HARRY HUGHES, Governor

13

Article 41 - Governor - Executive and
Administrative Departments

15B.

(c-l)(l) As used in this subtitle, but only until
March 15, [1979] 1980, "crisis," "disaster," "catastrophe"
and "or similar public emergency" also refers to a situation
where the health, safety, or welfare of the citizens of this
State are threatened by reason of an actual or impending
acute shortage in usable energy resources. Upon reasonable
apprehension that such a crisis, disaster, catastrophe, or
similar public emergency exists, the Governor may proclaim a
state of emergency. In that event the Governor's orders,
rules, and regulations, promulgated as provided in this
subtitle, may also include, by way of further enumerated
example rather than limitation, and notwithstanding any
other provision or limitation of State or local law:

(i) Provisions for the establishment and
implementation of programs, controls, standards, priorities,
and quotas for the allocation, conservation, and consumption
of energy resources;

(ii) The suspension and modification of
existing standards and requirements affecting or affected by
the use of energy resources, including those relating to air
quality control, the type and composition of various energy
resources, the production and distribution of energy
resources, and the hours and days during which public
buildings and commercial and industrial establishments may
or are required to remain open; and/or

(iii) The establishment and implementation
of regional programs and agreements for the purposes of
coordinating the energy resource programs and actions of the
State with those of the federal government and of other
states and localities.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is
hereby declared to be an emergency measure and necessary for
the immediate preservation of the public health and safety
and having been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by
three-fifths of all the members elected to each of the two
Houses of the General Assembly, the same shall take effect
from the date of its passage.

Approved March 9, 1979.

CHAPTER 7
(Senate Bill 393)