Governor Cuomo Extends Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws

Governor Cuomo issued another Executive Order (EO 202.14), generally extending for an additional thirty (30) days until May 7, 2020, the suspensions and modifications of various laws and directives, not otherwise superseded by a subsequent directives, made by Executive Order 202 and its subsequent Executive Orders. In addition, the Executive Order provides through May 7, 2020: (1) medical students due to graduate this year and accepted in a residency program may practice medicine at any healthcare institution under the supervision of a licensed physician; (2) any parent, legal guardian, legal custodian or primary caregiver who works or volunteers in a healthcare facility or who reasonably believes that they may have been exposed to COVID-19, may designate a standby guardian by way of written designation in accordance with the process set forth in Section 1726 of the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act; (3) the grace period for the payment of certain insurance policy premiums for those facing hardship is extended; and (4) the requirement to report to the Department of Health (DOH) the whereabouts of essential medical equipment and supplies and the DOH’s authority to direct where such equipment and supplies should be distributed is extended. The closure of businesses, schools and gatherings of any size has been extended until midnight of April 29, 2020, unless further extended, and fines for violating such directives by an individual who is participating in any gathering which violates the terms of the orders or is failing to abide by social distancing restrictions in effect in any place which is not their home, has been increased to not exceed $1,000. Finally, the Executive Order applies the modified procedures for the notarizing and acknowledgment of documents to wills, trusts, healthcare proxies, living wills, recorded instruments affecting real property and gifts.