HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrder No. 20-025 - Extension of Certificate of Public Convenience and Need ("COPCN") (04-22-20) ORDER NO. 20-025
AN ORDER OF THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PROVIDING
FOR EXTENSION OF CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NEED ("COPCN")
IN RESPONSE TO A COUNTY WIDE THREAT FROM THE COVID-19 VIRUS
WHEREAS,the St. Lucie County Administrator has made the following determinations:
1. Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 ("COVID-19") is a severe acute respiratory illness that
can spread among humans and presents with symptoms similar to those of influenza; and
2. In late 2019, a new and significant outbreak of COVID-19 emerged in China; and
3. The World Health Organization previously declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency
of International Concern; and
4. In response to the recent COVID-19 outbreak in China, Iran, Italy,Japan and South Korea,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") has deemed it necessary to prohibit or restrict
non-essential travel to or from those countries; and
5. On March 1, 2020, the Governor of the State of Florida issued Executive Order Number
20-51 directing the Florida Department of Health to issue a Public Health Emergency; and
6. On March 1, 2020, the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer declared a Public
Health Emergency exists in the State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and
7. On March 7, 2020, the Governor of the State of Florida directed the Director of the
Division of Emergency Management to activate the State of Emergency Operations Center to Level 2 to
provide coordination and response to the COVID-19 emergency; and
8. On March 9, 2020, the Governor of the State of Florida issued Executive Order Number
20-52 declaring that a state of emergency exists in the State of Florida as a result of the spread of the
COVID-19 virus and imminent threat to the health and welfare of the citizens of Florida; and
9. On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States issued a proclamation of a
declaration of national emergency; and
10. On March 17, 2020, the St. Lucie County Public Safety Director declared a State of Local
Emergency COVID-19 Public Health Emergency("St. Lucie County Declaration of Emergency"); and
11. On March 24, 2020, the Governor of the State of Florida issued Executive Order No. 20-
83 directing the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer to issue a public health advisory to all
persons over 65 years of age and persons that have serious underlying medical conditions that place them
at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 urging them to stay home and to take such other measures as
necessary to limit their risk of exposure to COVID-19; and
12. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-83, the Governor of the State of Florida further
JOSEPH E.SMITH,CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
1 SAINT LUCIE COUNTY
FILE# 4701927 04/23/2020 12.23.51 PM
OR BOOK 4412 PAGE 1633-1635 Doc Type:ORD
RECORDING: $27.00
directed the State Surgeon General and the State Health Officer to issue a public health advisory
providing that individuals should cease all social or recreational gatherings of 10 or more people;
and
13. On March 25, 2020, the State Surgeon General issued a Public Health Advisory
consistent with Executive Order 20-83; and
14. On March 25, 2020, the President of the United States declared that a major
disaster exists in the State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and
15. St. Lucie County must continue to take emergency action to lessen the spread of
COVID-19; and
16. Due to Executive Order 20-91, the Board has cancelled all public meetings through
April 30, 2020. The next Board meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2020; and
17. Pursuant to Chapter 401 and Section 152.01(1)(n), Florida Statutes, and Chapter 18,
Article III, of the St. Lucie County Code of Ordinances, the Board of County Commissioners issues
certificates of public convenience and necessity ("COPCN") for emergency medical transport
services, advanced life support services, basic life support services, air ambulances and wheelchair
transport services; and
18. Pursuant to Section 18-62, St. Lucie County Code of Ordinances, COPCNs may be
renewed based upon the recommendation of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council
and approval of the Board of County Commissioners; and,
19. In conjunction with the cancellation of all public meetings, the date of the next
Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee meeting is unknown; and,
20. There are several COPCNs which will expire prior to the May 19, 2020 Board
meeting, including those issued to the St. Lucie County Fire District; and,
21. The services provided by these COPCN holders are particularly essential to the
community during the COVID-19 pandemic; and,
22. As St. Lucie County Administrator, I have determined that it is appropriate to
extend the term of any COPCN which would expire on or before July 31, 2020, subject to the
COPCN holder providing to the Public Safety Director proof of compliance with the insurance
requirements set forth in Section 18-57, St. Lucie County Code of Ordinances; and
23. Paragraph 2 of the St. Lucie County Declaration of Emergency provides that the
County Administrator may take all actions necessary and appropriate to protect human life and
prosperity, to the extent necessary to accommodate the emergency; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
1. The determinations, orders, and declarations identified above are incorporated
herein.
lob fI
2. A C PCN Extension Order is hereby established effective as of U (am (pm)
on 2020. This extension shall continue through and
includi g July 31, 2020, subject to further extension order of the County
Administrator as may be deemed appropriate.
This Order, as set out above, shall be placed on the agenda of the next Board
of County Commissioners meeting for purposes of review and ratification.
Severability.
Any provision(s) within this Order that conflict(s) with any State or Federal law or constitutional
provision, or conflict(s) with or are superseded by a current or subsequently -issued Executive
Order of the Governor or the President of the United States, shall be deemed inapplicable and
deemed to be severed from this Order, with the remainder of the Order remaining intact and in
full force and effect. To the extent application of some or all of the provisions of this Order is
prohibited on the sovereign land of a federally or state recognized sovereign Indian tribe, such
application is expressly excluded from this Order.
Effective Date; Duration.
This Order is effective twenty-four hours after adoption as of a.m p.m. on day of
2020. This Order will expire upon the expiration of�existing State of Local
Eme gency, as same may be extended by subsequent order or declaration, unless earlier
terminated by subsequent Order.
Prior resolutions and emergency orders remain in force and effect unless modified or superseded.
This Order shall be filed in M Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Signed this day of 2020 at ` ar) (pm).
oward A. Tipt n
County Administrat rr
S/Atty/State of Emergency/Order-COPCN Extension