§ 63-6405. Termination of declaration of emergency by executive order – Special Session of State Legislature.

A.  The Governor shall terminate the declaration of a state of catastrophic health emergency by executive order upon finding that the occurrence of the condition that caused the catastrophic health emergency no longer poses a high probability of a large number of deaths in the affected population, a large number of incidents of serious permanent or long-term disability in the affected population, or a significant risk of substantial future harm to a large number of people in the affected population.

B.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Catastrophic Health Emergency Powers Act, the declaration of a state of catastrophic health emergency shall be terminated automatically after thirty (30) days unless renewed by the Governor under the same standards and procedures set forth in this act.  Any such renewal shall also be terminated automatically after thirty (30) days unless renewed by the Governor under the same standards and procedures set forth in the Catastrophic Health Emergency Powers Act.

C.  If the Governor declares a catastrophic health emergency, the State Legislature shall automatically be called into Special Session at 8:00 a.m. on the morning of the second day following the date of such declaration for the purpose of concurring with or terminating the catastrophic health emergency.  The State Legislature by concurrent resolution may terminate a state of catastrophic health emergency at any time.  Thereupon, the Governor shall by appropriate action end the state of catastrophic health emergency.  Such termination by the State Legislature shall override any renewal by the Governor.

D.  All orders or legislative actions terminating the declaration of a state of catastrophic health emergency shall indicate the nature of the emergency, the area or areas threatened, and the conditions that make possible the termination of the declaration.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 473, § 13.