This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to require a full legislative vote on all gubernatorial declarations of a state of preparedness or state of emergency. It introduces new provisions that mandate the Legislature to convene within 48 hours of a gubernatorial proclamation to determine whether the state of preparedness or emergency should continue and to assess which actions taken by the Governor are necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of the state's inhabitants. Additionally, the bill grants the Legislature additional powers during a state of emergency, allowing them to authorize the Governor to enforce laws related to emergency services and manage resources without the limitations of existing laws.

The bill also includes several deletions and insertions that clarify the powers of both the Governor and the Legislature during states of emergency and preparedness. Notably, it specifies that the Governor's executive orders cannot impose more restrictive measures on places of worship than those applied to essential facilities, nor can they limit the lawful sale or transfer of firearms and ammunition. Furthermore, it establishes that any legal challenges to executive orders related to states of preparedness or emergency must be limited to specific types of petitions, thereby streamlining the legal process surrounding these declarations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-5-6