2020 House Bill 5713

Repeal one of two state emergency powers laws

Introduced in the House

April 16, 2020

Introduced by Rep. Jason Wentworth (R-97)

To reduce from 28 days to 14 days the duration of a disaster or emergency declaration by a governor, at which time the legislature may vote to extend it for a specific number of days. This law (Public Act 390 of 1976) is one of two laws that give the governor the authority to assume extraordinary powers during an emergency, including the statewide “lockdowns” ordered under the 2020 coronavirus epidemic. See also Senate Bill 857 and House Bill 5713, to repeal the state’s other emergency powers law (Public Act 302 of 1945), which contains no provision limiting how long a governor may retain emergency powers that he or she has assumed.

Referred to the Committee on Government Operations