Illinois Emergency Management and Homeland Security Authorities Summarized

Publication Date: March 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Coverage: Illinois

Abstract:

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act outlines the state and local governments’ roles and responsibilities in emergency management. The statute authorizes disaster victims to receive special assistance from the state. The Governor’s Succession Act and the Emergency Interim Executive Successors Act outline provisions for the continuity of Illinois government operations. Other acts require emergency evacuation plans for people with disabilities and authorizations for certified local employees to take leave to provide assistance. When funds are not sufficient in the state’s disaster relief fund, the governor is authorized to transfer or borrow funds if the General Assembly is not in session, or to request legislative action if the assembly is in session. The statute authorizes municipalities to impose taxes, within limits, to fund disaster services.

This report is one of a series that profiles the emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant.