Under existing law, a state of emergency may be declared by the Governor by proclamation or by the Legislature by joint resolution. A state of emergency terminates after 60 days unless extended by proclamation of the Governor or joint resolution of the Legislature.
This bill would provide that a state of emergency terminates after 14 days and may be extended only by joint resolution of the Legislature or, if the Legislature is not in session, by joint proclamation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
This bill would provide that an order or directive issued by the State Health Officer relating to the outbreak of a disease or pandemic has the full force and effect of law once it is approved by the Governor and a copy is filed with the Office of the Secretary of State.
This bill would provide that the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, in addition to the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives, may request in writing that the Governor call the Legislature into special session upon proclamation of a state of emergency.
Also under existing law, during a state of emergency, the Governor may file with the Secretary of State an order or other directive that has the effect of suspending a law, ordinance, rule, or regulation once the Governor files the directive with the Secretary of State.
This bill would require the Governor to provide a copy of a directive having the effect of suspending a law to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives 48 hours before the directive may take effect, with exceptions when the Governor determines delaying the effect of a directive may result in an imminent threat to human life.
Third Reading Open
Health Substitute Offered
Read for the second time and placed on the calendar with 1 substitute and
Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Health
Engrossed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 721
Whatley motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call 720
Rules Committee Petition to Cease Debate adopted Roll Call 719
Whatley first Substitute Offered
Third Reading Passed
Whatley motion to Carry Over to the Call of the Chair adopted Voice Vote
Third Reading Carried Over to Call of the Chair
Read for the second time and placed on the calendar
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary
Source: Alabama Legislature