COVID-19 Information and Links for Law Enforcement
Latest Additions - Current through 1/9/22

SB40 Update: New Court Ruling 1/7/22
On January 7, 2022, the Kansas Supreme Court overturned the decision by a Johnson County District court that struck down SB40. SB40 is now in full effect in the form it passed the legislature during the 2021 session.
See opinion at this link. 
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SB40 became effective on March 25, 2021. It extends the COVID Disaster Emergency Declaration until the end of the day May 28,2021. It includes a new mechanism for Legislative Review for extensions. The bill also revokes all previous COVID related emergency orders as of March 31, 2021. See the final bill at this link. See the final bill explainer at this link.

SB40 also restores the class A misdemeanor violation for Executive Orders, but only for orders on curfews or prohibitions on public entry into an area affected by a disaster. All other violations remain a civil violation.

In a follow-up bill, SB283 signed by the Governor on March 31 and effective April 1, 2021, many of the expiration dates in SB40 were extended to March 31, 2022. None of those directly affect law enforcement. See the final bill at this link. See the final bill explainer at this link.

There are currently no active Executive Orders on facial mask requirements. But counties and cities can still issue such orders if they choose to.

NOTE: There are no current orders extending expiration dates for Kansas vehicle registration. See EO 21-16 below on extensions for expiration of driver's licenses and ID cards until June 30,2021.  


Governor Proclamations and Related Executive Orders (Newest at the top)

The ACTIVE Governor's Proclamation:
  • Governor Kelly issues new Disaster Emergency 1/6/22 Proclamation and two new Executive Orders, both dealing with medical staffing shortages. See the press release at this link. The Proclamation was issued on January 6 and will expire on January 21 unless the Legislature approves extending it.

See an archive of active and inactive orders of interest to law enforcement at this link. [Last updated 1/6/22]
Key Documents
COVID Data Links:
IHME Projections | Worldometer | CSSE Data | KDHE/COVID | KDHE Dashboard | Unicast Data | NPF LE Dashboard | NSA Dashboard | EMS/Fire Dashboard |
Interim Considerations for SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Correctional and Detention Facilities- CDC - Updated 7/7/20
Law Enforcement Survival Guide During the COVID-19 Pandemic. 4/23/20
Department of Homeland Security
The DHS has released a COVID-19 Exposure and Risk Mitigation Best Practices Resource Guide For Law Enforcement. - 4/6/2020
CDC Guides
CDC PPE Guidance  
CDC Law Enforcement Guide 
KDHE Law Enforcement Guide  
CDC LE Plan, Prepare, Respond   
Guides for Exposed Workers
     CDC
     Occupational Health and Safety 
Law Enforcement Organization Information
     IACP COVID-19 Webpage       
     NSAssociation COVID Page    
     FBINAA COVID-19 webpage  
     FOP COVID-19 Resource Page
     FOP "Best Practices" Page   

BJA Releases COVID-19 Related Update on the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program - 4/9/2020
CDC Law Enforcement Page  
Other Documents
DCF Hero Relief Program 4/17/2020
Provides child care subsidies to eligible health care workers, first responders and other essential workers

See details in Special Notices Section below.
Legal Guidance  
7/2/20 AG Addendum 3 to March 24 memo to prosecutors and law enforcement on change to statute covering violations of Emergency Orders and enforcement of EO 20-52, Requirements to Wear Masks. Issued July 2, 2020.
NOTE: This addresses the KEMA amendments passed in the 2020 Special Session.

AG Opinion on Kansas Emergency Management Act 5/21/20
NOTE: This was prior to the KEMA amendments passed in the 2020 Special Session.
           See the press release with key summary at this link.
                See the opinion at this link.Attorney General
Attorney General LE/Prosecutor Memo 3/24/20  Highlighted version 
Daigle Law: COVID-19 Law Enforcement Resources- 3/27/2020

HIPAA and COVID-19 Information Sharing with First Responders            HHS Office of Civil Rights Disclosure to First Responders
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Covid-19 Webpage 
       KDHE Law Enforcement Information (Updated 3/18/20)Kansas Public Health Directory from KDHE Updated 7/1/20
Battelle N95 Mask Decontamination Follow Up Information 5/6/20
Documents:
      N95 Decontamination Process Information 
      Battelle KS FAQ 

Service Directors and Agency Heads –
On April 25th, we notified you about the State of Kansas receiving use of a Battelle unit for N-95 mask decontamination.  Attached is the Operations Plan for this procedure IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE THIS RESOURCE.

There is a great chance that your county Emergency Manager has already provided you with this plan and that is a great thing.  You need to work with him/her through this process especially to help keep the logistics to something that is manageable on a state level.  The system itself is up and running with 78 agencies signed up so far.

There are some hiccups on the signing up process that Battelle is trying to address – if you are encountering these issues, let me know (if you haven’t already) so that I may share that with KDEM.
 
On a final note, the notice and the thought of the system being used in Kansas has drawn some extremely harsh criticism across the state – I would simply remind folks that it is okay to have a passionate opinion upon something and we are thankful for your willingness to express those opinions.  We would encourage that if you choose to express those opinions, you continue to do so in a professional manner.
 
Let me know if you have any questions and continue to stay safe as we anticipate your overall call volumes will start to rise not only as we enter the summer, but also as the safer at home orders begin to lift.  Joe
 
Joseph House, Paramedic
Executive Director
Kansas Board of EMS
900 SW Jackson; Suite 1031
Topeka, KS  66612-1228
Phone: (785) 296-7296
Fax: (785) 296-6212
Email: joseph.house@ks.gov

Special Notices  
DCF Hero Relief Program 4/17/2020
Provides child care subsidies to eligible health care workers, first responders and other essential workers
 
The new program specifically targets health care workers, first responders and other essential workers.
 
Beginning Monday, April 20, child care subsidies will be available to essential workers who financially qualify. The list includes:
  • Health care workers (including RNs, other medical professionals and health care support workers, hospital and laboratory staff)
  • First responders (including law enforcement, fire and rescue, and other public safety workers)
  • Food and agriculture workers
  • Judicial branch (essential services)
  • National Guard
  • Child and adult protective service specialists
  • Child care providers caring for children of eligible workers listed above
 
In order to qualify, families must have countable gross income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Families will receive the full DCF subsidy amount based on their family size, with no family-share deduction. 250% FPL= $3,593/mo for family of 2; $4,525/mo for family of 3; $5,4258/mo for family of 4; $6,392/mo for family of 5; $7.325/mo for family of 6.

The Hero Relief Program also supports child care providers by providing a menu of stipends and grants to assist during the pandemic.
 
Grants may include:
  • Sustainability stipends for all KDHE-Licensed child care and relative providers to help pay for ongoing expenses like food, supplies, labor and rent/mortgage.
  • Revenue replacement subsidies for DCF enrolled child care providers
  • Supply grants to assist with pandemic related expenses like gloves, disinfectants, soap and other necessary items.
  • Emergency worker support bonuses – a one-time bonus to providers who care for children of health care workers and first responders.
 
For more information and for instructions on how to apply, visit KSHeroRelief.com​.
 
For more information on COVID-19 visit:  www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus​.
Notice of Available Grant Funding
Federal Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program
 
APPLICATIONS TO GOVERNOR'S GRANTS OFFICE NOT LATER THAN MAY 20, 2020.
Eligible applicants for the CESF Program include units of state and local government; federally recognized Indian Tribal governments performing law enforcement functions; and nonprofit, community, and faith-based organizations.  Grant projects will be funded for a period of 18 months from June 1, 2020, through November 30, 2021.
 
A copy of the CESF solicitation, may be downloaded at this link. All grant applications must be submitted to the Kansas Governor’s Grant Program emailed or post-marked no later than May 20, 2020.  For more information, contact the Kansas Governor’s Grants Program at kggpapp@ks.gov or (785) 291-3205.
 
Juliene Maska, Administrator
Kansas Governor’s Grants Program