UKS COVID-19 | EXECUTIVE ORDERS 7W AND 7X
On April 9, 2020, Governor Lamont signed Executive Order No. 7W. The next day, April 10, 2020, Governor Lamont signed Executive Order No. 7X.
The following is a general summary of both Executive Orders:
Executive Order No. 7W. Executive Order 7W covers a broad range of directives and is available in its entirety here.
The Order begins by clarifying the applicability of Executive Order No. 7S, Section 6 to quasi-municipal corporations and changing how the related time periods for tax deadlines and collection efforts are to be calculated. A more detailed analysis of Executive Order No. 7W, Section 1 is available here.
The Order also modifies Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-225a(c)(1) to prohibit an employer’s “experience rating” from being increased, due to partial or total unemployment attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, Executive Order 7W contains six directives affecting the alcohol industry. The Order: (i) modifies coil cleaning requirements for bars, restaurants, breweries and wineries that have been closed pursuant to Executive Order 7D, providing that such establishments need not clean pipe lines on a weekly basis, unless selling growlers for off-premise consumption; (ii) suspends the signature requirement for delivery or curb-side pickup of alcoholic beverages, provided that the consumer is verified to be over twenty-one (21) years of age and is not intoxicated; (iii) waives certain liquor permit and notification requirements for business closures of sixty (60) days or less, resulting from Executive Order 7D; (iv) authorizes the Commissioner of DCP to review and approve the issuance and the renewal of 90-day provisional permits that would otherwise have been reviewed and approved by the Liquor Control Commission; (v) extends the renewal date for active on-premise liquor permits that went into effect on March 16, 2020 by four (4) months; and (vi) suspends the requirement that liquor permits be recorded at the town clerk’s office where such office is closed or hours so reduced as to make recording unreasonable.
Executive Order 7X. Executive Order 7X is likewise diverse in the subject matter it contains. The Order is available in its entirety here.
The Order provides certain protections for residential renters impacted by COVID-19. These protections: (i) prohibit landlords or their representative from delivering a notice to quit or serving or returning a summary process action prior to July 1, 2020, except for serious nuisance; (ii) require landlords to grant tenants an automatic, sixty (60) day grace period for payment of rent due in April 2020; (iii) require landlords to grant tenants a sixty (60) day grace period, upon request, for payment of rent due in May 2020, provided the tenant notify the landlord of certain hardships on or before the ninth (9th) day after such rent is due; and (iv) allow a tenant to apply all or part of a security deposit paid in excess of one month’s rent to April, May or June rent, provided the tenant notify the landlord of certain hardships resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Order also continues the cancellation of public school classes through May 20, 2020 and encourages private schools and other non-public schools to follow the same schedule. It authorizes the Commissioner of DOE to modify or defer any educator certification testing requirements, due to risks attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Executive Order No. 7X further extends the closures, distancing and safety measures found in Executive Orders 7D (Section 2, 3 and 4), 7F (Section 1 and 2), 7H (Section 1) and 7N (Section 1 and 3) through May 20, 2020.
Lastly, the Order authorizes the Commissioner of DOT to allow commercial food trucks to operate upon the state’s highway rights of way, including rest areas. Food truck operators interested in serving such areas must obtain a permit from DOT, which can be found here.
If you have any questions or need assistance with regard to Executive Order 7S or Municipal Law matters in general, please contact Robert M. DeCrescenzo, Esq., at (860) 548-2625 or rdecrescenzo@uks.com or Richard D. Carella, Esq., at (860) 548-2681 or rcarella@uks.com.
If you have any questions or need assistance with regard to real estate matters, please contact Robert J. Martino at (860) 548-2658 or rmartino@uks.com or Kevin J. McEleney at (860) 548-2622 or kmceleney@uks.com.
Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, PC would like to thank associate C. Zack Hyde for his contributions to this article.
Disclaimer: The information continued in this material is not intended to be considered legal advice and should not be acted upon as such. Because of the generality of this material, the information provided may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without legal advice based on the specific factual circumstances.