AN ORDER EXTENDING UNTIL JUNE 30, 2020, EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 16 TEMPORARILY PERMITTING SAFE, OPEN, AND TRANSPARENT PUBLIC MEETINGS BY ELECTRONIC MEANS TO PRESERVE AND INCREASE THE CONTAINMENT OF COVID-19

WHEREAS, on March 20, 2020, I issued Executive Order No. 16, which allowed governing bodies to meet electronically regarding essential business in light of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), so long as they provided electronic access to the public and met the safeguards established in that Order to ensure the openness and transparency of the proceedings; 

and

WHEREAS, many social, recreational, and large-venue gatherings remain limited under Executive Order No. 30, and therefore, an extension of the provisions of Executive Order No. 16 is warranted because it will ensure that governmental entities are able to carry out essential business in a safe, transparent way that avoids creating gatherings of tens or hundreds of persons;

and

WHEREAS, in addition to the other emergency management powers granted by law, Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-2-107(e), provides that during a state of emergency, the Governor is authorized to suspend laws and rules regarding the conduct of state business if necessary to cope with the emergency, order evacuations from certain areas, make orders concerning entry and exit and the occupancy of premises within an emergency area, and take measures concerning the conduct of civilians and the calling of public meetings and gatherings, among other things; 

and

WHEREAS, the temporary suspension of selected state laws and rules and the other measures contained herein are necessary to facilitate the response to the current emergency.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Bill Lee, Governor of the State of Tennessee, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Tennessee Constitution and other applicable law, do hereby declare a continuing state of emergency to facilitate the response to COVID-19 and order the extension of the provisions of Executive Order No. 16 until 11 :59 p.m., Central Daylight Time, on June 30, 2020, and, to implement this extension, more specifically order the following:

Effective immediately, Paragraph No. 5 of Executive Order No. 16, dated March 20, 2020, is hereby deleted and the following language is substituted instead: 

5. This Order shall remain in effect until 11 :59 p.m., Central Daylight Time, on June 30, 2020, at which time the suspension of any state laws and rules and my authorization pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-2-118, shall cease and be of no further force or effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have subscribed my signature and caused the Great Seal of the State of Tennessee to be affixed this 6th day of May, 2020.