EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
(COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 26)
WHEREAS, Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among people through respiratory transmissions and present with symptoms similar to those of influenza; and,
WHEREAS, in a short period of time, COVID-19 has rapidly spread throughout Illinois, necessitating updated and more stringent guidance from federal, state, and local public health officials; and,
WHEREAS, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, declared all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area on March 9, 2020 (the First Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation) in response to the outbreak of COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, I again declared all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area on April 1, 2020 (the Second Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, and, together with the First Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations) in response to the exponential spread of COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate for the State of Illinois to continue to take immediate and significant measures to prevent or slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health during the COVID-19 outbreak; and,
WHEREAS, Executive Order 2020-10, extended by Executive Order 2020-18, mandated that Illinoisans stay at home other than for essential activities, essential governmental functions, and essential businesses and operations; and,
WHEREAS, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Division of Nuclear Safety, (IEMA-DNS) issues certifications for industrial radiographers pursuant to its authority in Section 7a of the Radiation Protection Act of 1990, 420 ILCS 40, and the implementing regulations, 32 Illinois Administrative Code 405; and,
WHEREAS, industrial radiographers are required to pass an examination prior to issuance or renewal of an industrial radiographer certification from IEMA-DNS; and,
WHEREAS, due to social distancing requirements put in place to protect public health, testing centers for the required examinations have been closed; and,
WHEREAS, I find it necessary to allow for the maintenance of industrial radiography certifications while the social distancing measures are in effect, as industrial radiography is critical for the safety of several categories of industry that are considered essential businesses and operations, including gas and oil pipelines and construction;
THEREFORE, by the powers vested in me as the Governor of the State of Illinois, pursuant to Sections 7(1), 7(2), 7(8), and 7(12) of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305, I hereby order the following:
Section 1. During the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, the provision in Section 7a(a) of the Radiation Protection Act of 1990 and the accompanying regulations in 32 Ill. Adm. Code 405.100 that limit the validity of industrial radiography certifications to five years and industrial radiography trainee certifications to two years shall be suspended.
Section 2. For any industrial radiography certification or industrial radiography trainee certification that expired or will expire during the period of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, IEMA-DNS may administratively extend terms of existing certifications for industrial radiographers and industrial radiographer trainees in 90-day increments, not to exceed a maximum period of six months beyond the initial 5 or 2 year term, to allow individuals time to meet the examination criteria. Industrial radiographers and industrial radiographer trainees shall meet all other requirements as set forth by IEMA-DNS.
Section 3. The terms of this Executive Order do not apply to individuals who did not have a certification for industrial radiography prior to the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations.
Section 4. If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.
Issued by the Governor April 20, 2020
Filed by the Secretary of State April 20, 2020