Because of the existing possibility of natural and man-made emergencies and disasters in the United States of unprecedented size and destructiveness, and in the event such an incident occurs: to assure continuity of government through legally-constituted leadership, authority and responsibility in offices of the government of the state and its political subdivisions; to provide for the effective operation of governments during an emergency caused by an incident in the United States; and to facilitate the early resumption of functions temporarily suspended, it is found and declared to be necessary: to provide for additional officers who can exercise the powers and discharge the duties of Governor; to provide for emergency interim succession to governmental offices of this state and its political subdivisions in the event incumbents thereof (and their deputies, assistants or other subordinate officers authorized, pursuant to law, to exercise all of the powers and discharge the duties of such offices hereinafter referred to as deputies) are unavailable to perform the duties and functions of such offices; and to provide for special emergency judges who can exercise the powers and discharge the duties of judicial offices in the event regular judges are unavailable, the provisions of this act are adopted to meet emergency conditions, which result from natural and man-made emergencies and disasters in the United States.

Added by Laws 1959, p. 212, § 2, emerg. eff. June 5, 1959. Amended by Laws 1963, c. 270, § 2, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963; Laws 2003, c. 329, § 29, emerg. eff. May 29, 2003.