Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Catastrophic Health Emergency Powers Act that authorizes the governor to temporarily suspend laws and regulations.

Highlights:

• Expands the purposes of the Catastrophic Health Emergency Powers Act to include providing the governor the power to grant local officials certain clearly defined authorities during a catastrophic health emergency (Sec. 2).

• Expands the members of the Catastrophic Health Emergency Planning Task Force to include (Sec. 3):

• The Director of the Department of Corrections or a designee;

• 2 members of law enforcement, who will be a county sheriff, chief of police of a municipality, or another equivalent law enforcement officer having administrative responsibilities or a designee;

• 2 members from the private sector with expertise in disaster relief; and

• 4 members from the private-sector business community.

• Requires the task force to deliver a plan for responding to a catastrophic health emergency to the governor, the president of the Senate, and the speaker of the House no later than December 31, 2020 (Sec. 3).

• Requires the governor, before declaring a state of catastrophic health emergency, to notify the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate of the powers being requested (Sec. 6).

• Requires the governor to state the specific authorities they are requesting in the executive order in the event of an extension of the duration of the state of catastrophic health emergency (Sec. 7).

• Requires the governor or a designee to meet at a minimum twice per week with the House and Senate members of the Oklahoma Catastrophic Health Emergency Planning Task Force for the duration of the emergency to discuss actions that have been taken and actions that will be taken (Sec. 8).

• Requires the state legislature, if the governor declares a catastrophic health emergency, to be called into special session by a call of the Governor at 10:00 a.m. on the morning of the second business day following the date of such declaration for the purpose of concurring with or terminating the catastrophic health emergency (Sec. 9).

• Requires itemized reports detailing any use of state dollars to be provided every 10 days to the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate (Sec. 10).

• Authorizes the Secretary of the State Election Board, if the Catastrophic Health Emergency Powers Act has been activated pursuant to an executive order, to promulgate emergency rules, which the Secretary deems necessary to protect the public health while simultaneously maintaining the integrity of the election process (Sec. 11).

Full Bill Text