;

• COVID-19 testing;

• Health resource and personnel allocation;

• Data collection, retention, sharing, and access,

• Coordination of local health departments, and

• Implementation of any applicable recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent or limit the transmission of COVID-19, including in specific settings.

• Establishes all executive orders issued by the Governor prior to the effective date of this bill that relied on the existence of the public health emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order No. 103 of 2020, as extended, will expire 30 days following the effective date of this bill, with the exception of the executive orders listed below that will remain in effect until January 1, 2022. The Governor will have the ability to revoke or modify the following executive orders prior to January 1, 2022 (Sec. 6):

• Executive Order No. 106 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 111 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 112 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 123 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 127 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 150 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 159 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 170 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 178 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 207 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 229 (2021);

• Executive Order No. 233 (2021); or

• Executive Order No. 237 (2021).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that repeals the public health emergency declared by the governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the most recent executive order containing general coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mitigation measures regarding face coverings, social distancing, and gatherings prior to the effective date of this act, and this executive order from being more restrictive than the recommendations provided in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on social distancing and face coverings in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (Sec. 1).

• Requires The civil immunity bestowed upon health care professionals in connection with the State's COVID-19 response to continue beyond September 1, 2021, but only for individuals specifically engaged in vaccinations or testing related to COVID-19 (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Governor to notify the Legislature by January 1, 2022 if the Governor determines that it is necessary or appropriate to continue for an additional 90 days beyond January 11, 2022 any administrative order, directive, or waiver issued by the head of a State agency that relied on the existence of the public health emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order No. 103 of 2020, as extended (Sec. 3.b).

• Specifies the termination of the public health emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order No. 103 of 2020, as extended, will in no way diminish, limit, or impair the powers of the Governor or the head of a State agency pursuant to the provisions of the Civilian Defense and Disaster Control Act (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes the Governor, Commissioner of Health, and the head of any other State agency to issue orders, directives, and waivers related to (Sec. 5):

• Vaccination distribution, administration, and management;

• COVID-19 testing;

• Health resource and personnel allocation;

• Data collection, retention, sharing, and access,

• Coordination of local health departments, and

• Implementation of any applicable recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent or limit the transmission of COVID-19, including in specific settings.

• Establishes all executive orders issued by the Governor prior to the effective date of this bill that relied on the existence of the public health emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order No. 103 of 2020, as extended, will expire 30 days following the effective date of this bill, with the exception of the executive orders listed below that will remain in effect until January 1, 2022. The Governor will have the ability to revoke or modify the following executive orders prior to January 1, 2022 (Sec. 6):

• Executive Order No. 106 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 111 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 112 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 123 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 127 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 150 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 159 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 170 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 178 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 207 (2020);

• Executive Order No. 229 (2021);

• Executive Order No. 233 (2021); or

• Executive Order No. 237 (2021).

Full Bill Text