Governor Kemp Declares State Of Emergency; General Assembly To Return Monday In Special Session
Following President Trump’s national declaration of a state of emergency due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Governor Brian Kemp this afternoon declared a state of emergency for the State of Georgia. (press release below)
Under Georgia law, the legislature must meet to ratify the Governor’s proclamation. As such, the Legislature, despite being on an indefinite break from usual business due to the same pandemic, will return Monday for a special session. Speaker Ralston sent the following statement, indicating full support of the declaration:
“I fully support Governor Kemp’s executive action, and we stand united to face this challenge. As per Georgia law, we will meet Monday in special session to endorse these prudent, proactive steps to protect the health and safety of our citizens. I thank Governor Kemp for his leadership.”
The Governor’s full press release is as follows:
| Kemp: Public Health Emergency in Georgia Effective Tomorrow Atlanta, GA – Following President Trump’s national emergency declaration today, Governor Kemp issued the following statement: “Based on President Trump’s emergency declaration, I will declare a public health emergency for the State of Georgia tomorrow morning. This declaration will greatly assist health and emergency management officials across Georgia by deploying all available resources for the mitigation and treatment of COVID-19. In accordance with state law, I will call for a special session of the General Assembly to convene at the State Capitol at 8 AM on Monday, March 16, 2020 to ratify this action through a joint resolution. “At this time, it is appropriate for faith-based organizations and similar entities to consider cancellation of public events and services. Contact your local public health office or consult official sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Public Health, for helpful guidance on decision-making. Elderly citizens and those with chronic, underlying health conditions face a serious threat to their health, and we must do everything in our power to reduce risk associated with this virus. Continue to support one another, be mindful of potential exposure, use best practices to prevent infection, and pray for your fellow Americans in the weeks ahead.” After reviewing state records, it appears that Governor Kemp’s declaration tomorrow will constitute Georgia’s first ever public health emergency. The applicable code section is O.C.G.A. 38-3-51. For updates on COVID-19, follow @GeorgiaEMA, @GaDPH and @GovKemp on Twitter and @GEMA.OHS, @GaDPH and @GovKemp on Facebook. For more information, visit the DPH’s coronavirus webpage at https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus. |
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Charlie
Founder of GeorgiaPol.com; Now weekly columnist Very interested in Georgia and Georginas. Interest in politics is waning daily.