Assembly moves to rescind pandemic-era executive-order exemptions and vaccine directives

The New York State Assembly on April 28 adopted a package of concurrent resolutions rescinding pandemic-era executive orders that had exempted volunteers from portions of the Public Officers Law and imposed emergency vaccine rules, lawmakers said.

Sponsor Mister Zabrowski told the chamber the first measure would terminate executive orders 202.6 and 202.7, which had temporarily exempted volunteers who helped with pandemic response from certain provisions of the Public Officers Law, including qualifications for office and some lobbying and gift restrictions. "If you will, that those folks ... it's time for them to either comply with the Public Officers Law," Zabrowski said.

Assemblymember Goodell, who questioned the sponsor, asked for the rationale behind the original exemptions and whether high-level appointees had been shielded from conflict-of-interest rules. Zabrowski said the exemptions were intended to reassure potential volunteers during an emergency that short-term service would not subject them to lingering liabilities.

Miss Fahey explained a separate resolution that rescinds executive orders 202.86, 202.88 and 202.89, which included vaccine-priority and vaccine-administration rules and penalties. "Those are out of date now," she said, adding that to the sponsors' knowledge healthcare providers had not been fined under those directives.

A third concurrent resolution sponsored by Miss Wallace rescinded executive order 202.52, which had required the purchase of a food item with on-premises alcohol; Wallace confirmed the resolution covers the entire state, including New York City, and argued the change would ease burdens on restaurants and bars.

All three concurrent resolutions were adopted; the clerk announced recorded roll calls of 149 in favor and 0 opposed for the measures that were recorded. Supporters framed the rescissions as steps toward winding down emergency rules as vaccination rates rose and infection metrics improved.

The measures as adopted will remove the temporary exemptions from the Public Officers Law referenced in sections discussed on the floor and end specified vaccine-related directives; sponsors said any pending enforcement tied to those executive orders would likewise be terminated. The Assembly took the action as part of a broader set of steps intended to unwind emergency-era restrictions while emphasizing continued reliance on public-health guidance.