By JACKIE TAYLOR | March 28, 2020

Governor Laura Kelly issued Executive Order 20-16, a statewide “stay home” order Saturday, March 28 effective through April 19, 2020.

According to the press release, the order supersedes all local “stay home” or similar orders prohibiting citizens from leaving their homes in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and no such order shall continue in effect. “Any local “stay Home” or similar orders currently in effect that expire after the date this order expires or is rescinded may resume in force and effect after this order expires or is rescinded. While this order is in effect no local jurisdiction shall issue or enforce any more or less restrictive “stay home” or similar orders. Local authorities retain any authority to issue or enforce isolation or quarantine orders.”

Kelly stated that as of Saturday, March 28, there have been 202 reported positive cases of COVID-19 in Kansas spread among 31 counties. To mitigate the spread of the virus, health officials in several Kansas counties have issued differing “stay home” orders directing citizens to remain in their homes except to conduct essential activities.

Kelly’s order comes less than 24 hours after Linn County health officials issued a “stay home” order effective Monday, March 30 through April 29. Local officials are working to understand the impact of her order on their county health order as hers supersedes the county’s order.

The order states that nothing in the order shall prohibit the conduct of business, government, or other operations or activities through telework, telecommunications, or other work-from-home capabilities that allow compliance with the requirements to preserve the public health and safety for all Kansans, and to ensure the healthcare system is capable of serving all citizens in need.

District 4 Representative Trevor Jacobs broke several pages of essential functions into bullet points listed below.

Bullet Points on EO 20-16

·                Directs Kansans to stay at home unless performing an essential activity.

·                Essential activities are: obtaining food, medicine or household necessities; going to work at an essential business; caring for children, vulnerable people or pets; or engaging in an outdoor activity provided social distancing is observed.

·                Family gatherings are excluded.

·                The order supersedes the other 22 county orders in place for the duration of this order.

·                Duration is three weeks from Monday, March 30, 2020, at midnight.

·                Does not list essential businesses but uses essential functions. Those functions are based on the Department of Homeland Security essential functions. Here they are called Kansas Essential Functions Framework (KEFF).

·                The functions are in four broad areas: 100 Connect; 200 Distribute; 300 Manage and 400 Supply.

·                Some common 100 Connect functions are: operate information networks, cable tv, phone systems and wireless systems, cybersecurity, global positioning systems, satellite communications and traditional broadcast television.

·                Some common 200 Distribute functions are: distribution of electricity, supply chains for critical goods (defined by DHS), transport of cargo and people by air; manufacture, distribution, sale or maintenance of aircraft parts; transport of cargo and people by rail; manufacture, distribution, sale or maintenance of train parts; transport of cargo and people by road; operation of gas stations and convenience stores; delivery of mail, packages, food groceries, beverages or other cargo; manufacture, distribution, sale or maintenance of cars and car parts; transportation of agricultural products, equipment, seed, etc.; transportation by vessel and related maintenance of vessels; transportation by pipeline; and mass transit of people.  

·                Some common 300 Manage functions are: conducting elections; media; public works; training of essential personnel; law enforcement; maintain access to medical records; water treatment; government operations; perform government contracts; operate schools when not in conflict with other executive orders; operate local and state government; emergency management operations; manufacture and sell firearms; go to church; legal services; construction; cleaning; distribution of construction materials; provide access to capital markets and financial advising; accounting services; banks and credit unions; medical care, pharmacy; mortuaries; community mental health centers; laundry and dry cleaning;

·                Some common 400 Supply functions are: oil and gas extraction; refineries; electrical generation; production and provision of agricultural supplies; farming; production of human and animal food products; meal preparation; grocery stores; supply chemicals; supply metals; supply housing; IT services, water production; research and development.

·                No prior permission needed to exercise critical functions.

·                People encouraged to exercise critical functions from home or remotely whenever possible.