Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Statutory Authorities Summarized

Publication Date: April 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Coverage: Georgia

Abstract:

The governor has broad emergency management powers under the Georgia Emergency Management Act of 1981 (Ga. Code §38-3-1 et seq.). Local governments must develop emergency management capabilities. The governor is authorized to declare a state of emergency at his or her discretion, but in the event of a public health emergency, the governor must issue a call for a special session of the General Assembly. A state of emergency remains in force until the governor determines that the threat or emergency has passed, or for a period of 30 days maximum. The state of emergency may be renewed by the governor and may be terminated by the General Assembly through enactment of a concurrent resolution. The continuity of government provisions require elected officials to submit the names of designated successors to the secretary of state, and also authorize the relocation of the seat of government to a site within or outside the state.