Pennsylvania Emergency Management and Homeland Security Statutory Authorities Summarized

Publication Date: March 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Coverage: Pennsylvania

Abstract:

The Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa. C.S.A. 7101 et seq.) for Pennsylvania outlines emergency management roles and responsibilities for the commonwealth and local governments. Provisions include the authority of the governor to take emergency action, the mission of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and mandates to be taken to reduce the risk of future disasters. The Emergency Interim Executive and Judicial Succession Act (71 P.S. 779.1 et seq.) provides for the continuity of government operations. The Temporary War Legislation (35 P.S. 2001 et seq.) authorizes civil defense actions to be taken by state officials.

This report is one of a series that profiles 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.