Sec. 3-6b. Transportation emergencies: Powers of Governor and joint legislative committee; publication requirements; penalty for violation of emergency order or interference with emergency activities.
Sec. 3-6b. Transportation emergencies: Powers of Governor and joint legislative committee; publication requirements; penalty for violation of emergency order or interference with emergency activities. (a) In the event of a state-wide or
regional transportation emergency, the Governor may proclaim that the emergency exists and is authorized to: (1) Establish programs, controls, standards or practices in
meeting transportation needs; (2) adopt measures affecting the hours, days and locations
of the operation of public or private modes of transportation; (3) apply for and receive
federal assistance; (4) establish and implement regional programs and agreements to
coordinate state transportation resources with those of the federal, other state and local
governments; and (5) notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, enter into
or authorize the Commissioner of Transportation to enter into any contract or agreement
necessary to maintain or restore transportation services. As used in this section, "transportation emergency" means a substantial disruption in the operation of a major transportation facility or service which endangers the public health, safety or welfare.
(b) Any proclamation or order issued pursuant to this section shall become effective
upon its filing in the office of the Secretary of the State. Unless disapproved in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, any proclamation or order shall
remain in effect until the Governor proclaims an end to the transportation emergency
or until sixty days after the date of the proclamation of the transportation emergency,
whichever occurs first.
(c) Any proclamation or order issued pursuant to this section may be disapproved
by a majority vote of a joint legislative committee consisting of the president pro tempore
of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority and minority
leaders of both houses of the General Assembly and the cochairpersons and the ranking
members of the committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, provided that at least one of the minority members of the committee
votes for disapproval. Any such disapproval shall become effective after filing such
action with the office of the Secretary of the State.
(d) Any proclamation or order issued pursuant to the provisions of this section shall
be published in full at least once in a newspaper having general circulation in each
county but failure to publish shall not impair the validity of such proclamation or order.
(e) Any person who during the course of a transportation emergency proclaimed
under subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of this section violates the provisions of any order
issued pursuant to said subsections or who impedes, interferes with or obstructs any
lawful transportation emergency activities pursuant to said subsections shall be fined
not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, for
each offense.
(P.A. 81-454, S. 1-3.)