Chapter 408 Oregon Laws 2007

AN ACT

HB 2624

Relating to authority of city to request emergency declaration; amending ORS 401.055.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 401.055 is amended to read:

401.055. (1) The Governor may declare a state of emergency by proclamation at the request of a county governing body or after determining that an emergency has occurred or is imminent.

(2) All requests by a county governing body that the Governor declare an emergency shall be sent to the Office of Emergency Management. Cities must submit requests through the governing body of the county in which the majority of the city’s property is located. Requests from counties shall be in writing and include the following:

(a) A certification signed by the county governing body that all local resources have been expended; and

(b) A preliminary assessment of property damage or loss, injuries and deaths.

(3)(a) If, in the judgment of the Superintendent of State Police, the Governor cannot be reached by available communications facilities in time to respond appropriately to an emergency, the superintendent shall notify the Secretary of State or, if the Secretary of State is not available, the State Treasurer that the Governor is not available.

(b) After notice from the superintendent that the Governor is not available, the elected state official so notified may declare a state of emergency pursuant to the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section.

(c) If the Superintendent of State Police is unavailable to carry out the duties described in this subsection, such duties shall be performed by the Director of the Office of Emergency Management.

(4) Any state of emergency declared by the Secretary of State or State Treasurer pursuant to this section has the same force and effect as if issued by the Governor, except that it must be affirmed by the Governor as soon as the Governor is reached. However, if the Governor does not set aside the proclamation within 24 hours of being reached, the proclamation shall be considered affirmed by the Governor.

(5) Any proclamation of a state of emergency must specify the geographical area covered by the proclamation. Such area shall be no larger than necessary to effectively respond to the emergency.

(6) The governing body of each county shall establish a procedure for receiving, processing and transmitting to the Office of Emergency Management, in a timely manner, a request submitted by a city that the Governor declare an emergency.

Approved by the Governor June 13, 2007

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 13, 2007

Effective date January 1, 2008

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