Sec. 16a-12. Energy emergency not covered by state plan. Review and disapproval. Termination. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 16a-12. Energy emergency not covered by state plan. Review and disapproval. Termination. (a) In the event of an emergency not covered by said plan, the Governor may proclaim an energy emergency and in connection therewith issue orders such as are permitted pursuant to chapter 517 and such orders may include (1) establishment of programs, controls, standards, priorities and quotas for the allocation, rationing, conservation, distribution and consumption of available energy resources, (2) suspension and modification of existing statutes, standards and requirements affecting or affected by the use of energy resources, (3) adoption of measures affecting the type and composition and production and distribution of energy resources, (4) imposition of price restrictions on energy resources, (5) adoption of measures affecting the hours and days on which public buildings and commercial and industrial establishments may be or are required to remain open or closed and (6) establishment and implementation of regional programs and agreements for the purpose of coordinating energy resource programs and actions of the state with those of the federal government and of other states and localities. Prior to the issuance of such an order, the Governor shall make written findings that there is an energy emergency and that the order is necessary to assure the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state. Any such orders shall be promulgated in the same manner as provided in subsection (a) of section 16a-11.

      (b) Any proclamation or order issued or promulgated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may be disapproved by the joint legislative committee established under section 16a-10 within seventy-two hours of the filing of such proclamation or order in the office of the Secretary of the State. Such disapproval shall be by a majority vote, provided at least one of the minority leaders shall vote for such disapproval. Notwithstanding such disapproval, such proclamation or any order shall be valid and effective from the time the Governor files such proclamation or order until such time as said committee files its disapproval in the office of the Secretary of the State. Any proclamation not disapproved shall remain in effect until the Governor proclaims the end of the energy emergency or until three hundred days after the date of the proclamation of the energy emergency. The joint legislative committee shall meet to review the proclamation of an energy emergency every sixty days until such emergency ends and may disapprove such proclamation by a simple majority vote. Such order shall remain in effect until termination by further order by the Governor, which termination shall become effective upon filing such order in the office of the Secretary of the State. Such order shall be published in full at least once in a newspaper having general circulation in each county, provided failure to publish shall not impair the validity of such order.

      (P.A. 74-285, S. 13, 20; P.A. 75-537, S. 7, 55; P.A. 79-572, S. 4, 10; P.A. 91-367, S. 5.)

      History: P.A. 75-537 removed obsolete reference to emergencies prior to adoption of plan in Subsec. (a); P.A. 79-572 added provisions re expiration of proclamation after 300 days, 60-day reviews and disapproval by majority vote; P.A. 91-367 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize the imposition of price restrictions on energy resources and to require the governor, before issuing an order, to make written findings re the existence of an energy emergency and the necessity of the order.