Governor Mulls Special Session on Pandemic Emergency, COVID Presumption

Wednesday, August 25, 2021 | 0

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is considering a special session to extend an emergency declaration, saying among other things that doing so would help preserve the presumption that COVID-19 is compensable for frontline workers, according to a report by the CBS affiliate in Louisville.

Gov. Andy Beshear

Beshear rescinded an executive order establishing a mask mandate after the state Supreme Court overturned an injunction blocking laws passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly to limit the governor’s powers during emergencies. One of the laws passed during the 2021 session limits the duration of the governor’s executive orders to 30 days unless extended by the legislature.

The governor in April 2020 issued an executive order creating a presumption that COVID-19 is compensable for a range of frontline workers including first responders, grocery clerks and postal workers.

Some Republican lawmakers reportedly agree on extending executive orders relating to workers’ compensation, food assistance benefits and allowing hospitals to bring in health care workers from other states. But Republicans are reportedly girding themselves for a debate over so-called personal liberty issues such as wearing a mask or getting vaccinated.

WLKY reports that a special session is probably a few weeks away as the governor has 20 days to ask the high court to reconsider its decision.