New Lamont Order Makes It Easier To Secure PPE During Pandemic

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont signed his 27th executive order since the coronavirus pandemic began. The new executive order will help facilitate the arrival of personal protective equipment, allows remote access for assessment appeals and make it easier to hire security guards.

The order temporarily waives certain requirements related to state contracts in order to expedite the procurement of essential goods and services, including personal protective equipment (PPE), that are needed urgently to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here is the full language from Lamont's executive order:

"In accordance with the provisions of Section 28-9(b)(1) of the Connecticut General Statutes, for any contract entered into on or after March 10, 2020, the head of a state contracting agency may waive the provisions of the following statutes if he or she deems such waiver necessary to expedite the procurement of “essential goods,” defined as “all things which are movable at the time of contract, including, but not limited to supplies, materials, equipment, products or devices that are
manufactured, used, designed, developed, modified, licensed, or procured to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat, cure or limit harm that COVID-19 pandemic may cause”:
a. Sections 4-252 and 9-612(f)(2)(E) of the Connecticut General Statutes and Governor Malloy’s Executive Order 49, which require disclosure of certain gifts and campaign contributions by state
contractors, prospective state contractors for state contracts over $50,000;
b. Section 4-61dd(h) of the Connecticut General Statutes, which requires the inclusion of language regarding contractors’ civil liability for violations of the state’s whistleblower statute in state
contracts;
c. Section 4a-57 of the Connecticut General Statutes, which requires the competitive solicitation for all purchases and contracts for supplies, materials and equipment, including, pursuant to Section 4d-8, the purchasing, leasing and contracting for information system and telecommunication system facilities, equipment and services;
d. Sections 4a-60 and 4a-60a of the Connecticut General Statutes, which requires the inclusion of certain anti-discrimination terms in State contracts and requires contractors to adopt anti-discrimination policies;
e. Section 4e-29 and 4e-30 of the Connecticut General Statutes, which require state contractors to permit certain audit and inspection activities by the State at the contractors’ expense; and
f. Section 4e-70(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes, which requires state contractors to comply with certain confidentiality requirements

Other aspects of Lamont's new order:

"In-person attendance requirement suspended for assessment appeals: Allows property owners or their attorney or agent to appear before a board of assessment appeals using remote technology instead of in person."

"Suspension of requirements for security officer license: Authorizes the commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to waive licensing requirements to temporarily allow security services or businesses to employ security officers who are not licensed in Connecticut but are licensed in another state, to address a shortage of available security officers. This applies only to unarmed security officers."

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