WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order Number 202, declaring a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York;

WHEREAS, both travel-related cases and community contact transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in New York State and are expected to be continue;

WHEREAS, in order to facilitate the most timely and effective response to the COVID 19 emergency disaster,it is critical for New York State to be able to act quickly to gather, coordinate, and deploy goods, services, professionals, and volunteers of all kinds; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to temporarily suspend or modify any statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation, or parts thereof, of any agency during a State disaster emergency, if compliance with such statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation would prevent, hinder, or delay action necessary to cope with the disaster emergency or if necessary to assist or aid in coping with such disaster, I hereby temporarily suspend or modify, for the period from the date of this Executive Order through April 17, 2020 the following:

• Section three of the Public Officer’s Law shall not apply to an individual who is deemed necessary to hire or to engage in a volunteer capacity to provide for an effective and efficient emergency response, for the duration of such emergency;

• Subparagraph (i) of subdivision 1 of section 73 of the Public Officers Law Section shall not apply to any person who is hired, retained, appointed, or who volunteers in any way to assist New York State in its response to the declared emergency;

• Subparagraph 5 of section 73 of the Public Officers Law Section shall not apply to a state officer or employee, or a volunteer who is facilitating contributions or donations to assist New York State in its response to the declared emergency;

• Subparagraph 8 of section 73 of the Public Officers Law Section 73(8) and section 74 of the Public Officer’s Law shall not apply to volunteers or contractors who assist New York State in its response, provided that any recusals shall be adhered to if determined necessary by the appointing entity;

• Legislative Law Section 1-M is suspended to the extent that any agency may receive a donation in kind or otherwise, in any amount from any source, provided such donation is made to the State and is administered by a state agency in furtherance of the response effort;

• State Finance Law Section 11, to the extent necessary to facilitate an efficient and effective New York State emergency disaster response, shall not apply to any state agency efforts to further the response to the declared emergency;

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to issue any directive during a disaster emergency necessary to cope with the disaster, I hereby issue the following directives for the period from the date of Executive Order through April 17, 2020:

• Effective on March 20 at 8 p.m.: All businesses and not-for-profit entities in the state shall utilize, to the maximum extent possible, any telecommuting or work from home procedures that they can safely utilize. Each employer shall reduce the in-person workforce at any work locations by 50% no later than March 20 at 8 p.m. Any essential business or entity providing essential services or functions shall not be subject to the in-person restrictions. This includes essential health care operations including research and laboratory services; essential infrastructure including utilities, telecommunication, airports and transportation infrastructure; essential manufacturing, including food processing and pharmaceuticals; essential retail including grocery stores and pharmacies; essential services including trash collection, mail, and shipping services; news media; banks and related financial institutions; providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations; construction; vendors of essential services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences or other essential businesses; vendors that provide essential services or products, including logistics and technology support, child care and services needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public;

• Any other business may be deemed essential after requesting an opinion from the Empire State Development Corporation, which shall review and grant such request, should it determine that it is in the best interest of the state to have the workforce continue at full capacity in order to properly respond to this disaster. No later than 5 p.m. on March 19, 2020, Empire State Development Corporation shall issue guidance as to which businesses are determined to be essential.