EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT STATE OF CALIFORNIA EXECUTIVE ORDER N-19-25

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 have now caused multiple fires, including the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, Sunset, Woodley, and Hughes Fires; and

WHEREAS these fires have 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, childcare settings, 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 multiple Executive Orders to provide relief to impacted communities, protect survivors, and expedite and aid recovery efforts; and

WHEREAS in response to the widespread disruption to childcare and other social services providers from the firestorms, Paragraph of Executive Order N-3- 25 authorized the California Department of Social Services to reimburse such providers for up to 30 days from the onset of the emergency when no attendance record or invoice is available as a result of this emergency; and

WHEREAS although that provision has expired, childcare settings, including licensed child care and subsidized family, friend, and neighbor care, which continue to be impacted by the emergency may be eligible for additional benefits, including federally administered Disaster Unemployment Assistance that provides up to 26 weeks of unemployment assistance for eligible individuals, but the deadline to apply for those benefits is March 10, 2025; and

WHEREAS given how important accessing those benefits is for eligible providers to support ongoing recovery efforts and to assist them in continuing to provide the critical services for the community, my Administration will take additional steps to engage those individuals and assist them in pursuing benefits for which they may be eligible.

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, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: The California Department of Social Services (COSS), or its designees, in collaboration with the California Employment Development Department (EDD), shall, no later than February 28, 2025, contact individually by telephone or through other appropriate means childcare settings whose childcare has not reopened as of the date of this Order to advise them of the potential availability of Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Upon request, COSS shall also refer individuals to the EDD to support each individual in completing the application for those benefits.

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 11th day of February 2025. Governor of California ATTEST: