CONCORD – Gov. Chris Sununu’s controversial new Office for Relief and Recovery will meet via conference call on today and Friday, and the public is welcome to call in.

At 1 p.m. today, call 1-800-356-8278, Pin: 389388 to hear COVID-19 impact reports from the New Hampshire Departments of Safety, Transportation, Health and Human Services, Education, Corrections, Employment Security, and Business and Economic Affairs.

Sununu issued Executive Order 2020-06 as part of the state’s efforts to respond to COVID-19.

Executive Order 2020-06: An order establishing the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery and processes and procedures for allocation and expenditure of COVID-19 emergency funds.

Sununu released the executive order on Tuesday, a day after lawmakers filed in court seeking an emergency injunction against the group arguing the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee should decide where to spend the $1.25 billion in federal funds.

In the emergency motion filed in Hillsborough County Superior Court North, legislative leaders claim Sununu’s plan to expend the more than $1.2 billion in federal funds to fight the pandemic violates the separation of powers provision in the state constitution and is prohibited by law.

“The legislative branch’s exclusive power to make appropriations is a nondelegable duty,” legislative leaders claim in the suit.

Sununu says a 2002 state law passed after the September 11 terrorist attacks gives governors authority to spend and accept federal funds without Fiscal Committee approval, but legislative leaders say the same law requires a governor to seek the “advice and consent” of the Fiscal Committee.

Pursuant to RSA 91-A:2, this meeting is open to the public.

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