Gov. Walz signs 4 executive orders addressing support, flexibility for multiple industries

Friday, Gov. Tim Walz signed four executive orders that will provide support and greater flexibility for health care providers, commercial drivers, local governments and constitutional officers in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the governor’s office, Executive Order 20-23 will keep health care workers in the workforce by giving health-related licensing boards flexibility in licensing requirements so COVID-19 related lapses in continuing education requirements don’t impact health care professionals’ ability to provide licensed care. The executive order allows health care workers to temporarily defer continuing education requirements, allows emergency medical service providers to complete continuing education through distance learning, and extends temporary permits for nurses.

While continuing background check requirements, the order defers fingerprinting requirements until the end of the COVID-19 peacetime emergency and allows the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy to put limits on dispensing Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine to prevent shortages.

KSTP’s full COVID-19 pandemic coverage

Executive Order 20-22 allows the state auditor to work with local governments to adjust reporting deadlines for various financial reports. This prevents municipalities from having divert resource that should be used to respond to communities’ critical needs during the peacetime emergency.

Amending Executive Order 20-07, Executive Order 20-21 will allow officers to implement leave for classified and unclassified employees, as well as the ability to reassign and redeploy staff as needed.

Finally, Executive Order 20-24 will provide hours of service and weight restriction relief for commercial vehicle drivers hauling livestock. The order will help ensure producers and retailers maintain supply of essential products.