State House Speaker Scott Saiki said on Thursday that the State Legislature will reconvene on Monday, June 22, despite a worker in the State Capitol testing positive for COVID-19.   The individual was at work Monday but woke up Tuesday with a fever above 100 degrees.  After a doctor’s visit, it was determined the individual did have COVID-19.  Saiki said it’s not known how the person contracted COVId-19.

Saiki said the person works in the House Majority Staff Office, which does research and bill drafting for the House Democrats.  There are 17 people in the office, and they and others with whom the employee might have been in contact with are getting tested for COVID-19.

Saiki said there are three priorities for the Legislature:

-Any emergency bills related to COVID-19

-Any bills that will sunset by June 30, 2020

-Any budget related matters

Saiki also said a key priority is suspending the current rule that the legislature can only allocate half of the Rainy Day Fund, and ensure if funds need to be spent to address the COVID crisis, they can be.

Saiki also said so far, the members of the legislature don’t believe they need to pass laws relating to any of the Governor’s emergency orders such as quarantining or new travel requirements, as the Attorney General believes the Governor has full authority to pass the emergency orders.

The Center for American Liberty, a San Francisco-based public policy nonprofit organization, has filed suit against Gov. Ige saying the travel quarantines for out-of-state arrivals deprive the public of their constitutional right to travel, due process and equal protection.  Saiki said the Attorney General is quite confident the State will prevail.