Drafter
03/30/2020
Title
AN ORDINANCE related to the COVID-19; amending the 2019-2020 Biennial Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 18835, as amended by Ordinance 19022, Section 1; and declaring an emergency.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. Coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") is a novel coronavirus disease classified by the World Health Organization as a pandemic that spreads easily from person to person and may result in serious illness or death.
B. COVID-19 virus is affecting King County residents; as of March 29, 2020, 2,159 King County residents have tested positive for the virus and 141 residents have died from the virus.
C. The Governor of Washington state declared a state of emergency in Washington state in response to the cases of COVID-19 on February 29, 2020. On March 13, 2020, the Governor issued a proclamation closing all K-12 public and private schools statewide.
D. The King County executive issued a Proclamation of Emergency in response to COVID-19 on March 1, 2020, and subsequently On March 3, 2020, the council passed Motion 15610 affirming the executive's proclamation of emergency.
E. First responders and essential workers as defined by the Governor of Washington state's Proclamation Amending Proclamation 20-05 ("Stay Home - Stay Healthy")'s appendix entitled "Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers," who serve on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response to provide support and critical services for the public and those who are sick. Those first responders and essential workers are a particularly vulnerable population to COVID-19 while carrying out their duties.
F. First responders and essential workers with children need child care while they are working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Without child care, vital first responders and other essential workers cannot fulfill their duties and functions serving the public.
G. It is necessary to ensure that child care is av...
Click here for full text