E X E C U T I V E D E P A R T M E N T STATE OF CALIFORNIA EXECUTIVE ORDER N-21-25

WHEREAS on January 7, 2025, I proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties due to fire and windstorm conditions that caused multiple fires, including the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, Sunset, and Woodley Fires; and

WHEREAS these fires devastated communities across the Greater Los Angeles Area and have collectively burned over 47,900 acres, destroying or damaging more than 16,250 structures, including homes, small businesses, schools, child care facilities, and places of worship, with initial estimates placing this disaster among the most destructive in California history; and

WHEREAS since the fires began, I have issued several Executive Orders to bolster the emergency response to the rapid spread of these fires throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, and to expedite recovery efforts in the impacted communities; and

WHEREAS it is important that impacted individuals and families not be unfairly penalized for failing to meet program deadlines and/or eligibility requirements for participation in state social services programs, and in particular receipt of charitable support should not disqualify individuals in need from continuing to receive state social services for which they would otherwise be eligible; and

WHEREAS continued provision of social services by local agencies and contractors is especially important in the aftermath of this emergency and their important work should not be unduly burdened by regulatory requirements that they may be unable to meet because of the displacement and disruption caused by this emergency; and

WHEREAS local educational agencies and students should not be penalized for not meeting certain statutory and regulatory requirements if they shifted to independent study programs, in lieu of in-person instruction, as a result of this emergency; and

WHEREAS given the extent of the impacts on schools, it is necessary to provide additional flexibility to accommodate students who have been displaced or whose schools are no longer available as a result of this emergency, as well as local educational agencies that have been forced to adjust operations; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code

section 8571, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this Order would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of these Los Angeles County fires and windstorm conditions.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, Government Code sections 8567, 8571, and 8627, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: 1.

Local educational agencies that provide independent study programs to students as a result of this emergency shall have up to calendar days after the first day of instruction in an independent study program to obtain written agreements governing such programs, notwithstanding the timelines set forth in Education Code sections 51747(g)(9)(A)(

i) and 51749.6(b)(1). 2. For those classroom-based charter schools that, pursuant to Education Code

section et seq., provide independent study programs due to facility inaccessibility, damage, or destruction, or student displacement, as a result of this emergency, any requirement to submit a funding determination, including pursuant to Education Code

section 47634.2 and implementing regulations, and any requirement to obtain a material revision from the charter school authorizer to offer non-classroom-based instruction, as defined in Education

section 47612.5, is suspended for the 2024-25 school year. 3. The deadline to review the annual audit of the local educational agency for the prior year at a public meeting pursuant to Education Code

section 41020.3(

a) is extended to February 28, 2025, for all local educational agencies impacted by this emergency. 4.

Welfare and Institutions Code sections 11155, 11155.2, 11155.6, 11157.5, 11257, and 11257.5, and any implementing regulations, and the California Department of Social Services Manual of Policies and Procedures sections 44-115.1 through 44-115.333, are suspended for the duration of this emergency for CalWORKS applicants and recipients directly impacted by this emergency, to extent those provisions count in-kind donations, or charitable or similar contributions, to assist individuals impacted by the emergency towards income-in kind requirements or resource thresholds.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order. This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive, or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 14th day of February 2025. _________________________ GAVIN NEWSOM Governor of California ATTEST: _____________________________ SHIRLEY N. WEBER, PH. D Secretary of State