Tribal State of Public Health Emergency Resolution

Resolution

March 15, 2020

No. 044-20

WHEREAS,     The Stockbridge-Munsee Community is a federally recognized Indian tribe governed by the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council pursuant to authority vested in the Council by a Constitution approved in November 1937, as amended;

WHEREAS,     The Tribal Council has the authority under its Constitution and its inherent rights as a sovereign nation to act on behalf of the Community to protect the tribal community and other issues of self-governance;

WHEREAS,     The World Health Organization has determined there is a global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus referred to as COVID-19, which is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death and has yet to be adequately contained;

WHEREAS,     The President of the United States of America and the Governor of the State of Wisconsin have both declared that there is a public health emergency due to COVID-19;

WHEREAS,     The Tribal Council recognizes that the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as its obligations to its community and as an employer, and has been working on how to implement its emergency response plan in light of this quickly­ developing, fluid situation;

WHEREAS,     The Tribal Council intends to coordinate and maximize its efforts to appropriately address the impacts from COVID-19, including calling on tribal, federal, state, and local resources for assistance with protecting our community and implementing tribal laws providing for isolation and quarantine in the event of a Public Health Emergency; and

WHEREAS,     The Tribal Council intends to take appropriate actions and dedicate the necessary resources to decrease the spread ofCOVID-19 and protect all of the interests of our community in a responsible manner;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Tribal Council hereby declares a tribal Public Health State of Emergency based on the COVID-19 outbreak;

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that due to the nature of this developing outbreak, the Stockbridge­ Munsee Community will be implementing temporary measures to help limit opportunities for virus transmission while maintaining operations and services, such as the following:

 

•         Banning visitors to and from the Ella Besaw Center; and 

•         Eliminating non-essential work travel; and

•         Making alternate arrangements or canceling group activities; and

•         Controlling access to tribal buildings and encouraging persons to schedule meetings or conduct their business by telephone or email if possible;

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, the Tribal Council authorizes flexibility in the application of its employment policies, including those relating to absences and scheduling, as employees may need to isolate themselves for medical reasons or may not be able to obtain doctor excuses or releases due to demands on the medical system from the COVID-19 outbreak, BUT, the Tribal Council reserves the right to take corrective employment actions that include termination of employment for employee misuse;

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, the Tribal Council, consistent with governmental recommendations for health plans, intends to waive co-pays on COVID-19 testing and, if developed, a COVID-19 vaccine for persons participating in its employee group health plan;

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, the Tribal Council reserves the right to implement additional measures to best protect the community and employees, such authorizing work accommodations, restricting operations to essential services, or even shutting operations down, and authorizes the Tribal President, or in her absence the Vice-President, to announce when such measures are being implemented; and

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, the Tribal Council reserves the right to reassess, extend, or cancel authorized COVID-19 measures at any time.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, this Public Health State of Emergency shall remain in place until the latter of the United States or Wisconsin declarations end.