Thursday the House and Governmental Affairs Committee will consider Senate-approved legislation that would require the Governor to consult with Legislative leaders before extending an emergency order.
The legislation was brought by the Senate President and won unanimous approval in the Upper Chamber. Covington Senator Patrick McMath said it gives lawmakers a seat at the table.
“Requiring the administration to come before us seeking a renewal is extremely powerful,” said McMath. “Oversight is extremely powerful.”
The bill creates a committee of legislative leaders that the Governor, or his staff, must report to and explain why an order had to be extended and when it could feasibly end. The Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court must also be informed.
If passed the Governor would have to give lawmakers seven days’ notice of his intentions to extend an order. Shreveport Senator Barry Milligan said that’ll save legislators a lot of heartburn.
“We have gotten information in some cases seven minutes before it went live,” said Milligan.
The legislation won support from Senate Dems but some, like New Orleans Senator Troy Carter, worried the bill could be amended in the House to undercut the Governor’s public health authority.
“If we start to go too far into this where we delve into threatening those constitutionally given powers then I think it is dangerous,” said Carter.
In its current form, the legislation does not block the Governor from setting restrictions during an emergency, it just requires his office to explain why the restrictions have been set.
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