Volume 40 - Issue 13A - April 1, 2021
State of Kansas
Office of the Governor
Executive Order No. 21-17
Temporary Relief from Certain Unemployment
Insurance Requirements During State of Disaster Emergency
WHEREAS, securing the health, safety, and economic well-being of residents of the State of Kansas is this Administration’s top priority;
WHEREAS, Kansas is facing a crisis–the pandemic and public health emergency of COVID- 19—resulting in illness, quarantines, school closures, and temporary closure of businesses resulting in lost wages and financial hardship to Kansas citizens;
WHEREAS, the United States Departments of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for COVID-19 beginning January 27, 2020, with now more than 30,147,000 cases of the illness and more than 547,000 deaths as a result of the illness across the United States;
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020;
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 of the National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. § 1601, et seq. and consistent with Section 1135 of the Social Security Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 1320b-5), declared that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency beginning March 1, 2020;
WHEREAS, a State of Disaster Emergency was proclaimed for the State of Kansas on March 12, 2020, and extended to May 28, 2021, by Section 5 of Senate Bill 40 enacted during the 2021 Legislative Session;
WHEREAS, as of this date, there have been over 302,372 positive cases of COVID-19 in Kansas, spread among all 105 counties and 4,913 deaths as a result of the illness;
WHEREAS, economic insecurity due to unemployment is a serious menace to the health, morals, and welfare of the people of Kansas, as expressed in K.S.A. 44-702 of the Kansas Employment Security Law;
WHEREAS, federal efforts to address unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have included, , federal funding for certain unemployment benefits such as benefits to be paid during what would otherwise be deemed a “waiting week” period;
WHEREAS, this Administration will do whatever it can to assist Kansans in these challenging times, including providing relief that will help avoid immediate danger to the health, safety, and welfare of Kansans by providing greater access to state unemployment benefits.
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Kansas, including the authority granted me by K.S.A. 48-924 and K.S.A. 48-925(b), (c)(1), and (c)(11), in order to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, I hereby direct and order the following:
- The waiting week requirement for unemployment benefits, provided for in K.S.A. 44-705(d), is temporarily waived for all claimants.
This document shall be filed with the Secretary of State as Executive Order 21-17. It shall become effective immediately and remain in force until rescinded or until the statewide State of Disaster Emergency extended by Section 5 of Senate Bill 40 enacted during the 2021 Legislative Session and as extended by any subsequent enactment or resolution expires, whichever is earlier.
Dated April 1, 2021.
Laura Kelly
Governor
Doc. No. 048999
