Transcription of GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT
1 ,Texas78701 DearDeputySecretaryEsparza:Pursuanttohis powersasGovernoroftheStateofTexas, , ,October11,2021 FILEDINTHUFFICEOFTHESECRETARYOFSTATE-_4 O CLOCK2O2itheGovernorAttachmentPOSTOFFICE Box12428 AUSTIN,TEXAS78711512-463-2000(VOICE)DIAL 7-1-1 FORRELAYSERVICES xrcuthr1rirrBYTHEGOVERNOROFTHESTATEOFTEX ASE xecutiveDepartmentAustin,TexasOctober11, 2021 EXECUTIVEORDERGA4 ORelatingtoprohibitingvaccinemandates, ,I,GregAbbott,GovernorofTexas,issuedadis asterproclamationonMarch13,2020, (COVID-19)posesanimminentthreatofdisaste rforallTexascounties;andWHEREAS,ineachsu bsequentmontheffectivethroughtoday,Ihave renewedtheCOVID-19disasterdeclarationfor allTexascounties;andWHEREAS,Ihaveissueda seriesofexecutiveordersaimedatprotecting thehealthandsafetyofTexans,ensuringunifo rmitythroughoutTexas,andachievingtheleas trestrictivemeansofcombattingtheevolving threattopublichealth;andWHEREAS,COVID-19 vaccinesarestronglyencouragedforthoseeli gibletoreceiveone,butmustalwaysbevolunta ryforTexans;andWHEREAS,IissuedExecutiveO rdersGA-35,GA-38,andGA-39toprohibitgover nmentalentitiesandcertainothersfromimpos ingCOVID-19vaccinemandatesorrequiringvac cinepassports.
2 AndWHEREAS,inyetanotherinstanceoffederal overreach,theBidenAdministrationisnowbul lyingmanyprivateentitiesintoimposingCOVI D-19vaccinemandates,causingworkforcedisr uptionsthatthreatenTexas scontinuedrecoveryfromtheCOVID-19disaste r;andWHEREAS,countlessTexansfearlosingth eirlivelihoodsbecausetheyobjecttoreceivi ngaCOVID-19vaccinationforreasonsofperson alconscience,basedonareligiousbelief,orf ormedicalreasons,includingpriorrecoveryf romCOVID-19;andWHEREAS,throughChapter161 oftheTexasHealthandSafetyCode,aswellasot herlawsincludingChapters38and51oftheTexa sEducationCode,thelegislaturehasestablis heditsprimaryroleoverimmunizations,andal limmunizationlawsandregulationsinTexasst emfromthelawsestablishedbythelegislature ;andWHEREAS,thelegislaturehastakencareto provideexemptionsthatallowpeopletooptout ofbeingforcedtotakeavaccineforreasonsofc onscienceormedicalreasons;andWHEREAS,Iam addingthisissuetotheagendafortheThirdCal ledSessionofthelegislaturethatiscurrentl yconvenedsothatthelegislaturehastheoppor tunitytoconsiderthisissuethroughlegislat ion.
3 AndWHEREAS,Iwillrescindthisexecutiveorde rupontheeffectivedateofsuchlegislation;F ILEDINTHEOFFiCEOFThS,..SECRETARYOFSTATE4 :OCT112021 GovernorGregAbbottExecutiveOrderGA-40 October11,2021 Page2 NOW,THEREFORE,I,GregAbbott,GovernorofTex as,byvirtueofthepowerandauthorityvestedi nmebytheConstitutionandlawsoftheStateofT exas, ,includinganemployeeoraconsumer,whoobjec tstosuchvaccinationforanyreasonofpersona lconscience,basedonareligiousbelief,orfo rmedicalreasons, semergencymanagementplanshallapplytoany failuretocomplywith (a)oftheTexasGovernmentCode, (b) ,Chapter81,SubchapterEoftheTexasHealthan dSafetyCode,andanyotherrelevantstatutes, ,GA-37,GA-38, ,amended,rescinded, , O CLOCKOCT112021
