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The Florida Senate

2017 Florida Statutes

Title IV EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Chapter 22
EMERGENCY CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 22
EMERGENCY CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
22.01 Short title.
22.02 Declaration of policy.
22.03 Definitions.
22.05 Enabling authority for emergency interim successors for local offices.
22.06 Emergency interim successors for local officers.
22.07 Formalities of taking office.
22.08 Period in which authority may be exercised.
22.09 Removal of designees.
22.10 Disputes.
22.15 Seat of government; emergency temporary location.
22.20 Emergency continuity of government; political subdivision.
22.01 Short title.—Sections 22.01-22.10 shall be known and may be cited as the “Emergency Interim Executive and Judicial Succession Act.”
History.—s. 1, ch. 59-447.
22.02 Declaration of policy.—Because of the existing possibility of attack upon the United States of unprecedented size and destructiveness, and in order, in the event of such an attack, to assure continuity of government through legally constituted leadership, authority and responsibility in offices of the government of the state and its political subdivisions; to provide for the effective operation of governments during an emergency; and to facilitate the early resumption of functions temporarily suspended, it is found and declared to be necessary to provide for additional officers who can exercise the powers and discharge the duties of Governor; to provide for emergency interim succession to governmental offices of its political subdivisions, in the event the incumbents thereof are unavailable to perform the duties and functions of such offices.
History.—s. 2, ch. 59-447.
22.03 Definitions.—Unless otherwise clearly required by the context, as used in ss. 22.01-22.10:
(1) “Unavailable” means either that a vacancy in office exists or that the lawful incumbent of the office is absent or unable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office.
(2) “Emergency interim successor” means a person designated pursuant to ss. 22.01-22.10, in the event the officer is unavailable, to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of an office until a successor is appointed or elected and qualified as may be provided by the constitution, statutes, charters, and ordinances or until the lawful incumbent is able to resume the exercise of the powers and discharge the duties of the office.
(3) “Office” includes all state and local offices, the powers and duties of which are defined by the constitution, statutes, charters, and ordinances, except the office of Governor and the Legislature.
(4) “Attack” means any attack or series of attacks by an enemy of the United States causing, or which may cause, substantial damage or injury to civilian property or persons in the United States in any manner by sabotage or by the use of bombs, missiles, shellfire, or atomic, radiological, chemical, bacteriological, or biological means or other weapons or processes.
(5) “Political subdivision” includes counties, cities, towns, villages, townships, districts, authorities, and other public corporations and entities whether organized and existing under charter or general law.
History.—s. 3, ch. 59-447.
22.05 Enabling authority for emergency interim successors for local offices.—With respect to local offices, for which the legislative bodies of cities, towns, villages, townships, and counties may enact resolutions or ordinances relative to the manner in which vacancies will be filled or temporary appointments to office made, such legislative bodies are hereby authorized to enact resolutions or ordinances providing for emergency interim successors to offices of the aforementioned governmental units. Such resolutions and ordinances shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of ss. 22.01-22.10.
History.—s. 5, ch. 59-447.
22.06 Emergency interim successors for local officers.—The provisions of this section shall be applicable to officers of political subdivisions (including, but not limited to, cities, towns, villages, townships, and counties, as well as school, fire, power, and drainage districts) not included in s. 22.05. Such officers, subject to such regulations as the executive head of the political subdivision may issue, shall upon approval of ss. 22.01-22.10, designate by title (if feasible) or by named person, emergency interim successors and specify their order of succession. The officer shall review and revise, as necessary, designations made pursuant to ss. 22.01-22.10 to ensure their current status. The officer will designate a sufficient number of persons so that there will be not less than three, nor more than seven, emergency interim successors or any combination thereof at any time. In the event that any officer of any political subdivision is unavailable, the powers of the office shall be exercised and duties shall be discharged by his or her designated emergency interim successors in the order specified. The emergency interim successor shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office to which designated until such time as a vacancy which may exist shall be filled in accordance with the constitution or statutes or until the officer (or a preceding emergency interim successor) again becomes available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of office.
History.—s. 6, ch. 59-447; s. 83, ch. 95-147.
22.07 Formalities of taking office.—At the time of their designation, emergency interim successors and special emergency judges shall take such oath as may be required for them to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office to which they may succeed. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person, as a prerequisite to the exercise of the powers or discharge of the duties of an office to which he or she succeeds, shall be required to comply with any other provision of law relative to taking office.
History.—s. 7, ch. 59-447; s. 84, ch. 95-147.
22.08 Period in which authority may be exercised.—Officials authorized to act as Governor pursuant to ss. 22.01-22.10, emergency interim successors, and special emergency judges are empowered to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of an office as herein authorized only after an attack upon the United States, as defined herein, has occurred. The Legislature, by concurrent resolution, may at any time terminate the authority of said emergency interim successors and special emergency judges to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of office as herein provided.
History.—s. 8, ch. 59-447.
22.09 Removal of designees.—Until such time as the persons designated as emergency interim successors or special emergency judges are authorized to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of an office in accordance with ss. 22.01-22.10, said persons shall serve in their designated capacities at the pleasure of the designating authority and may be removed or replaced by said designating authority at any time, with or without cause.
History.—s. 9, ch. 59-447.
22.10 Disputes.—Any dispute concerning a question of fact arising under ss. 22.01-22.09 with respect to an office in the executive branch of the state government (except a dispute of fact relative to the office of Governor) shall be adjudicated by the Governor (or other official authorized under the constitution or ss. 22.01-22.09 to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office of Governor) and his or her decision shall be final.
History.—s. 10, ch. 59-447; s. 85, ch. 95-147.
22.15 Seat of government; emergency temporary location.—
(1) Whenever, due to an emergency resulting from the effects of enemy attack, or the anticipated effects of a threatened enemy attack, it becomes imprudent, inexpedient, or impossible to conduct the affairs of state government at the normal location of the seat thereof in the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, the Governor shall, as often as the exigencies of the situation require, by proclamation, declare an emergency temporary location, or locations, for the seat of government at such place, or places, within or without this state as he or she may deem advisable under the circumstances, and shall take such action and issue such orders as may be necessary for an orderly transition of the affairs of state government to such emergency temporary location, or locations. Such emergency temporary location, or locations, shall remain as the seat of government until the Legislature shall by law establish a new location, or locations, or until the emergency is declared to be ended by the Governor and the seat of government is returned to its normal location.
(2) During such time as the seat of government remains at such emergency temporary location, or locations, all official acts now or hereafter required by law to be performed at the seat of government by any officer, agency, department or authority of this state, including the convening and meeting of the Legislature in regular, extraordinary or emergency session, shall be as valid and binding when performed at such emergency temporary location, or locations, as if performed at the normal location of the seat of government.
(3) The provisions of this section shall control and be supreme in the event it shall be employed notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary or in conflict herewith.
History.—ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 59-498; s. 86, ch. 95-147.
22.20 Emergency continuity of government; political subdivision.—
(1) Whenever, due to an emergency resulting from the effects of enemy attack, or the anticipated effects of a threatened enemy attack, it becomes imprudent, inexpedient or impossible to conduct the affairs of the government of a political subdivision of the state at the normal location of the seat thereof, the governing body of such political subdivision shall, as often as the exigencies of the situation require, by proclamation, declare an emergency temporary location, or locations, for the seat of government at such place, or places within or without the territorial limits of its political jurisdiction, as deemed advisable under the circumstances, and shall take such action and issue such orders as may be necessary for an orderly transition of the affairs of the government of the political subdivision to such emergency temporary location, or locations. Such emergency temporary location, or locations, shall remain as the seat of such government until a new seat of government is established by due processes of the law, or until the emergency is declared to be ended by the Governor and the seat of government is returned to its normal location.
(2) During such time as the seat of government remains at such emergency temporary location, or locations, all official acts now or hereafter required by law to be performed at the seat of government by any officer, agency, department or authority of the political subdivision, including the convening of the governing body thereof in regular, extraordinary or emergency session, shall be as valid and binding when performed at such emergency temporary location, or locations, as if performed at the normal location of the seat of government.
(3) The provisions of this section shall control and be supreme in the event it shall be employed, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary or in conflict herewith.
History.—ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 61-352.