Budget Amendment ID: FY2021-S4-16

GOV 16

Executive Order Ratification Requirement

Mr. Fattman moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:-

Section XX.  Section 2 of chapter 17 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

“Each order by the governor pursuant to the Massachusetts Civil Defense Act, Chapter 639 of the Acts of 1950, and each action taken by the commissioner pursuant to the preceding section shall expire or otherwise lose all legal force thirty days after it is issued unless both houses of the legislature ratify such order or action by statute, direction, or instruction. Where the emergency at issue precludes either house from sitting, each such order and each such action shall remain in force until thirty days after both houses are able to again convene. Without the ratification required by this section, no second order substantially similar to the first may be issued and no action taken by the commissioner comparable to that which remains unratified may be undertaken for a term of sixty days after the last date for the ratification required hereunder.”