Government Administration and Elections Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-5653
AN ACT AMENDING THE CIVIL PREPAREDNESS AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Title: EMERGENCY STATUTES.
Vote Date: 4/5/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/24/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
The Government Administration and Elections Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill seeks to update the civil preparedness and public health emergency statutes, as well
as the types of emergency powers that can be vested in an executive order. The bill
establishes a legislative committee comprised of the six legislative leaders, including the
president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives and
majority and minority leaders of both houses of the Connecticut General Assembly. This joint
legislative committee would be charged with approving any extension of a civil preparedness
order issued by the Governor following its expiration after thirty days. In addition, the joint
legislative committee would have the authority to disapprove and nullify a declaration issued
by the Governor.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
House Republican Caucus: The House Republican Caucus emphasized the fact that this
bill was introduced as a means to restore a proper balance between the legislative and
executive branches of Connecticut state government. The House Republican Caucus
contends that the legislature has abdicated its power to the governor since the beginning of
the pandemic. The bill intends to create a system of legislative oversight in regard to
emergency declarations. One way in which the bill does this is by separating the civil
preparedness statutes from the public health statutes. Separating these two categories would
prevent entanglement between the realms of civil preparedness and public health. For
example, civil preparedness emergency declarations (which includes actual disasters
natural or man-made) would be limited to 30 days but could be extended based on a majority
vote from legislative leaders.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
None expressed.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None expressed.
Reported by: Trevor Hoffman Date: 4/5/2021
Page 2 of 2 HB-5653


Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 28-1, 28-9
GAE Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 571: