48-924. Disasters; responsibilities of governor; state of disaster emergency. (a) The governor shall be responsible for meeting the dangers to the state and people presented by disasters.

(b) (1) The governor, upon finding that a disaster has occurred or that occurrence or the threat thereof is imminent, shall issue a proclamation declaring a state of disaster emergency.

(2) In addition to or instead of the proclamation authorized by K.S.A. 47-611, and amendments thereto, the governor, upon a finding or when notified pursuant to K.S.A. 47-611, and amendments thereto, that a quarantine or other regulations are necessary to prevent the spread among domestic animals of any contagious or infectious disease, may issue a proclamation declaring a state of disaster emergency. In addition to or instead of any actions pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 2-2114, and amendments thereto, the governor, upon a finding or when notified pursuant to K.S.A. 2-2112 et seq., and amendments thereto, that a quarantine or other regulations are necessary to prevent the spread among plants, raw agricultural commodities, animal feed or processed food of any contagious or infectious disease, may issue a proclamation declaring a state of disaster emergency.

(3) The state of disaster emergency so declared shall continue until the governor finds that the threat or danger of disaster has passed, or the disaster has been dealt with to the extent that emergency conditions no longer exist. Upon making such findings the governor shall terminate the state of disaster emergency by proclamation, but except as provided in paragraph (4), no state of disaster emergency may continue for longer than 15 days unless ratified by concurrent resolution of the legislature, with the single exception that upon specific application by the governor to the state finance council and an affirmative vote of a majority of the legislative members thereof, a state of disaster emergency may be extended once for a specified period not to exceed 30 days beyond such 15-day period.

(4) If the state of disaster emergency is proclaimed pursuant to paragraph (2), the governor shall terminate the state of disaster emergency by proclamation within 15 days, unless ratified by concurrent resolution of the legislature, except that when the legislature is not in session and upon specific application by the governor to the state finance council and an affirmative vote of a majority of the legislative members thereof, a state of disaster emergency may be extended for a specified period not to exceed 30 days. The state finance council may authorize additional extensions of the state of disaster emergency by a unanimous vote of the legislative members thereof for specified periods not to exceed 30 days each. Such state of disaster emergency shall be terminated on the 15th day of the next regular legislative session following the initial date of the state of disaster emergency unless ratified by concurrent resolution of the legislature.

(5) At any time, the legislature by concurrent resolution may require the governor to terminate a state of disaster emergency. Upon such action by the legislature, the governor shall issue a proclamation terminating the state of disaster emergency.

(6) Any proclamation declaring or terminating a state of disaster emergency which is issued under this subsection shall indicate the nature of the disaster, the area or areas threatened or affected by the disaster and the conditions which have brought about, or which make possible the termination of, the state of disaster emergency. Each such proclamation shall be disseminated promptly by means calculated to bring its contents to the attention of the general public and, unless the circumstances attendant upon the disaster prevent the same, each such proclamation shall be filed promptly with the division of emergency management, the office of the secretary of state and each city clerk or county clerk, as the case may be, in the area to which such proclamation applies.

(c) In the event of the absence of the governor from the state or the existence of any constitutional disability of the governor, an officer specified in K.S.A. 48-1204 and amendments thereto, in the order of succession provided by that section, may issue a proclamation declaring a state of disaster emergency in the manner provided in and subject to the provisions of subsection (a). During a state of disaster emergency declared pursuant to this subsection, such officer may exercise the powers conferred upon the governor by K.S.A. 48-925, and amendments thereto. If a preceding officer in the order of succession becomes able and available, the authority of the officer exercising such powers shall terminate and such powers shall be conferred upon the preceding officer. Upon the return of the governor to the state or the removal of any constitutional disability of the governor, the authority of an officer to exercise the powers conferred by this section shall terminate immediately and the governor shall resume the full powers of the office. Any state of disaster emergency and any actions taken by an officer under this subsection shall continue and shall have full force and effect as authorized by law unless modified or terminated by the governor in the manner prescribed by law.

(d) A proclamation declaring a state of disaster emergency shall activate the disaster response and recovery aspects of the state disaster emergency plan and of any local and interjurisdictional disaster plans applicable to the political subdivisions or areas affected by the proclamation. Such proclamation shall be authority for the deployment and use of any forces to which the plan or plans apply and for use or distribution of any supplies, equipment, materials or facilities assembled, stockpiled or arranged to be made available pursuant to this act during a disaster.

(e) The governor, when advised pursuant to K.S.A. 74-2608, and amendments thereto, that conditions indicative of drought exist, shall be authorized to declare by proclamation that a state of drought exists. This declaration of a state of drought can be for specific areas or communities, can be statewide or for specific water sources and shall effect immediate implementation of drought contingency plans contained in state approved conservation plans, including those for state facilities.

History: L. 1975, ch. 283, § 4; L. 1991, ch. 292, § 1; L. 1994, ch. 248, § 12; L. 2001, ch. 163, § 11; L. 2002, ch. 88, § 5; May 2.