SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order to further assist communities across the state recovering from devastating wildfires last year. The order extends the state’s prohibition on price gouging for counties impacted by various wildfires in August and September 2020.
The full text of today’s executive order can be found here and a copy can be found here.
EXECUTIVE ORDER N-04-21
WHEREAS the 2020 wildfire season was the most destructive in California history, during which nearly 10,000 fires scorched more than 4.25 million acres of land and destroyed or damaged over 10,000 structures, including more than 5,000 homes; and
WHEREAS in August and September 2020, I proclaimed several States of Emergency in response to numerous wildfires impacting California, and recovery is still underway in communities impacted by these wildfires; and
WHEREAS the Legislature has declared its intent to protect individuals from price gouging during states of emergency, and has enacted statutes consistent with that purpose; and
WHEREAS my State of Emergency proclamations triggered certain protections against price gouging set forth in Penal Code section 396; and
WHEREAS on September 25, 2020, I issued Executive Order N-81-20, which extended price gouging protections for certain counties impacted by 2020 wildfires; and
WHEREAS the circumstances necessitating protections against price gouging continue to exist, and are expected to continue to exist as communities continue to recover from the wildfires; and
WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations as specified in this Order would prevent, hinder, or delay appropriate actions to prevent and mitigate the effects of these wildfires.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the State of California, and in particular, Government Code sections 8567 and 8571, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the protections against price gouging as set forth in Executive Order N-81-20, Paragraph 3, and incorporated by reference in Paragraph 12 of my September 25, 2020 State of Emergency proclamation and Paragraph 11 of my September 28, 2020 State of Emergency proclamation, are extended through May 22, 2021.
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.