(a) In the event of a state-wide or regional transportation emergency, the Governor may proclaim that the emergency exists and is authorized to: (1) Establish programs, controls, standards or practices in meeting transportation needs; (2) adopt measures affecting the hours, days and locations of the operation of public or private modes of transportation; (3) apply for and receive federal assistance; (4) establish and implement regional programs and agreements to coordinate state transportation resources with those of the federal, other state and local governments; and (5) notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, enter into or authorize the Commissioner of Transportation to enter into any contract or agreement necessary to maintain or restore transportation services. As used in this section, “transportation emergency” means a substantial disruption in the operation of a major transportation facility or service which endangers the public health, safety or welfare.

(b) Any proclamation or order issued pursuant to this section shall become effective upon its filing in the office of the Secretary of the State. Unless disapproved in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, any proclamation or order shall remain in effect until the Governor proclaims an end to the transportation emergency or until sixty days after the date of the proclamation of the transportation emergency, whichever occurs first.

(c) Any proclamation or order issued pursuant to this section may be disapproved by a majority vote of a joint legislative committee consisting of the president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of both houses of the General Assembly and the cochairpersons and the ranking members of the committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, provided that at least one of the minority members of the committee votes for disapproval. Any such disapproval shall become effective after filing such action with the office of the Secretary of the State.

(d) Any proclamation or order issued pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be published in full at least once in a newspaper having general circulation in each county but failure to publish shall not impair the validity of such proclamation or order.

(e) Any person who during the course of a transportation emergency proclaimed under subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of this section violates the provisions of any order issued pursuant to said subsections or who impedes, interferes with or obstructs any lawful transportation emergency activities pursuant to said subsections shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, for each offense.

(P.A. 81-454, S. 1–3.)