Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Public Safety Committee

SSB 6011

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

The Washington Military Department under the direction of the Adjutant General administers the state's comprehensive program of emergency management. The Adjutant General is responsible for developing a comprehensive, all-hazard emergency plan for the state that includes an analysis of natural, technological, or human-caused hazards, and procedures to coordinate local and state resources in responding to such hazards.

The Adjutant General is also responsible for managing a program for interagency coordination and prioritization of government operations planning by state agencies. Each state agency is responsible for developing an organizational continuity of operations plan that is updated and exercised annually in compliance with the program for interagency coordination of continuity of operations planning.

Washington's Continuity of Government Act provides direction for the continuity of government operations in the event of an attack taken against the United States in the State of Washington. An "attack" is defined as any act of warfare taken by an enemy of the United States causing substantial damage or injury to persons or property in the United States and in the State of Washington.

Under Washington's Continuity of Government Act, following an enemy attack:

If the Governor and all successors of the Office of the Governor are unavailable, the powers and duties of the Governor must be exercised and discharged by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Governor must call the Legislature into session as soon as practicable and in any case within 30 days following the inception of the attack. The Governor may call the Legislature into emergency session in an alternative location in Washington or an adjoining state if he or she deems it impracticable for the Legislature to convene in its usual Olympia location. If the Governor fails to issue the call of the Legislature into session, the Legislature must convene at a place where the Governor has his or her office on the thirtieth day following the date of the inception of the attack. Limits on the length of session, and subjects that may be considered, are suspended.
If the number of legislators available for duty is reduced, the remaining legislators that are available for duty will constitute the Legislature and will have the power to act by the majority of those present. All quorum requirements are suspended, and in instances where an affirmative vote is needed of a specified proportion of members for an approval of a bill, the same proportion of those voting is sufficient.
If the number of county commissioners of a county has been reduced, or city or town councilmembers or commission members has been reduced, the remaining members available for duty have full authority to act on all matters by majority vote present.
If the executive head of any city or town is unavailable to fulfill his or her responsibility, the available members of the city or town council or commission must select one of their members by majority vote to act as executive head of the city or town.
If it becomes impossible to conduct affairs of a political subdivision at its usual location, the governing body may meet at an alternative location.

Summary of Bill:

The procedures outlined in the Continuity of Government Act apply to catastrophic incidents as well as enemy attacks. A "catastrophic incident" is any natural or human-caused incident, including terrorism and enemy attack, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, public morale, or government functions. However, catastrophic incidents do not include events resulting from individuals exercising their rights, under the first amendment, of freedom of speech and peaceable assembly. "Attack" is redefined as an act of aggression taken against the United States causing substantial damage or injury to persons or property in the United States and in the State of Washington.

For purposes of the Continuity of Government Act, an "emergency or disaster" means an event or set of circumstances which either demands immediate action to preserve public health, protect life, protect public property, or to provide relief to any stricken community overtaken by such occurrences; or that reaches such a dimension or degree of destructiveness as to warrant the governor proclaiming a state of emergency.

Subject to appropriated funding the Adjutant General of the Military Department is responsible for the development and management of an educational program for state and local government officials regarding catastrophic incidents and continuity of government planning. The purpose of the program is to assist with statewide development of continuity of government plans by all levels and branches of state and local government that address how essential government functions and services will continue to be provided following a catastrophic incident.

"Continuity of government planning" is defined as the internal effort of all levels and branches of government to provide that the capability exists to continue essential functions and services following a catastrophic incident. Examples include: orderly succession of leadership; filling vacancies; interoperability communications; and procedures to reconvene government following periods of disruption. Continuity of government planning is intended to preserve the constitutional and statutory authority of elected officials and provide for continued performance of essential functions and services of government.