Proposal would set rules for emergency renewals and review

The Governor may renew a state of emergency beyond 180 days after finding that an ongoing emergency or disaster requires a second renewal. This applies to a state of emergency declared by the Governor. A second or later renewal may be ended by the Governor or by a concurrent resolution of the General Assembly. The order may continue until its stated end date unless the Governor or General Assembly ends it earlier.

The General Assembly may meet to consider later emergency renewals or changes, and the Governor or designees must give it written updates. The meeting provision concerns second or later renewals and amendments to them; the reporting duty concerns the emergency authorized by the section. Either chamber’s presiding officer or the Governor may call a meeting to consider a second or later renewal or an amendment to one. A called meeting must happen within 15 days. Written updates are due every 30 days while the state of emergency is in effect.

The General Assembly must approve certain substantially similar emergency regulations or orders before they may be adopted. This applies to emergency regulations or orders under Title 29. The rule covers an emergency regulation or order substantially similar to one currently in effect or one that expired or was terminated under the cited section.

The Act would take effect when the Governor in office at enactment is no longer Governor. This timing rule applies to the Act as a whole. The measure was vetoed, so this proposed effective date did not make the provisions take effect. The proposed effective date is when that Governor is no longer Governor.