HC 1

as introduced - 91st Legislature, 2020 1st Special Session (2019 - 2020) Posted on 06/15/2020 01:07pm

A House concurrent resolution
relating to Minnesota's peacetime emergency; terminating the peacetime emergency
pursuant to the authority granted under Minnesota Statutes, section 12.31, subdivision
2, paragraph (b).

WHEREAS, Governor Walz signed Executive Order 20-01, a declaration of a peacetime
emergency on March 13, 2020; and

WHEREAS, the Executive Council of the State extended that peacetime emergency for up
to 30 days, on March 16, 2020; and

WHEREAS, on May 13, 2020, by Executive Order 20-53, Governor Walz extended the
peacetime public emergency declared under Executive Order 20-01 and extended in Executive
Order 20-35, until June 12, 2020; and

WHEREAS, on June 10, 2020, Governor Walz announced that the peacetime emergency
would be extended an additional 30 days; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature has appropriated $519,120,000 to help hospitals, clinics, medical
professionals, first responders, and all Minnesotans with the response to the infectious disease
known as COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's intentions in declaring a peacetime emergency were honorable,
aiming to save lives and slow the spread of the infectious disease known as COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the continuation of the executive orders creating a peacetime emergency has
potentially adverse and avoidable consequences for the people of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, the executive orders will continue to result in the suspension of business activities,
the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs, and a significant disruption to the state's economic life;
and

WHEREAS, the impact of continuing the Governor's executive orders extends beyond the
economy to the social well-being of Minnesotans, increasing social isolation and the possibility of
increased mental health complications, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, and marital
dissolution; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's executive orders are well-intended but potentially harmful to
Minnesotans, arbitrary in their impact, and unlawful in their effects; and

WHEREAS, the House and Senate shall review all executive orders issued during the
peacetime emergency and consider legislation to manage an orderly transition from the peacetime
state of emergency to reestablish freedom of movement and unrestricted commerce in the state of
Minnesota; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of Minnesota, the Senate
concurring, that the legislature exercises its authority under Minnesota Statutes, section 12.31,
subdivision 2, paragraph (b), terminating the COVID-19 peacetime emergency declared by Governor
Walz.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives is
directed to prepare a copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by his signature and those of the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration
Committee, and the Secretary of the Senate, and transmit it to the Governor of the State of Minnesota.