EXECUTIVE ORDER 07-11

WHEREAS, K.S.A. 48-925(b) provides that the Governor may issue orders and proclamations which shall have the force and effect of law under subsection (b) of K.S.A. 48-924; and

WHEREAS, on the 5th day of May, 2007, I declared a state of emergency for Kiowa, Barton, Stafford, Pratt, Edwards and Phillips counties as a result of severe weather, including tornados, hail, high winds and flooding which struck, causing loss of life, personal injury and excessive damage to businesses and homes; and

WHEREAS, this severe natural disaster has resulted in extensive human suffering and economic damage; and

WHEREAS, individuals have been laid off from or have lost their place of employment because of the severe storm damage; and

WHEREAS, these individuals are prevented, hindered or delayed from coping with the affects of the disaster by state regulatory provisions requiring them to wait the period of one week before collecting unemployment benefits.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Kansas, I hereby suspend the provision of K.S.A. 44-705(d) requiring an individual to be unemployed for a waiting period of one week before collecting unemployment benefits for individuals affected by the severe natural disaster.