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Committee adopts change to emergency powers definitions in SB 21 51
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Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee adopted SB 21 51 with amendments to restrict emergency powers to sudden catastrophic events, clarify severe weather warnings, and allow legislative or city-council termination of declared emergencies.
Chair opened discussion of SB 21 51, saying the bill "clarifies state and local authority during a state or local state of emergency, defines severe weather warnings, [and] amends the definitions of disaster and emergency to limit the use of emergency powers except to address sudden events that cause or are likely to cause catastrophic harm or immediate danger." The chair said the committee would revert to the bill's original, broader definition and place a "bad date" of 03/22/2075 to continue discussion.
The clerk recorded the committee's recommendation to pass SB 21 51 with amendments. Recorded votes included Chair Rhodes voting "Aye," Vice Chair Rhodes voting "with reservations," Senator Chang "Aye," Senator San Buenaventura "Aye," and Senator Owa "No." The measure was adopted.
Committee discussion focused on the definition of "emergency" and preserving a narrower or broader test; the chair remarked there was ongoing debate and that the committee would continue consideration in the committee report and by placing a bad date. The committee did not hear external testimony in the record during this item.
The committee's adoption advances SB 21 51 with the committee's agreed amendments to the next legislative step; the final statutory language and committee report will specify the operative definitions and any effective dates.
