Coronavirus Disease 2019, COVID -19 - Update
3/16/2020
Governor issues five executive orders to free up $3.25M to address COVID-19 public health emergency
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has issued five executive orders authorizing up to $3,250,000 of additional funding for emergency response and disaster relief efforts to address the effects of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The funding will be used to assist in humanitarian relief, public health measures and to benefit families and children impacted by school closures.
This disaster-relief funding has been made available to the New Mexico National Guard, the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Department of Health, the Public Education Department, and the Children, Youth and Families Department. Any unused emergency funds will revert back to the General Fund.
On March 11, 2020, Gov. Lujan Grisham declared a statewide public health emergency in Executive Order 2020-004. The governor is authorized to provide emergency funding out of the General Fund to assist agencies in delivering whatever resources and services are necessary to minimize economic and physical harm to New Mexicans during a declared state of emergency under NMSA 1978, Section 12-11-23 through 12-11-25.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-006 authorizes an additional $250,000 to the New Mexico National Guard for payment of expenses incident to the provision of the humanitarian relief and other assistance to civil authorities. $750,000 of funding has already been made available to the National Guard for missions during this fiscal year. The additional funds will ensure that the National Guard is immediately ready to be deployed to provide humanitarian assistance.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-007 authorizes $750,000 for the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for the purposes of avoiding or minimizing economic and physical harm; protecting the public health, safety, welfare; and providing emergency and disaster relief, including but not limited to the provision of emergency medical assistance, humanitarian aid and coordinating other aspects of the public health emergency.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-008 authorizes $750,000 for the Department of Health for the purposes of avoiding or minimizing economic and physical harm; protecting the public health, safety, welfare; and providing emergency and disaster relief, including but not limited to the provision of whatever assistance and response efforts Department of Health deems necessary to address the public health emergency.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-009 authorizes $750,000 for the Public Education Department for the purposes of avoiding or minimizing economic and physical harm; protecting the public health, safety, welfare; and providing emergency and disaster relief, including but not limited to the provision of any form of assistance to children and families designed to mitigate the effects of the public health emergency. This funding will allow PED to assist children and families affected by school closures.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-010 authorizes $750,000 for the Children, Youth and Families Department for the purposes of avoiding or minimizing economic and physical harm; protecting the public health, safety, welfare; and providing emergency and disaster relief, including but not limited to the provision of any form of assistance to children and families designed to mitigate the effects of the public health emergency. This funding will allow CYFD to assist children and families affected by school closures.