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12.31 National security or peacetime emergency; declaration.

Subdivision 1. Declaration of national security emergency. When information from the President of the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Defense, or the National Warning System indicates the imminence of a national security emergency within the United States, which means the several states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Panama Canal Zone, or the occurrence within the state of Minnesota of a major disaster from enemy sabotage or other hostile action, the governor may, by proclamation, declare that a national security emergency exists in all or any part of the state. If the legislature is then in regular session, or, if it is not, if the governor concurrently with the proclamation declaring the emergency issues a call convening immediately both houses of the legislature, the governor may exercise for a period not to exceed 30 days the powers and duties conferred and imposed by sections 12.31 to 12.37. The lapse of these emergency powers does not, as regards any act occurring or committed within the 30-day period, deprive any person, political subdivision, municipal corporation, or body politic of any right to compensation or reimbursement that it may have under this chapter.

Subd. 2. Declaration of peacetime emergency. The governor may declare a peacetime emergency. A peacetime declaration of emergency may be declared only when an act of nature, a technological failure or malfunction, a terrorist incident, an industrial accident, a hazardous materials accident, or a civil disturbance endangers life and property and local government resources are inadequate to handle the situation. It must not be continued for more than five days unless extended by resolution of the executive council up to 30 days. An order, or proclamation declaring, continuing, or terminating an emergency must be given prompt and general publicity and filed with the secretary of state.

Subd. 3. Effect of declaration of peacetime emergency. A declaration of a peacetime emergency invokes the necessary portions of the state emergency operations plan developed pursuant to section 12.21, subdivision 3, relating to response and recovery aspects and may authorize aid and assistance under the plan.

HIST: 1951 c 694 s 301; 1959 c 34 s 1; 1961 c 561 s 5; 1979 c 65 s 2; 1986 c 444; 1996 c 344 s 20; 1999 c 250 art 2 s 1

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes