This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Tue, Mar 2, 2021 at 7:21 AM by pflowers.
This document includes House Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Mar 4, 2021 at 8:22 PM by lfindlay.
Representative Val L. Peterson proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers

5     
House Sponsor: Val L. Peterson

6     Cosponsor:
Jani Iwamoto

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill amends provisions related to emergency powers and public health
11     emergencies.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     defines terms;
15          ▸     limits Department of Health and local health department powers related to public
16     health emergency declarations and orders of constraint by:
17               •     limiting the time period for which certain orders or declarations may remain in
18     place;
19               •     requiring notification of certain elected officials before taking certain actions;
20               •     allowing certain elected officials to terminate public health emergency
21     declarations or orders of constraint; and
22               •     prohibiting declaration of a public health emergency after a previous declaration
23     for the same public health emergency expires;
24          ▸     limits emergency powers of the governor and chief executives of local governments

25     by:
26               •     prohibiting the declaration of a state of emergency after a previous state of
27     emergency expires, absent exigent circumstances;
28               •     clarifying how a declared state of emergency expires or is terminated; and
29               •     allowing the Legislature and local legislative bodies to terminate an executive
30     order;
31          ▸     allows the governor to declare a new state of emergency based on the same disaster
32     or occurrence only when exigent circumstances warrant such a declaration;
33          ▸     provides a process for the Legislature to limit certain executive emergency powers
34     during a long-term state emergency;
35          ▸     creates an ad hoc legislative committee to review emergency circumstances that
36     could lead to a long-term state of emergency;
37          ▸     prohibits a restriction of a gathering of a religious institution that is more restrictive
38     than any other Ĥ→ [
public] relevantly similar ←Ĥ gathering during an emergency;
38a          Ĥ→ ▸ prohibits a government burden on the practice of religion unless the burden is
38b     the least restrictive means available to accomplish a compelling government interest;
38c          ▸ requires reasonable accommodations be provided for certain religious practices or
38d     rites; ←Ĥ
39          ▸     requires notification from the governor before taking certain executive actions
40     during a long-term state of emergency;
41          ▸     amends provisions related to the Administrative Rules Review Committee,
42     including:
43               •     a requirement for certain information about rules made pursuant to emergency
44     rulemaking procedures be provided to the members of the Administrative Rules
45     Review Committee; and
46               •     review of certain rules and executive orders made or issued during a state of
47     emergency or public health emergency; and
48          ▸     makes technical changes.
49     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
50          None
51     Other Special Clauses:
52          None
53     Utah Code Sections Affected:
54     AMENDS:
55          26-1-10, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1981, Chapter 126

56          26-1-30, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 87
57          26-6-2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 150
58          26-6-3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 349
59          26-6b-3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 73
60          26-23-6, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 347
61          26-23b-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
62          26-23b-104, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 297
63          26-23b-108, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 155
64          26A-1-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 68
65          26A-1-114, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 14 and 177
66          26A-1-121, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 307
67          53-2a-104, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 85
68          53-2a-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 136
69          53-2a-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Fifth Special Session, Chapter 7
70          53-2a-205, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 295
71          53-2a-206, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 295
72          53-2a-208, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 352
73          53-2a-209, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 193
74          53-2a-215, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2020, Third Special Session, Chapter 13
75          53-2a-216, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2020, Third Special Session, Chapter 13
76          53-2a-217, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2020, Fifth Special Session, Chapter 7
77          53-2a-703, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 202
78          63G-3-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 193
79          63G-3-501, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 454
80          63G-3-502, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
81     ENACTS:
82          53-2a-218, Utah Code Annotated 1953
83          53-2a-219, Utah Code Annotated 1953
84     

85     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
86          Section 1. Section 26-1-10 is amended to read:

87          26-1-10. Executive director -- Enforcement powers.
88          [The] Subject to the restrictions in this title, the executive director is empowered to
89     issue orders to enforce state laws and rules established by the department except where the
90     enforcement power is given to a committee created pursuant to Section 26-1-7.
91          Section 2. Section 26-1-30 is amended to read:
92          26-1-30. Powers and duties of department.
93          [The] Subject to the restrictions in this title, the department shall exercise the following
94     powers and duties, in addition to other powers and duties established in this chapter:
95          (1) enter into cooperative agreements with the Department of Environmental Quality to
96     delineate specific responsibilities to assure that assessment and management of risk to human
97     health from the environment are properly administered;
98          (2) consult with the Department of Environmental Quality and enter into cooperative
99     agreements, as needed, to ensure efficient use of resources and effective response to potential
100     health and safety threats from the environment, and to prevent gaps in protection from potential
101     risks from the environment to specific individuals or population groups;
102          (3) promote and protect the health and wellness of the people within the state;
103          (4) establish, maintain, and enforce rules necessary or desirable to carry out the
104     provisions and purposes of this title to promote and protect the public health or to prevent
105     disease and illness;
106          (5) investigate and control the causes of epidemic, infectious, communicable, and other
107     diseases affecting the public health;
108          (6) provide for the detection, reporting, prevention, and control of communicable,
109     infectious, acute, chronic, or any other disease or health hazard which the department considers
110     to be dangerous, important, or likely to affect the public health;
111          (7) collect and report information on causes of injury, sickness, death, and disability
112     and the risk factors that contribute to the causes of injury, sickness, death, and disability within
113     the state;
114          (8) collect, prepare, publish, and disseminate information to inform the public
115     concerning the health and wellness of the population, specific hazards, and risks that may affect
116     the health and wellness of the population and specific activities which may promote and protect
117     the health and wellness of the population;

118          (9) establish and operate programs necessary or desirable for the promotion or
119     protection of the public health and the control of disease or which may be necessary to
120     ameliorate the major causes of injury, sickness, death, and disability in the state, except that the
121     programs may not be established if adequate programs exist in the private sector;
122          (10) establish, maintain, and enforce isolation and quarantine, and for this purpose
123     only, exercise physical control over property and individuals as the department finds necessary
124     for the protection of the public health;
125          (11) close theaters, schools, and other public places and forbid gatherings of people
126     when necessary to protect the public health;
127          (12) abate nuisances when necessary to eliminate sources of filth and infectious and
128     communicable diseases affecting the public health;
129          (13) make necessary sanitary and health investigations and inspections in cooperation
130     with local health departments as to any matters affecting the public health;
131          (14) establish laboratory services necessary to support public health programs and
132     medical services in the state;
133          (15) establish and enforce standards for laboratory services which are provided by any
134     laboratory in the state when the purpose of the services is to protect the public health;
135          (16) cooperate with the Labor Commission to conduct studies of occupational health
136     hazards and occupational diseases arising in and out of employment in industry, and make
137     recommendations for elimination or reduction of the hazards;
138          (17) cooperate with the local health departments, the Department of Corrections, the
139     Administrative Office of the Courts, the Division of Juvenile Justice Services, and the Crime
140     Victim Reparations Board to conduct testing for HIV infection of alleged sexual offenders,
141     convicted sexual offenders, and any victims of a sexual offense;
142          (18) investigate the causes of maternal and infant mortality;
143          (19) establish, maintain, and enforce a procedure requiring the blood of adult
144     pedestrians and drivers of motor vehicles killed in highway accidents be examined for the
145     presence and concentration of alcohol;
146          (20) provide the Commissioner of Public Safety with monthly statistics reflecting the
147     results of the examinations provided for in Subsection (19) and provide safeguards so that
148     information derived from the examinations is not used for a purpose other than the compilation

149     of statistics authorized in this Subsection (20);
150          (21) establish qualifications for individuals permitted to draw blood pursuant to
151     Subsection 41-6a-523(1)(a)(vi), 53-10-405(2)(a)(vi), 72-10-502(5)(a)(vi), or
152     77-23-213(3)(a)(vi), and to issue permits to individuals it finds qualified, which permits may
153     be terminated or revoked by the department;
154          (22) establish a uniform public health program throughout the state which includes
155     continuous service, employment of qualified employees, and a basic program of disease
156     control, vital and health statistics, sanitation, public health nursing, and other preventive health
157     programs necessary or desirable for the protection of public health;
158          (23) adopt rules and enforce minimum sanitary standards for the operation and
159     maintenance of:
160          (a) orphanages;
161          (b) boarding homes;
162          (c) summer camps for children;
163          (d) lodging houses;
164          (e) hotels;
165          (f) restaurants and all other places where food is handled for commercial purposes,
166     sold, or served to the public;
167          (g) tourist and trailer camps;
168          (h) service stations;
169          (i) public conveyances and stations;
170          (j) public and private schools;
171          (k) factories;
172          (l) private sanatoria;
173          (m) barber shops;
174          (n) beauty shops;
175          (o) physician offices;
176          (p) dentist offices;
177          (q) workshops;
178          (r) industrial, labor, or construction camps;
179          (s) recreational resorts and camps;

180          (t) swimming pools, public baths, and bathing beaches;
181          (u) state, county, or municipal institutions, including hospitals and other buildings,
182     centers, and places used for public gatherings; and
183          (v) any other facilities in public buildings or on public grounds;
184          (24) conduct health planning for the state;
185          (25) monitor the costs of health care in the state and foster price competition in the
186     health care delivery system;
187          (26) adopt rules for the licensure of health facilities within the state pursuant to Title
188     26, Chapter 21, Health Care Facility Licensing and Inspection Act;
189          (27) license the provision of child care;
190          (28) accept contributions to and administer the funds contained in the Organ Donation
191     Contribution Fund created in Section 26-18b-101;
192          (29) serve as the collecting agent, on behalf of the state, for the nursing care facility
193     assessment fee imposed under Title 26, Chapter 35a, Nursing Care Facility Assessment Act,
194     and adopt rules for the enforcement and administration of the nursing facility assessment
195     consistent with the provisions of Title 26, Chapter 35a, Nursing Care Facility Assessment Act;
196          (30) establish methods or measures for health care providers, public health entities, and
197     health care insurers to coordinate among themselves to verify the identity of the individuals
198     they serve;
199          (31) (a) designate Alzheimer's disease and related dementia as a public health issue
200     and, within budgetary limitations, implement a state plan for Alzheimer's disease and related
201     dementia by incorporating the plan into the department's strategic planning and budgetary
202     process; and
203          (b) coordinate with other state agencies and other organizations to implement the state
204     plan for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia;
205          (32) ensure that any training or certification required of a public official or public
206     employee, as those terms are defined in Section 63G-22-102, complies with Title 63G, Chapter
207     22, State Training and Certification Requirements, if the training or certification is required:
208          (a) under this title;
209          (b) by the department; or
210          (c) by an agency or division within the department; and

211          (33) oversee public education vision screening as described in Section 53G-9-404.
212          Section 3. Section 26-6-2 is amended to read:
213          26-6-2. Definitions.
214          As used in this chapter:
215          (1) "Ambulatory surgical center" is as defined in Section 26-21-2.
216          (2) "Carrier" means an infected individual or animal who harbors a specific infectious
217     agent in the absence of discernible clinical disease and serves as a potential source of infection
218     for man. The carrier state may occur in an individual with an infection that is inapparent
219     throughout its course, commonly known as healthy or asymptomatic carrier, or during the
220     incubation period, convalescence, and postconvalescence of an individual with a clinically
221     recognizable disease, commonly known as incubatory carrier or convalescent carrier. Under
222     either circumstance the carrier state may be of short duration, as a temporary or transient
223     carrier, or long duration, as a chronic carrier.
224          (3) "Communicable disease" means illness due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic
225     products which arises through transmission of that agent or its products from a reservoir to a
226     susceptible host, either directly, as from an infected individual or animal, or indirectly, through
227     an intermediate plant or animal host, vector, or the inanimate environment.
228          (4) "Communicable period" means the time or times during which an infectious agent
229     may be transferred directly or indirectly from an infected individual to another individual, from
230     an infected animal to man, or from an infected man to an animal, including arthropods.
231          (5) "Contact" means an individual or animal having had association with an infected
232     individual, animal, or contaminated environment so as to have had an opportunity to acquire
233     the infection.
234          (6) "End stage renal disease facility" is as defined in Section 26-21-2.
235          (7) "Epidemic" means the occurrence or outbreak in a community or region of cases of
236     an illness clearly in excess of normal expectancy and derived from a common or propagated
237     source. The number of cases indicating an epidemic will vary according to the infectious
238     agent, size, and type of population exposed, previous experience or lack of exposure to the
239     disease, and time and place of occurrence. Epidemicity is considered to be relative to usual
240     frequency of the disease in the same area, among the specified population, at the same season
241     of the year.

242          (8) "General acute hospital" is as defined in Section 26-21-2.
243          (9) "Incubation period" means the time interval between exposure to an infectious
244     agent and appearance of the first sign or symptom of the disease in question.
245          (10) "Infected individual" means an individual who harbors an infectious agent and
246     who has manifest disease or inapparent infection. An infected individual is one from whom the
247     infectious agent can be naturally acquired.
248          (11) "Infection" means the entry and development or multiplication of an infectious
249     agent in the body of man or animals. Infection is not synonymous with infectious disease; the
250     result may be inapparent or manifest. The presence of living infectious agents on exterior
251     surfaces of the body, or upon articles of apparel or soiled articles, is not infection, but
252     contamination of such surfaces and articles.
253          (12) "Infectious agent" means an organism such as a virus, rickettsia, bacteria, fungus,
254     protozoan, or helminth that is capable of producing infection or infectious disease.
255          (13) "Infectious disease" means a disease of man or animals resulting from an
256     infection.
257          (14) "Isolation" means the separation, for the period of communicability, of infected
258     individuals or animals from others, in such places and under such conditions as to prevent the
259     direct or indirect conveyance of the infectious agent from those infected to those who are
260     susceptible or who may spread the agent to others.
261          (15) "Order of constraint" means the same as that term is defined in Section
262     26-23b-102.
263          [(15)] (16) "Quarantine" means the restriction of the activities of well individuals or
264     animals who have been exposed to a communicable disease during its period of
265     communicability to prevent disease transmission.
266          [(16)] (17) "School" means a public, private, or parochial nursery school, licensed or
267     unlicensed day care center, child care facility, family care home, headstart program,
268     kindergarten, elementary, or secondary school through grade 12.
269          [(17)] (18) "Sexually transmitted disease" means those diseases transmitted through
270     sexual intercourse or any other sexual contact.
271          [(18)] (19) "Specialty hospital" is as defined in Section 26-21-2.
272          Section 4. Section 26-6-3 is amended to read:

273          26-6-3. Authority to investigate and control epidemic infections and
274     communicable disease.
275          (1) [The] Subject to Subsection (3) and the restrictions in this title, the department has
276     authority to investigate and control the causes of epidemic infections and communicable
277     disease, and shall provide for the detection, reporting, prevention, and control of communicable
278     diseases and epidemic infections or any other health hazard which may affect the public health.
279          (2) (a) As part of the requirements of Subsection (1), the department shall distribute to
280     the public and to health care professionals:
281          (i) medically accurate information about sexually transmitted diseases that may cause
282     infertility and sterility if left untreated, including descriptions of:
283          (A) the probable side effects resulting from an untreated sexually transmitted disease,
284     including infertility and sterility;
285          (B) medically accepted treatment for sexually transmitted diseases;
286          (C) the medical risks commonly associated with the medical treatment of sexually
287     transmitted diseases; and
288          (D) suggested screening by a private physician or physician assistant; and
289          (ii) information about:
290          (A) public services and agencies available to assist individuals with obtaining
291     treatment for the sexually transmitted disease;
292          (B) medical assistance benefits that may be available to the individual with the
293     sexually transmitted disease; and
294          (C) abstinence before marriage and fidelity after marriage being the surest prevention
295     of sexually transmitted disease.
296          (b) The information required by Subsection (2)(a):
297          (i) shall be distributed by the department and by local health departments free of
298     charge;
299          (ii) shall be relevant to the geographic location in which the information is distributed
300     by:
301          (A) listing addresses and telephone numbers for public clinics and agencies providing
302     services in the geographic area in which the information is distributed; and
303          (B) providing the information in English as well as other languages that may be

304     appropriate for the geographic area.
305          (c) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c)(ii), the department shall develop written
306     material that includes the information required by this Subsection (2).
307          (ii) In addition to the written materials required by Subsection (2)(c)(i), the department
308     may distribute the information required by this Subsection (2) by any other methods the
309     department determines is appropriate to educate the public, excluding public schools, including
310     websites, toll free telephone numbers, and the media.
311          (iii) If the information required by Subsection (2)(b)(ii)(A) is not included in the
312     written pamphlet developed by the department, the written material shall include either a
313     website, or a 24-hour toll free telephone number that the public may use to obtain that
314     information.
315          (3) (a) The Legislature may at any time terminate by joint resolution an order of
316     constraint issued by the department as described in this section in response to a declared public
317     health emergency.
318          (b) A county governing body may at any time terminate by majority vote an order of
319     constraint issued by the relevant local health department as described in this section in response
320     to a declared public health emergency.
321          Section 5. Section 26-6b-3 is amended to read:
322          26-6b-3. Order of restriction.
323          (1) [The] Subject to Subsection (5), the department having jurisdiction over the
324     location where an individual or a group of individuals who are subject to restriction are found
325     may:
326          (a) issue a written order of restriction for the individual or group of individuals
327     pursuant to Section 26-1-30 or Subsection 26A-1-114(1)(b) upon compliance with the
328     requirements of this chapter; and
329          (b) issue a verbal order of restriction for an individual or group of individuals pursuant
330     to Subsection (2)(c).
331          (2) (a) A department's determination to issue an order of restriction shall be based upon
332     the totality of circumstances reported to and known by the department, including:
333          (i) observation;
334          (ii) information that the department determines is credible and reliable information;

335     and
336          (iii) knowledge of current public health risks based on medically accepted guidelines as
337     may be established by the Department of Health by administrative rule.
338          (b) An order of restriction issued by a department shall:
339          (i) in the opinion of the public health official, be for the shortest reasonable period of
340     time necessary to protect the public health;
341          (ii) use the least intrusive method of restriction that, in the opinion of the department,
342     is reasonable based on the totality of circumstances known to the health department issuing the
343     order of restriction;
344          (iii) be in writing unless the provisions of Subsection (2)(c) apply; and
345          (iv) contain notice of an individual's rights as required in Section 26-6b-3.3.
346          (c) (i) A department may issue a verbal order of restriction, without prior notice to the
347     individual or group of individuals if the delay in imposing a written order of restriction would
348     significantly jeopardize the department's ability to prevent or limit:
349          (A) the transmission of a communicable or possibly communicable disease that poses a
350     threat to public health;
351          (B) the transmission of an infectious agent or possibly infectious agent that poses a
352     threat to public health;
353          (C) the exposure or possible exposure of a chemical or biological agent that poses a
354     threat to public health; or
355          (D) the exposure or transmission of a condition that poses a threat to public health.
356          (ii) A verbal order of restriction issued under the provisions of Subsection (2)(c)(i):
357          (A) is valid for 24 hours from the time the order of restriction is issued;
358          (B) may be verbally communicated to the individuals or group of individuals subject to
359     restriction by a first responder;
360          (C) may be enforced by the first responder until the department is able to establish and
361     maintain the place of restriction; and
362          (D) may only be continued beyond the initial 24 hours if a written order of restriction is
363     issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 26-6b-3.3.
364          (3) Pending issuance of a written order of restriction under Section 26-6b-3.3, or
365     judicial review of an order of restriction by the district court pursuant to Section 26-6b-6, an

366     individual who is subject to the order of restriction may be required to submit to involuntary
367     examination, quarantine, isolation, or treatment in the individual's home, a hospital, or any
368     other suitable facility under reasonable conditions prescribed by the department.
369          (4) The department that issued the order of restriction shall take reasonable measures,
370     including the provision of medical care, as may be necessary to assure proper care related to the
371     reason for the involuntary examination, treatment, isolation, or quarantine of an individual
372     ordered to submit to an order of restriction.
373          (5) (a) The Legislature may at any time terminate by joint resolution an order of
374     restriction issued by the department as described in this section in response to a declared public
375     health emergency.
376          (b) A county governing body may at any time terminate by majority vote an order of
377     restriction issued by the relevant local health department as described in this section issued in
378     response to a declared public health emergency.
379          Section 6. Section 26-23-6 is amended to read:
380          26-23-6. Criminal and civil penalties and liability for violations.
381          (1) (a) Any person, association, or corporation, or the officers of any of them, who
382     violates any provision of this chapter or lawful orders of the department or a local health
383     department in a criminal proceeding is guilty of a class B misdemeanor for the first violation,
384     and for any subsequent similar violation within two years, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor,
385     except this section does not establish the criminal penalty for violation of Section 26-23-5.5.
386          (b) Conviction in a criminal proceeding does not preclude the department or a local
387     health department from assessment of any civil penalty, administrative civil money penalty or
388     to deny, revoke, condition, or refuse to renew a permit, license, or certificate or to seek other
389     injunctive or equitable remedies.
390          [(2) Any person, association, or corporation, or the officers of any of them, who
391     violates any provision of this title or lawful orders of the department or a local health
392     department, or rules adopted under this title by the department:]
393          [(a) shall be assessed, in a judicial civil proceeding, a penalty not to exceed the sum of
394     $10,000 per violation; or]
395          [(b) in an administrative action in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative
396     Procedures Act, or similar procedures adopted by local or county government, a penalty not to

397     exceed the sum of $10,000 per violation.]
398          (2) (a) Subject to Subsections (2)(c) and (d), any association, or corporation, or the
399     officers of any of them, who violate any provision of this title or lawful orders of the
400     department or a local health department, or rules adopted under this title by the department:
401          (i) may be assessed, in a judicial civil proceeding, a penalty not to exceed the sum of
402     $5,000 per violation; or
403          (ii) may be assessed, in an administrative action in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter
404     4, Administrative Procedures Act, or similar procedures adopted by local or county
405     government, a penalty not to exceed the sum of $5,000 per violation.
406          (b) Subject to Subsections (2)(c) and (d), an individual who violates any provision of
407     this title or lawful orders of the department or a local health department, or rules adopted under
408     this title by the department:
409          (i) may be assessed, in a judicial civil proceeding, a penalty not to exceed the sum of
410     $150 per violation; or
411          (ii) may be assessed, in an administrative action in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter
412     4, Administrative Procedures Act, or similar procedures adopted by local or county
413     government, a penalty not to exceed the sum of $150 per violation.
414          (c) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c)(ii), a penalty described in Subsection
415     (2)(a) or (b) may only be assessed against the same individual, association, or corporation one
416     time in a calendar week.
417          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(c)(i), an individual, an association, a corporation,
418     or the officers of any of them, that willfully disregard or recklessly violate a provision of this
419     title or lawful orders of the department or a local health department, or rules adopted under this
420     title by the department, may be assessed a penalty as described in Subsection (2)(a) for each
421     day of violation if it is determined that the violation is likely to result in a serious threat to
422     public health.
423          (d) Upon reasonable cause shown in judicial civil proceeding or an administrative
424     action, a penalty imposed under this Subsection (2) may be waived or reduced.
425          (3) Assessment of any civil penalty or administrative penalty does not preclude the
426     department or a local health department from seeking criminal penalties or to deny, revoke,
427     impose conditions on, or refuse to renew a permit, license, or certificate or to seek other

428     injunctive or equitable remedies.
429          (4) In addition to any penalties imposed under Subsection (1), the person, association,
430     or corporation, or the officers of any of them is liable for any expense incurred by the
431     department in removing or abating any health or sanitation violations, including any nuisance,
432     source of filth, cause of sickness, or dead animal.
433          [(5) Each day of violation of a provision of this title, lawful orders of the department or
434     a local health department, or rules adopted by the department under it is a separate violation.]
435          Section 7. Section 26-23b-102 is amended to read:
436          26-23b-102. Definitions.
437          As used in this chapter:
438          (1) "Bioterrorism" means:
439          (a) the intentional use of any microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological
440     product to cause death, disease, or other biological malfunction in a human, an animal, a plant,
441     or another living organism in order to influence, intimidate, or coerce the conduct of
442     government or a civilian population; and
443          (b) includes anthrax, botulism, small pox, plague, tularemia, and viral hemorrhagic
444     fevers.
445          (2) "Department" means the Department of Health created in Section 26-1-4 and a
446     local health department as defined in Section 26A-1-102.
447          (3) "Diagnostic information" means a clinical facility's record of individuals who
448     present for treatment, including the reason for the visit, chief complaint, presenting diagnosis,
449     final diagnosis, and any pertinent lab results.
450          (4) "Epidemic or pandemic disease":
451          (a) means the occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness clearly in
452     excess of normal expectancy; and
453          (b) includes diseases designated by the Department of Health which have the potential
454     to cause serious illness or death.
455          (5) "Exigent circumstances" means a significant change in circumstances following the
456     expiration of a public health emergency declared in accordance with this title that:
457          (a) substantially increases the threat to public safety or health relative to the
458     circumstances in existence when the public health emergency expired;

459          (b) poses an imminent threat to public safety or health; and
460          (c) was not known or foreseen and could not have been known or foreseen at the time
461     the public health emergency expired.
462          [(5)] (6) "Health care provider" [shall have the meaning provided for] means the same
463     as that term is defined in Section 78B-3-403.
464          (7) "Legislative emergency response committee" means the same as that term is
465     defined in Section 53-2a-203.
466          (8) (a) "Order of constraint" means an order, rule, or regulation issued in response to a
467     declared public health emergency under this chapter, that:
468          (i) applies to all or substantially all:
469          (A) individuals or a certain group of individuals; or
470          (B) public places or a certain types of public places; and
471          (ii) for the protection of the public health and in response to the declared public health
472     emergency:
473          (A) establishes, maintains, or enforces isolation or quarantine;
474          (B) establishes, maintains, or enforces a stay-at-home order;
475          (C) exercises physical control over property or individuals;
476          (D) requires an individual to perform a certain action or engage in certain behavior; or
477          (E) closes theaters, schools, or other public places or prohibits gatherings of people to
478     protect the public health.
479          (b) "Order of constraint" includes a stay-at-home order.
480          [(6)] (9) "Public health emergency" means an occurrence or imminent credible threat of
481     an illness or health condition, caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or novel
482     and highly fatal infectious agent or biological toxin, that poses a substantial risk of a significant
483     number of human fatalities or incidents of permanent or long-term disability. Such illness or
484     health condition includes an illness or health condition resulting from a natural disaster.
485          [(7)] (10) "Reportable emergency illness and health condition" includes the diseases,
486     conditions, or syndromes designated by the [Utah] Department of Health.
487          (11) "Stay-at-home order" means an order of constraint that:
488          (a) restricts movement of the general population to suppress or mitigate an epidemic or
489     pandemic disease by directing individuals within a defined geographic area to remain in their

490     respective residences; and
491          (b) may include exceptions for certain essential tasks.
492          Section 8. Section 26-23b-104 is amended to read:
493          26-23b-104. Authorization to report.
494          (1) A health care provider is authorized to report to the department any case of a
495     reportable emergency illness or health condition in any person when:
496          (a) the health care provider knows of a confirmed case; or
497          (b) the health care provider believes, based on the health care provider's professional
498     judgment that a person likely harbors a reportable emergency illness or health condition.
499          (2) A report pursuant to this section shall include, if known:
500          (a) the name of the facility submitting the report;
501          (b) a patient identifier that allows linkage with the patient's record for follow-up
502     investigation if needed;
503          (c) the date and time of visit;
504          (d) the patient's age and sex;
505          (e) the zip code of the patient's residence;
506          (f) the reportable illness or condition detected or suspected;
507          (g) diagnostic information and, if available, diagnostic codes assigned to the visit; and
508          (h) whether the patient was admitted to the hospital.
509          (3) (a) [If] Subject to Subsections (3)(b) and (4), if the department determines that a
510     public health emergency exists, the department may, with the concurrence of the governor and
511     the executive director or in the absence of the executive director, the executive director's
512     designee, [issue] declare a public health emergency [order], issue an order of constraint, and
513     mandate reporting under this section for a limited reasonable period of time, as necessary to
514     respond to the public health emergency.
515          (b) (i) During a public health emergency that has been in effect for more than 30 days,
516     the department may not issue an order of constraint until the department has provided notice of
517     the proposed action to the legislative emergency response committee no later than 24 hours
518     before the department issues the order of constraint.
519          (ii) The department:
520          (A) shall provide the notice required by Subsection (3)(b)(i) using the best available

521     method under the circumstances as determined by the executive director;
522          (B) may provide the notice required by Subsection (3)(b)(i) in electronic format; and
523          (C) shall provide the notice in written form, if practicable.
524          [(b)] (c) The department may not mandate reporting under this subsection for more
525     than 90 days. [If more than 90 days is needed to abate the public health emergency declared
526     under Subsection (3)(a), the department shall obtain the concurrence of the governor to extend
527     the period of time beyond 90 days.]
528          (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), a public health emergency declared by
529     the department as described in Subsection (3) expires at the earliest of:
530          (i) the day on which the department or the governor finds that the threat or danger has
531     passed or the public health emergency reduced to the extent that emergency conditions no
532     longer exist;
533          (ii) 30 days after the date on which the department declared the public health
534     emergency; or
535          (iii) the day on which the public health emergency is terminated by a joint resolution of
536     the Legislature.
537          (b) (i) The Legislature, by joint resolution, may extend a public health emergency for a
538     time period designated in the joint resolution.
539          (ii) If the Legislature extends a public health emergency as described in Subsection
540     (4)(b)(i), the public health emergency expires on the date designated by the Legislature.
541          (c) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(d), if a public health emergency declared by
542     the department expires as described in Subsection (4)(a) or (b), the department may not declare
543     a public health emergency for the same illness or occurrence that precipitated the previous
544     public health emergency declaration.
545          (d) (i) Notwithstanding Subsection (4)(c), subject to Subsection (4)(e), if the
546     department finds that exigent circumstances exist, after providing notice to the Legislature, the
547     department may declare a new public health emergency for the same illness or occurrence that
548     precipitated a previous public health emergency declaration.
549          (ii) A public health emergency declared as described in Subsection (4)(d)(i) expires in
550     accordance with Subsection (4)(a) or (b).
551          (e) If the Legislature terminates a public health emergency declared due to exigent

552     circumstances as described in Subsection (4)(d)(i), the department may not declare a new
553     public health emergency for the same illness, occurrence, or exigent circumstances.
554          (5) During a declared public health emergency declared under this title:
555          (a) the Legislature may:
556          (i) at any time by joint resolution terminate an order of constraint issued by the
557     department; or
558          (ii) by joint resolution terminate Ĥ→ an order of constraint issued by ←Ĥ a local health
558a     department in response to a public
559     health emergency that has been in effect for more than 30 days; and
560          (b) a county legislative body may at any time terminate an order of constraint issued by
561     a local health department in response to a declared public health emergency.
562          (6) (a) (i) If the department declares a public health emergency as described in this
563     chapter, and the department finds that the public health emergency conditions warrant an
564     extension of the public health emergency beyond the 30-day term or another date designated by
565     the Legislature as described in this section, the department shall provide written notice to the
566     speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate at least 10 days before
567     the expiration of the public health emergency.
568          (ii) If a local health department declares a public health emergency as described in this
569     chapter, and the local health department finds that the public health emergency conditions
570     warrant an extension of the public health emergency beyond the 30-day term or another date
571     designated by the county governing body as described in this section, the local health
572     department shall provide written notice to the county governing body at least 10 days before
573     the expiration of the public health emergency.
574          (b) If the department provides notice as described in Subsection (6)(a)(i) for a public
575     health emergency within the first 30 days from the initial declaration of the public health
576     emergency, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate:
577          (i) shall poll the members of their respective bodies to determine whether the
578     Legislature will extend the public health emergency; and
579          (ii) may jointly convene the committee created in Section 53-2a-218.
580          (c) If the department provides notice as described in Subsection (6)(a)(i) for a public
581     health emergency that has been extended beyond the 30 days from the initial declaration of the
582     public health emergency, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the

583     Senate shall jointly convene the committee created in Section 53-2a-218.
584          (7) If the committee created in Section 53-2a-218 is convened as described in
585     Subsection (6), the committee shall conduct a public meeting to:
586          (a) discuss the nature of the public health emergency and conditions of the public
587     health emergency;
588          (b) evaluate options for public health emergency response;
589          (c) receive testimony from individuals with expertise relevant to the current public
590     health emergency;
591          (d) receive testimony from members of the public; and
592          (e) provide a recommendation to the Legislature whether to extend the public health
593     emergency by joint resolution.
594          (8) (a) During a public health emergency declared as described in this title:
595          (i) the department or a local health department may not impose an order of constraint
596     on a religious gathering that is more restrictive than an order of constraint that applies to any
597     other Ĥ→ [
public] relevantly similar ←Ĥ gathering; and
598          (ii) an individual, while acting or purporting to act within the course and scope of the
599     individual's official department or local health department capacity, may not:
600          (A) prevent a religious gathering that is held in a manner consistent with any order of
601     constraint issued pursuant to this title; or
602          (B) impose a penalty for a previous religious gathering that was held in a manner
603     consistent with any order of constraint issued pursuant to this title.
604          (b) Upon proper grounds, a court of competent jurisdiction may grant an injunction to
605     prevent the violation of this Subsection (8).
605a          Ĥ→ (c) During a public health emergency declared as described in this title, the
605b     department or a local health department shall not issue a public health order or impose or
605c     implement a regulation that substantially burdens an individual's exercise of religion unless
605d     the department or local health department demonstrates that the application of the burden to
605e     the individual:
605f          (i) is in furtherance of a compelling government interest; and
605g          (ii) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest.
605h          (d) Notwithstanding Subsections (8)(a) and (c), the department or a local health
605i     department shall allow reasonable accommodations for an individual to perform or participate
605j     in a religious practice or rite. ←Ĥ
606          [(4)] (9) (a) Unless the provisions of Subsection (3) apply, a health care provider is not☆
607     ☆subject to penalties for failing to submit a report under this section.
608          (b) If the provisions of Subsection (3) apply, a health care provider is subject to the
609     penalties of Subsection 26-23b-103(3) for failure to make a report under this section.
610          Section 9. Section 26-23b-108 is amended to read:
611          26-23b-108. Investigation of suspected bioterrorism and diseases.
612          (1) [The] Subject to Subsection (6), the department shall:
613          (a) ascertain the existence of cases of an illness or condition caused by the factors

614     described in Subsections 26-23b-103(1) and 26-23b-104(1);
615          (b) investigate all such cases for sources of infection or exposure;
616          (c) ensure that any cases, suspected cases, and exposed persons are subject to proper
617     control measures; and
618          (d) define the distribution of the suspected illness or health condition.
619          (2) (a) Acting on information received from the reports required by this chapter, or
620     other reliable information, the department shall identify all individuals thought to have been
621     exposed to an illness or condition described in Subsection 26-23b-103(1).
622          (b) The department may request information from a health care provider concerning an
623     individual's identifying information as described in Subsection 26-23b-103(2)(b) when:
624          (i) the department is investigating a potential illness or condition described in
625     Subsection 26-23b-103(1) and the health care provider has not submitted a report to the
626     department with the information requested; or
627          (ii) the department has received a report from a pharmacist under Section 26-23b-105,
628     a medical laboratory under Section 26-23b-106, or another health care provider under
629     Subsection 26-23b-104(1) and the department believes that further investigation is necessary to
630     protect the public health.
631          (c) A health care provider shall submit the information requested under this section to
632     the department within 24 hours after receiving a request from the department.
633          (3) The department shall counsel and interview identified individuals as appropriate to:
634          (a) assist in the positive identification of other cases and exposed individuals;
635          (b) develop information relating to the source and spread of the illness or condition;
636     and
637          (c) obtain the names, addresses, phone numbers, or other identifying information of
638     any other person from whom the illness or health condition may have been contracted and to
639     whom the illness or condition may have spread.
640          (4) The department shall, for examination purposes, close, evacuate, or decontaminate
641     any facility when the department reasonably believes that such facility or material may
642     endanger the public health due to a condition or illness described in Subsection 26-23b-103(1).
643          (5) The department will destroy personally identifying health information about an
644     individual collected by the department as a result of a report under this chapter upon the earlier

645     of:
646          (a) the department's determination that the information is no longer necessary to carry
647     out an investigation under this chapter; or
648          (b) 180 days after the information is collected.
649          (6) (a) The Legislature may at any time terminate by joint resolution an order of
650     constraint issued by the department in response to a declared public health emergency.
651          (b) A county governing body may at any time terminate by majority vote an order of
652     constraint issued by the relevant local health department in response to a declared public health
653     emergency.
654          Section 10. Section 26A-1-102 is amended to read:
655          26A-1-102. Definitions.
656          As used in this part:
657          (1) "Board" means a local board of health established under Section 26A-1-109.
658          (2) "County governing body" means one of the types of county government provided
659     for in Title 17, Chapter 52a, Part 2, Forms of County Government.
660          (3) "County health department" means a local health department that serves a county
661     and municipalities located within that county.
662          (4) "Department" means the Department of Health created in Title 26, Chapter 1,
663     Department of Health Organization.
664          (5) "Local health department" means:
665          (a) a single county local health department;
666          (b) a multicounty local health department;
667          (c) a united local health department; or
668          (d) a multicounty united local health department.
669          (6) "Mental health authority" means a local mental health authority created in Section
670     17-43-301.
671          (7) "Multicounty local health department" means a local health department that is
672     formed under Section 26A-1-105 and that serves two or more contiguous counties and
673     municipalities within those counties.
674          (8) "Multicounty united local health department" means a united local health
675     department that is formed under Section 26A-1-105.5 and that serves two or more contiguous

676     counties and municipalities within those counties.
677          (9) (a) "Order of constraint" means an order, rule, or regulation issued by a local health
678     department in response to a declared public health emergency under this chapter that:
679          (i) applies to all or substantially all:
680          (A) individuals or a certain group of individuals; or
681          (B) public places or a certain types of public places; and
682          (ii) for the protection of the public health and in response to the declared public health
683     emergency:
684          (A) establishes, maintains, or enforces isolation or quarantine;
685          (B) establishes, maintains, or enforces a stay-at-home order;
686          (C) exercises physical control over property or individuals;
687          (D) requires an individual to perform a certain action or engage in a certain behavior;
688     or
689          (E) closes theaters, schools, or other public places or prohibits gatherings of people to
690     protect the public health.
691          (b) "Order of constraint" includes a stay-at-home order.
692          (10) "Public health emergency" means the same as that term is defined in Section
693     26-23b-102.
694          [(9)] (11) "Single county local health department" means a local health department that
695     is created by the governing body of one county to provide services to the county and the
696     municipalities within that county.
697          (12) "Stay-at-home order" means an order of constraint that:
698          (a) restricts movement of the general population to suppress or mitigate an epidemic or
699     pandemic disease by directing individuals within a defined geographic area to remain in their
700     respective residences; and
701          (b) may include exceptions for certain essential tasks.
702          [(10)] (13) "Substance abuse authority" means a local substance abuse authority
703     created in Section 17-43-201.
704          [(11)] (14) "United local health department":
705          (a) means a substance abuse authority, a mental health authority, and a local health
706     department that join together under Section 26A-1-105.5; and

707          (b) includes a multicounty united local health department.
708          Section 11. Section 26A-1-114 is amended to read:
709          26A-1-114. Powers and duties of departments.
710          (1) [A] Subject to Subsections (7) and (8), a local health department may:
711          (a) subject to the provisions in Section 26A-1-108, enforce state laws, local ordinances,
712     department rules, and local health department standards and regulations relating to public
713     health and sanitation, including the plumbing code administered by the Division of
714     Occupational and Professional Licensing under Title 15A, Chapter 1, Part 2, State Construction
715     Code Administration Act, and under Title 26, Chapter 15a, Food Safety Manager Certification
716     Act, in all incorporated and unincorporated areas served by the local health department;
717          (b) establish, maintain, and enforce isolation and quarantine, and exercise physical
718     control over property and over individuals as the local health department finds necessary for
719     the protection of the public health;
720          (c) establish and maintain medical, environmental, occupational, and other laboratory
721     services considered necessary or proper for the protection of the public health;
722          (d) establish and operate reasonable health programs or measures not in conflict with
723     state law which:
724          (i) are necessary or desirable for the promotion or protection of the public health and
725     the control of disease; or
726          (ii) may be necessary to ameliorate the major risk factors associated with the major
727     causes of injury, sickness, death, and disability in the state;
728          (e) close theaters, schools, and other public places and prohibit gatherings of people
729     when necessary to protect the public health;
730          (f) abate nuisances or eliminate sources of filth and infectious and communicable
731     diseases affecting the public health and bill the owner or other person in charge of the premises
732     upon which this nuisance occurs for the cost of abatement;
733          (g) make necessary sanitary and health investigations and inspections on its own
734     initiative or in cooperation with the Department of Health or Environmental Quality, or both,
735     as to any matters affecting the public health;
736          (h) pursuant to county ordinance or interlocal agreement:
737          (i) establish and collect appropriate fees for the performance of services and operation

738     of authorized or required programs and duties;
739          (ii) accept, use, and administer all federal, state, or private donations or grants of funds,
740     property, services, or materials for public health purposes; and
741          (iii) make agreements not in conflict with state law which are conditional to receiving a
742     donation or grant;
743          (i) prepare, publish, and disseminate information necessary to inform and advise the
744     public concerning:
745          (i) the health and wellness of the population, specific hazards, and risk factors that may
746     adversely affect the health and wellness of the population; and
747          (ii) specific activities individuals and institutions can engage in to promote and protect
748     the health and wellness of the population;
749          (j) investigate the causes of morbidity and mortality;
750          (k) issue notices and orders necessary to carry out this part;
751          (l) conduct studies to identify injury problems, establish injury control systems,
752     develop standards for the correction and prevention of future occurrences, and provide public
753     information and instruction to special high risk groups;
754          (m) cooperate with boards created under Section 19-1-106 to enforce laws and rules
755     within the jurisdiction of the boards;
756          (n) cooperate with the state health department, the Department of Corrections, the
757     Administrative Office of the Courts, the Division of Juvenile Justice Services, and the Crime
758     Victim Reparations Board to conduct testing for HIV infection of alleged sexual offenders,
759     convicted sexual offenders, and any victims of a sexual offense;
760          (o) investigate suspected bioterrorism and disease pursuant to Section 26-23b-108; and
761          (p) provide public health assistance in response to a national, state, or local emergency,
762     a public health emergency as defined in Section 26-23b-102, or a declaration by the President
763     of the United States or other federal official requesting public health-related activities.
764          (2) The local health department shall:
765          (a) establish programs or measures to promote and protect the health and general
766     wellness of the people within the boundaries of the local health department;
767          (b) investigate infectious and other diseases of public health importance and implement
768     measures to control the causes of epidemic and communicable diseases and other conditions

769     significantly affecting the public health which may include involuntary testing of alleged sexual
770     offenders for the HIV infection pursuant to Section 76-5-502 and voluntary testing of victims
771     of sexual offenses for HIV infection pursuant to Section 76-5-503;
772          (c) cooperate with the department in matters pertaining to the public health and in the
773     administration of state health laws; and
774          (d) coordinate implementation of environmental programs to maximize efficient use of
775     resources by developing with the Department of Environmental Quality a Comprehensive
776     Environmental Service Delivery Plan which:
777          (i) recognizes that the Department of Environmental Quality and local health
778     departments are the foundation for providing environmental health programs in the state;
779          (ii) delineates the responsibilities of the department and each local health department
780     for the efficient delivery of environmental programs using federal, state, and local authorities,
781     responsibilities, and resources;
782          (iii) provides for the delegation of authority and pass through of funding to local health
783     departments for environmental programs, to the extent allowed by applicable law, identified in
784     the plan, and requested by the local health department; and
785          (iv) is reviewed and updated annually.
786          (3) The local health department has the following duties regarding public and private
787     schools within its boundaries:
788          (a) enforce all ordinances, standards, and regulations pertaining to the public health of
789     persons attending public and private schools;
790          (b) exclude from school attendance any person, including teachers, who is suffering
791     from any communicable or infectious disease, whether acute or chronic, if the person is likely
792     to convey the disease to those in attendance; and
793          (c) (i) make regular inspections of the health-related condition of all school buildings
794     and premises;
795          (ii) report the inspections on forms furnished by the department to those responsible for
796     the condition and provide instructions for correction of any conditions that impair or endanger
797     the health or life of those attending the schools; and
798          (iii) provide a copy of the report to the department at the time the report is made.
799          (4) If those responsible for the health-related condition of the school buildings and

800     premises do not carry out any instructions for corrections provided in a report in Subsection
801     (3)(c), the local health board shall cause the conditions to be corrected at the expense of the
802     persons responsible.
803          (5) The local health department may exercise incidental authority as necessary to carry
804     out the provisions and purposes of this part.
805          (6) Nothing in this part may be construed to authorize a local health department to
806     enforce an ordinance, rule, or regulation requiring the installation or maintenance of a carbon
807     monoxide detector in a residential dwelling against anyone other than the occupant of the
808     dwelling.
809          (7) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (7)(c), a local health department may not
810     declare a public health emergency or issue an order of constraint until the local health
811     department has provided notice of the proposed action to the chief executive officer of the
812     relevant county no later than 24 hours before the local health department issues the order or
813     declaration.
814          (b) The local health department:
815          (i) shall provide the notice required by Subsection (7)(a) using the best available
816     method under the circumstances as determined by the local health department;
817          (ii) may provide the notice required by Subsection (7)(a) in electronic format; and
818          (iii) shall provide the notice in written form, if practicable.
819          (c) (i) Notwithstanding Subsection (7)(a), a local health department may declare a
820     public health emergency or issue an order of constraint without approval of the chief executive
821     officer of the relevant county if the passage of time necessary to obtain approval of the chief
822     executive officer of the relevant county as required in Subsection (7)(a) would substantially
823     increase the likelihood of loss of life due to an imminent threat.
824          (ii) If a local health department declares a public health emergency or issues an order
825     of constraint as described in Subsection (7)(c), the local health department shall notify the chief
826     executive officer of the relevant county before issuing the order of constraint.
827          (iii) The chief executive officer of the relevant county may terminate a declaration of a
828     public health emergency or an order of constraint issued as described in Subsection (7)(c)(i)
829     within 72 hours of declaration of the public health emergency or issuance of the order of
830     constraint.

831          (d) The relevant county governing body may at any time terminate a public health
832     emergency or an order of constraint issued by the local health department by majority vote of
833     the county governing body in response to a declared public health emergency.
834          (8) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (8)(b), a public health emergency declared by
835     a local health department expires at the earliest of:
836          (i) the local health department or the chief executive officer of the relevant county
837     finding that the threat or danger has passed or the public health emergency reduced to the
838     extent that emergency conditions no longer exist;
839          (ii) 30 days after the date on which the local health department declared the public
840     health emergency; or
841          (iii) the day on which the public health emergency is terminated by majority vote of the
842     county governing body.
843          (b) (i) The relevant county legislative body, by majority vote, may extend a public
844     health emergency for a time period designated by the county legislative body.
845          (ii) If the county legislative body extends a public health emergency as described in
846     Subsection (8)(b)(i), the public health emergency expires on the date designated by the county
847     legislative body.
848          (c) Except as provided in Subsection (8)(d), if a public health emergency declared by a
849     local health department expires as described in Subsection (8)(a), the local health department
850     may not declare a public health emergency for the same illness or occurrence that precipitated
851     the previous public health emergency declaration.
852          (d) (i) Notwithstanding Subsection (8)(c), subject to Subsection (8)(f), if the local
853     health department finds that exigent circumstances exist, after providing notice to the county
854     legislative body, the department may declare a new public health emergency for the same
855     illness or occurrence that precipitated a previous public health emergency declaration.
856          (ii) A public health emergency declared as described in Subsection (8)(d)(i) expires in
857     accordance with Subsection (8)(a) or (b).
858          (e) For a public health emergency declared by a local health department under this
859     chapter or under Title 26, Chapter 23b, Detection of Public Health Emergencies Act, the
860     Legislature may terminate by joint resolution a public health emergency that was declared
861     based on exigent circumstances or that has been in effect for more than 30 days.

862          (f) If the Legislature or county legislative body terminates a public health emergency
863     declared due to exigent circumstances as described in Subsection (8)(d)(i), the local health
864     department may not declare a new public health emergency for the same illness, occurrence, or
865     exigent circumstances.
866          (9) (a) During a public health emergency declared under this chapter or under Title 26,
867     Chapter 23b, Detection of Public Health Emergencies Act:
868          (i) except as provided in Subsection (9)(b), a local health department may not issue an
869     order of constraint without approval of the chief executive officer of the relevant county;
870          (ii) the Legislature may at any time terminate by joint resolution an order of constraint
871     issued by a local health department in response to a declared public health emergency that has
872     been in effect for more than 30 days; and
873          (iii) a county governing body may at any time terminate by majority vote of the
874     governing body an order of constraint issued by a local health department in response to a
875     declared public health emergency.
876          (b) (i) Notwithstanding Subsection (9)(a)(i), a local health department may issue an
877     order of constraint without approval of the chief executive officer of the relevant county if the
878     passage of time necessary to obtain approval of the chief executive officer of the relevant
879     county as required in Subsection (9)(a)(i) would substantially increase the likelihood of loss of
880     life due to an imminent threat.
881          (ii) If a local health department issues an order of constraint as described in Subsection
882     (9)(b), the local health department shall notify the chief executive officer of the relevant county
883     before issuing the order of constraint.
884          (iii) The chief executive officer of the relevant county may terminate an order of
885     constraint issued as described in Subsection (9)(b) within 72 hours of issuance of the order of
886     constraint.
887          (c) (i) For a local health department that serves more than one county, the approval
888     described in Subsection (9)(a)(i) is required for the chief executive officer for which the order
889     of constraint is applicable.
890          (ii) For a local health department that serves more than one county, a county governing
891     body may only terminate an order of constraint as described in Subsection (9)(a)(iii) for the
892     county served by the county governing body.

893          (10) (a) During a public health emergency declared as described in this title:
894          (i) the department or a local health department may not impose an order of constraint
895     on a religious gathering that is more restrictive than an order of constraint that applies to any
896     other Ĥ→ [
public] relevantly similar ←Ĥ gathering; and
897          (ii) an individual, while acting or purporting to act within the course and scope of the
898     individual's official department or local health department capacity, may not:
899          (A) prevent a religious gathering that is held in a manner consistent with any order of
900     constraint issued pursuant to this title; or
901          (B) impose a penalty for a previous religious gathering that was held in a manner
902     consistent with any order of constraint issued pursuant to this title.
903          (b) Upon proper grounds, a court of competent jurisdiction may grant an injunction to
904     prevent the violation of this Subsection (10).
904a          Ĥ→ (c) During a public health emergency declared as described in this title, the
904b     department or a local health department shall not issue a public health order or impose or
904c     implement a regulation that substantially burdens an individual's exercise of religion unless
904d     the department or local health department demonstrates that the application of the burden to
904e     the individual:
904f          (i) is in furtherance of a compelling government interest; and
904g          (ii) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest.
904h          (d) Notwithstanding Subsections (8)(a) and (c), the department or a local health
904i     department shall allow reasonable accommodations for an individual to perform or participate
904j     in a religious practice or rite. ←Ĥ
905          Section 12. Section 26A-1-121 is amended to read:
906          26A-1-121. Standards and regulations adopted by local board -- Local standards
907     not more stringent than federal or state standards -- Exceptions for written findings --
908     Administrative and judicial review of actions.
909          (1) (a) [The] Subject to Subsection (1)(g), the board may make standards and
910     regulations:
911          (i) not in conflict with rules of the Departments of Health and Environmental Quality;
912     and
913          (ii) necessary for the promotion of public health, environmental health quality, injury
914     control, and the prevention of outbreaks and spread of communicable and infectious diseases.
915          (b) The standards and regulations under Subsection (1)(a):
916          (i) supersede existing local standards, regulations, and ordinances pertaining to similar☆
917     ☆subject matter; and
918          (ii) except as provided under Subsection (1)(c) and except where specifically allowed
919     by federal law or state statute, may not be more stringent than those established by federal law,
920     state statute, or administrative rules adopted by the [Utah] Department of Health in accordance
921     with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
922          (c) (i) The board may make standards and regulations more stringent than
923     corresponding federal law, state statute, or state administrative rules for the purposes described

924     in Subsection (1)(a), only if the board makes a written finding after public comment and
925     hearing and based on evidence in the record, that corresponding federal laws, state statutes, or
926     state administrative rules are not adequate to protect public health and the environment of the
927     state.
928          (ii) The findings shall address the public health information and studies contained in
929     the record, which form the basis for the board's conclusion.
930          (d) The board shall provide public hearings prior to the adoption of any regulation or
931     standard. Notice of any public hearing shall be published at least twice throughout the county
932     or counties served by the local health department. The publication may be in one or more
933     newspapers, if the notice is provided in accordance with this Subsection (1)(d).
934          (e) The hearings may be conducted by the board at a regular or special meeting, or the
935     board may appoint hearing officers who may conduct hearings in the name of the board at a
936     designated time and place.
937          (f) A record or summary of the proceedings of a hearing shall be taken and filed with
938     the board.
939          (g) (i) During a declared public health emergency declared under this chapter or under
940     Title 26, Chapter 23b, Detection of Public Health Emergencies Act:
941          (A) except as provided in Subsection (1)(h), a local health department may not issue an
942     order of constraint without approval of the chief executive officer of the relevant county;
943          (B) the Legislature may at any time terminate by joint resolution an order of constraint
944     issued by a local health department in response to a declared public health emergency that has
945     been in effect for more than 30 days; and
946          (C) a county governing body may at any time terminate, by majority vote of the
947     governing body, an order of constraint issued by a local health department in response to a
948     declared public health emergency.
949          (ii) (A) For a local health department that serves more than one county, the approval
950     described in Subsection (1)(g)(i)(A) is required for the chief executive officer for which the
951     order of constraint is applicable.
952          (B) For a local health department that serves more than one county, a county governing
953     body may only terminate an order of constraint as described in Subsection (1)(g)(i)(C) for the
954     county served by the county governing body.

955          (h) (i) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(g)(i)(A), a local health department may issue an
956     order of constraint without approval of the chief executive officer of the relevant county if the
957     passage of time necessary to obtain approval of the chief executive officer of the relevant
958     county as required in Subsection (1)(g)(i)(A) would substantially increase the likelihood of loss
959     of life due to an imminent threat.
960          (ii) If a local health department issues an order of constraint as described in Subsection
961     (1)(h)(i), the local health department shall notify the chief executive officer of the relevant
962     county before issuing the order of constraint.
963          (iii) The chief executive officer of the relevant county may terminate an order of
964     constraint issued as described in Subsection (1)(h)(i) within 72 hours of issuance of the order
965     of constraint.
966          (i) (i) During a public health emergency declared as described in this title:
967          (A) a local health department may not impose an order of constraint on a public
968     gathering that applies to a religious gathering differently than the order of constraint applies to
969     any other Ĥ→ [
public] relevantly similar ←Ĥ gathering; and
970          (B) an individual, while acting or purporting to act within the course and scope of the
971     individual's official local health department capacity, may not prevent a religious gathering that
972     is held in a manner consistent with any order of constraint issued pursuant to this title, or
973     impose a penalty for a previous religious gathering that was held in a manner consistent with
974     any order of constraint issued pursuant to this title.
975          (ii) Upon proper grounds, a court of competent jurisdiction may grant an injunction to
976     prevent the violation of this Subsection (1)(i).
976a          Ĥ→ (iii) During a public health emergency declared as described in this title, the
976b     department or a local health department shall not issue a public health order or impose or
976c     implement a regulation that substantially burdens an individual's exercise of religion unless
976d     the department or local health department demonstrates that the application of the burden to
976e     the individual:
976f          (A) is in furtherance of a compelling government interest; and     
976g          (B) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest.
976h          (iv) Notwithstanding Subsections (1)(i)(i) and (ii), the department or a local health
976i     department shall allow reasonable accommodations for an individual to perform or participate
976j     in a religious practice or rite. ←Ĥ
977          (j) If a local health department declares a public health emergency as described in this
978     chapter, and the local health department finds that the public health emergency conditions
979     ☆warrant an extension of the public health emergency beyond the 30-day term or another date
980     designated by the local legislative body, the local health department shall provide written
981     notice to the local legislative body at least 10 days before the expiration of the public health
982     emergency.
983          (2) (a) A person aggrieved by an action or inaction of the local health department
984     relating to the public health shall have an opportunity for a hearing with the local health officer
985     or a designated representative of the local health department. The board shall grant a

986     subsequent hearing to the person upon the person's written request.
987          (b) In an adjudicative hearing, a member of the board or the hearing officer may
988     administer oaths, examine witnesses, and issue notice of the hearings or subpoenas in the name
989     of the board requiring the testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence relevant to a
990     matter in the hearing. The local health department shall make a written record of the hearing,
991     including findings of facts and conclusions of law.
992          (c) Judicial review of a final determination of the local board may be secured by a
993     person adversely affected by the final determination, or by the Departments of Health or
994     Environmental Quality, by filing a petition in the district court within 30 days after receipt of
995     notice of the board's final determination.
996          (d) The petition shall be served upon the secretary of the board and shall state the
997     grounds upon which review is sought.
998          (e) The board's answer shall certify and file with the court all documents and papers
999     and a transcript of all testimony taken in the matter together with the board's findings of fact,
1000     conclusions of law, and order.
1001          (f) The appellant and the board are parties to the appeal.
1002          (g) The Departments of Health and Environmental Quality may become a party by
1003     intervention as in a civil action upon showing cause.
1004          (h) A further appeal may be taken to the Court of Appeals under Section 78A-4-103.
1005          (3) Nothing in the provisions of Subsection (1)(b)(ii) or (c), shall limit the ability of a
1006     local health department board to make standards and regulations in accordance with Subsection
1007     (1)(a) for:
1008          (a) emergency rules made in accordance with Section 63G-3-304; or
1009          (b) items not regulated under federal law, state statute, or state administrative rule.
1010          Section 13. Section 53-2a-104 is amended to read:
1011          53-2a-104. Division duties -- Powers.
1012          (1) [The] Subject to limitation by the Legislature as described in Subsection
1013     53-2a-206(5), the division shall:
1014          (a) respond to the policies of the governor and the Legislature;
1015          (b) perform functions relating to emergency management as directed by the governor
1016     or by the commissioner, including:

1017          (i) coordinating with state agencies and local governments the use of personnel and
1018     other resources of these governmental entities as agents of the state during an interstate disaster
1019     in accordance with the Emergency Management Assistance Compact described in Section
1020     53-2a-402;
1021          (ii) coordinating the requesting, activating, and allocating of state resources during an
1022     intrastate disaster or a local state of emergency;
1023          (iii) receiving and disbursing federal resources provided to the state in a declared
1024     disaster;
1025          (iv) appointing a state coordinating officer who is the governor's representative and
1026     who shall work with a federal coordinating officer during a federally declared disaster; and
1027          (v) appointing a state recovery officer who is the governor's representative and who
1028     shall work with a federal recovery officer during a federally declared disaster;
1029          (c) prepare, implement, and maintain programs and plans to provide for:
1030          (i) prevention and minimization of injury and damage caused by disasters;
1031          (ii) prompt and effective response to and recovery from disasters;
1032          (iii) identification of areas particularly vulnerable to disasters;
1033          (iv) coordination of hazard mitigation and other preventive and preparedness measures
1034     designed to eliminate or reduce disasters;
1035          (v) assistance to local officials, state agencies, and the business and public sectors, in
1036     developing emergency action plans;
1037          (vi) coordination of federal, state, and local emergency activities;
1038          (vii) coordination of emergency operations plans with emergency plans of the federal
1039     government;
1040          (viii) coordination of urban search and rescue activities;
1041          (ix) coordination of rapid and efficient communications in times of emergency; and
1042          (x) other measures necessary, incidental, or appropriate to this part;
1043          (d) coordinate with local officials, state agencies, and the business and public sectors in
1044     developing, implementing, and maintaining a state energy emergency plan in accordance with
1045     Section 53-2a-902;
1046          (e) administer Part 6, Disaster Recovery Funding Act, in accordance with that part;
1047          (f) conduct outreach annually to agencies and officials who have access to IPAWS; and

1048          (g) coordinate with counties to ensure every county has the access and ability to send,
1049     or a plan to send, IPAWS messages, including Wireless Emergency Alerts and Emergency
1050     Alert System messages.
1051          (2) Every three years, organizations that have the ability to send IPAWS messages,
1052     including emergency service agencies, public safety answering points, and emergency
1053     managers shall send verification of Federal Emergency Management Agency training to the
1054     Division.
1055          (3) (a) The Department of Public Safety shall designate state geographical regions and
1056     allow the political subdivisions within each region to:
1057          (i) coordinate planning with other political subdivisions, tribal governments, and as
1058     appropriate, other entities within that region and with state agencies as appropriate, or as
1059     designated by the division;
1060          (ii) coordinate grant management and resource purchases; and
1061          (iii) organize joint emergency response training and exercises.
1062          (b) The political subdivisions within a region designated in Subsection (3)(a) may not
1063     establish the region as a new government entity in the emergency disaster declaration process
1064     under Section 53-2a-208.
1065          (4) The division may make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
1066     Administrative Rulemaking Act, to:
1067          (a) establish protocol for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and
1068     the activities described in Subsection (3);
1069          (b) coordinate federal, state, and local resources in a declared disaster or local
1070     emergency; and
1071          (c) implement provisions of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact as
1072     provided in Section 53-2a-402 and Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 3, Statewide Mutual Aid Act.
1073          (5) The division may consult with the Legislative Management Committee, the Judicial
1074     Council, and legislative and judicial staff offices to assist the division in preparing emergency
1075     succession plans and procedures under Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 8, Emergency Interim
1076     Succession Act.
1077          (6) The division shall report annually in writing not later than October 31 to the Law
1078     Enforcement and Criminal Justice, and Political Subdivisions Interim Committees regarding

1079     the status of the emergency alert system in the state. The report shall include:
1080          (a) a status summary of the number of alerting authorities in Utah;
1081          (b) any changes in that number;
1082          (c) administrative actions taken; and
1083          (d) any other information considered necessary by the division.
1084          Section 14. Section 53-2a-203 is amended to read:
1085          53-2a-203. Definitions.
1086          As used in this part:
1087          (1) "Chief executive officer" means:
1088          (a) for a municipality:
1089          (i) the mayor for a municipality operating under all forms of municipal government
1090     except the council-manager form of government; or
1091          (ii) the city manager for a municipality operating under the council-manager form of
1092     government;
1093          (b) for a county:
1094          (i) the chair of the county commission for a county operating under the county
1095     commission or expanded county commission form of government;
1096          (ii) the county executive officer for a county operating under the county-executive
1097     council form of government; or
1098          (iii) the county manager for a county operating under the council-manager form of
1099     government; [or]
1100          (c) for a special service district:
1101          (i) the chief executive officer of the county or municipality that created the special
1102     service district if authority has not been delegated to an administrative control board as
1103     provided in Section 17D-1-301;
1104          (ii) the chair of the administrative control board to which authority has been delegated
1105     as provided in Section 17D-1-301; or
1106          (iii) the general manager or other officer or employee to whom authority has been
1107     delegated by the governing body of the special service district as provided in Section
1108     17D-1-301; or
1109          (d) for a local district:

1110          (i) the chair of the board of trustees selected as provided in Section 17B-1-309; or
1111          (ii) the general manager or other officer or employee to whom authority has been
1112     delegated by the board of trustees.
1113          (2) "Executive action" means any of the following actions by the governor during a
1114     state of emergency:
1115          (a) an order, a rule, or a regulation made by the governor as described in Section
1116     53-2a-209;
1117          (b) an action by the governor to suspend or modify a statute as described in Subsection
1118     53-2a-204(1)(j); or
1119          (c) an action by the governor to suspend the enforcement of a statute as described in
1120     Subsection 53-2a-209(4).
1121          (3) "Exigent circumstances" means a significant change in circumstances following the
1122     expiration of a state of emergency declared in accordance with this chapter that:
1123          (a) substantially increases the threat to public safety or health relative to the
1124     circumstances in existence when the state of emergency expired;
1125          (b) poses an imminent threat to public safety or health; and
1126          (c) was not known or foreseen and could not have been known or foreseen at the time
1127     the state of emergency expired.
1128          (4) "Legislative emergency response committee" means the Legislative Emergency
1129     Response Committee created in Section 53-2a-218.
1130          [(2)] (5) "Local emergency" means a condition in any municipality or county of the
1131     state which requires that emergency assistance be provided by the affected municipality or
1132     county or another political subdivision to save lives and protect property within its jurisdiction
1133     in response to a disaster, or to avoid or reduce the threat of a disaster.
1134          (6) "Long-term state of emergency" means a state of emergency:
1135          (a) that lasts longer than 30 days; or
1136          (b) declared to respond to exigent circumstances as described in Subsection
1137     53-2a-206(3).
1138          [(3)] (7) "Political subdivision" means a municipality, county, special service district,
1139     or local district.
1140          Section 15. Section 53-2a-204 is amended to read:

1141          53-2a-204. Authority of governor -- Federal assistance -- Fraud or willful
1142     misstatement in application for financial assistance -- Penalty.
1143          (1) In addition to any other authorities conferred upon the governor, if the governor
1144     issues an executive order declaring a state of emergency, subject to limitation by the
1145     Legislature as described in Subsection 53-2a-206(5), the governor may:
1146          (a) utilize all available resources of state government as reasonably necessary to cope
1147     with a state of emergency;
1148          (b) employ measures and give direction to state and local officers and agencies that are
1149     reasonable and necessary for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of this
1150     part and with orders, rules, and regulations made pursuant to this part;
1151          (c) recommend and advise the evacuation of all or part of the population from any
1152     stricken or threatened area within the state if necessary for the preservation of life;
1153          (d) recommend routes, modes of transportation, and destination in connection with
1154     evacuation;
1155          (e) in connection with evacuation, suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or
1156     transportation of alcoholic beverages, explosives, and combustibles, not to include the lawful
1157     bearing of arms;
1158          (f) control ingress and egress to and from a disaster area, the movement of persons
1159     within the area, and recommend the occupancy or evacuation of premises in a disaster area;
1160          (g) clear or remove from publicly or privately owned land or water debris or wreckage
1161     that is an immediate threat to public health, public safety, or private property, including
1162     allowing an employee of a state department or agency designated by the governor to enter upon
1163     private land or waters and perform any tasks necessary for the removal or clearance operation if
1164     the political subdivision, corporation, organization, or individual that is affected by the removal
1165     of the debris or wreckage:
1166          (i) presents an unconditional authorization for removal of the debris or wreckage from
1167     private property; and
1168          (ii) agrees to indemnify the state against any claim arising from the removal of the
1169     debris or wreckage;
1170          (h) enter into agreement with any agency of the United States:
1171          (i) for temporary housing units to be occupied by victims of a state of emergency or

1172     persons who assist victims of a state of emergency; and
1173          (ii) to make the housing units described in Subsection (1)(h)(i) available to a political
1174     subdivision of this state;
1175          (i) assist any political subdivision of this state to acquire sites and utilities necessary for
1176     temporary housing units described in Subsection (1)(h)(i) by passing through any funds made
1177     available to the governor by an agency of the United States for this purpose;
1178          (j) subject to Sections 53-2a-209 and 53-2a-214, temporarily suspend or modify by
1179     executive order, during the state of emergency, any public health, safety, zoning, transportation,
1180     or other requirement of a statute or administrative rule within this state if such action is
1181     essential to provide temporary housing described in Subsection (1)(h)(i);
1182          (k) upon determination that a political subdivision of the state will suffer a substantial
1183     loss of tax and other revenues because of a state of emergency and the political subdivision so
1184     affected has demonstrated a need for financial assistance to perform its governmental
1185     functions, in accordance with Utah Constitution, Article XIV, Sections 3 and 4, and Section
1186     10-8-6:
1187          (i) apply to the federal government for a loan on behalf of the political subdivision if
1188     the amount of the loan that the governor applies for does not exceed 25% of the annual
1189     operating budget of the political subdivision for the fiscal year in which the state of emergency
1190     occurs; and
1191          (ii) receive and disburse the amount of the loan to the political subdivision;
1192          (l) accept funds from the federal government and make grants to any political
1193     subdivision for the purpose of removing debris or wreckage from publicly owned land or
1194     water;
1195          (m) subject to Section 53-2a-217, upon determination that financial assistance is
1196     essential to meet expenses related to a state of emergency of individuals or families adversely
1197     affected by the state of emergency that cannot be sufficiently met from other means of
1198     assistance, apply for, accept, and expend a grant by the federal government to fund the financial
1199     assistance, subject to the terms and conditions imposed upon the grant;
1200          (n) recommend to the Legislature other actions the governor considers to be necessary
1201     to address a state of emergency; or
1202          (o) authorize the use of all water sources as necessary for fire suppression.

1203          (2) A person who fraudulently or willfully makes a misstatement of fact in connection
1204     with an application for financial assistance under this section shall, upon conviction of each
1205     offense, be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than one
1206     year, or both.
1207          Section 16. Section 53-2a-205 is amended to read:
1208          53-2a-205. Authority of chief executive officers of political subdivisions --
1209     Ordering of evacuations.
1210          (1) (a) In order to protect life and property when a state of emergency or local
1211     emergency has been declared, subject to limitation by the Legislature as described in
1212     Subsection 53-2a-206(5), and subject to Section 53-2a-216, the chief executive officer of each
1213     political subdivision of the state is authorized to:
1214          (i) carry out, in the chief executive officer's jurisdiction, the measures as may be
1215     ordered by the governor under this part; and
1216          (ii) take any additional measures the chief executive officer may consider necessary,
1217     subject to the limitations and provisions of this part.
1218          (b) The chief executive officer may not take an action that is inconsistent with any
1219     order, rule, regulation, or action of the governor.
1220          (2) [When] Subject to Section 53-2a-216, when a state of emergency or local
1221     emergency is declared, the authority of the chief executive officer includes:
1222          (a) utilizing all available resources of the political subdivision as reasonably necessary
1223     to manage a state of emergency or local emergency;
1224          (b) employing measures and giving direction to local officers and agencies which are
1225     reasonable and necessary for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of this
1226     part and with orders, rules, and regulations made under this part;
1227          (c) if necessary for the preservation of life, issuing an order for the evacuation of all or
1228     part of the population from any stricken or threatened area within the political subdivision;
1229          (d) recommending routes, modes of transportation, and destinations in relation to an
1230     evacuation;
1231          (e) suspending or limiting the sale, dispensing, or transportation of alcoholic beverages,
1232     explosives, and combustibles in relation to an evacuation, except that the chief executive
1233     officer may not restrict the lawful bearing of arms;

1234          (f) controlling ingress and egress to and from a disaster area, controlling the movement
1235     of persons within a disaster area, and ordering the occupancy or evacuation of premises in a
1236     disaster area;
1237          (g) clearing or removing debris or wreckage that may threaten public health, public
1238     safety, or private property from publicly or privately owned land or waters, except that where
1239     there is no immediate threat to public health or safety, the chief executive officer shall not
1240     exercise this authority in relation to privately owned land or waters unless:
1241          (i) the owner authorizes the employees of designated local agencies to enter upon the
1242     private land or waters to perform any tasks necessary for the removal or clearance; and
1243          (ii) the owner provides an unconditional authorization for removal of the debris or
1244     wreckage and agrees to indemnify the local and state government against any claim arising
1245     from the removal; and
1246          (h) invoking the provisions of any mutual aid agreement entered into by the political
1247     subdivision.
1248          (3) (a) If the chief executive is unavailable to issue an order for evacuation under
1249     Subsection (2)(c), the chief law enforcement officer having jurisdiction for the area may issue
1250     an urgent order for evacuation, for a period not to exceed 36 hours, if the order is necessary for
1251     the preservation of life.
1252          (b) The chief executive officer may ratify, modify, or revoke the chief law enforcement
1253     officer's order.
1254          (4) Notice of an order or the ratification, modification, or revocation of an order issued
1255     under this section shall be:
1256          (a) given to the persons within the jurisdiction by the most effective and reasonable
1257     means available; and
1258          (b) filed in accordance with Subsection 53-2a-209(1).
1259          Section 17. Section 53-2a-206 is amended to read:
1260          53-2a-206. State of emergency -- Declaration -- Termination -- Commander in
1261     chief of military forces.
1262          (1) A state of emergency may be declared by executive order of the governor if the
1263     governor finds a disaster has occurred or the occurrence or threat of a disaster is imminent in
1264     any area of the state in which state government assistance is required to supplement the

1265     response and recovery efforts of the affected political subdivision or political subdivisions.
1266          [(2) A state of emergency shall continue until the governor finds the threat or danger
1267     has passed or the disaster reduced to the extent that emergency conditions no longer exist.]
1268          [(3) A state of emergency may not continue for longer than 30 days unless extended by
1269     joint resolution of the Legislature, which may also terminate a state of emergency by joint
1270     resolution at any time.]
1271          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a state of emergency described in
1272     Subsection (1) expires at the earlier of:
1273          (i) the day on which the governor finds that the threat or danger has passed or the
1274     disaster reduced to the extent that emergency conditions no longer exist;
1275          (ii) 30 days after the date on which the governor declared the state of emergency; or
1276          (iii) the day on which the Legislature terminates the state of emergency by joint
1277     resolution.
1278          (b) (i) The Legislature may, by joint resolution, extend a state of emergency for a time
1279     period designated in the joint resolution.
1280          (ii) If the Legislature extends a state of emergency in accordance with this subsection,
1281     the state of emergency expires on the date designated in the joint resolution.
1282          (c) Except as provided in Subsection (3), if a state of emergency expires as described in
1283     Subsection (2), the governor may not declare a new state of emergency for the same disaster or
1284     occurrence as the expired state of emergency.
1285          (3) (a) After a state of emergency expires in accordance with Subsection (2), and
1286     subject to Subsection (4), the governor may declare a new state of emergency in response to the
1287     same disaster or occurrence as the expired state of emergency, if the governor finds that exigent
1288     circumstances exist.
1289          (b) A state of emergency declared in accordance with Subsection (3)(a) expires in
1290     accordance with Subsections (2)(a) and (b).
1291          (c) After a state of emergency declared in accordance with Subsection (3)(a) expires,
1292     the governor may not declare a new state of emergency in response to the same disaster or
1293     occurrence as the expired state of emergency, regardless of whether exigent circumstances
1294     exist.
1295          (4) (a) (i) If the Legislature finds that emergency conditions warrant the extension of a

1296     state of emergency beyond 30 days as described in Subsection (2)(b), the Legislature may
1297     extend the state of emergency and specify which emergency powers described in this part are
1298     necessary to respond to the emergency conditions present at the time of the extension of the
1299     state of emergency.
1300          (ii) Circumstances that may warrant the extension of a state of emergency with limited
1301     emergency powers include:
1302          (A) the imminent threat of the emergency has passed, but continued fiscal response
1303     remains necessary; or
1304          (B) emergency conditions warrant certain executive actions, but certain emergency
1305     powers such as suspension of enforcement of statute are not necessary.
1306          (b) For any state of emergency extended by the Legislature beyond 30 days as
1307     described in Subsection (2)(b), the Legislature may, by joint resolution:
1308          (i) extend the state of emergency and maintain all of the emergency powers described
1309     in this part; or
1310          (ii) limit or restrict certain emergency powers of:
1311          (A) the division as described in Section 53-2a-104;
1312          (B) the governor as described in Section 53-2a-204;
1313          (C) a chief executive officer of a political subdivision as described in Section
1314     53-2a-205; or
1315          (D) other executive emergency powers described in this chapter.
1316          (c) If the Legislature limits emergency powers as described in Subsection (4)(b), the
1317     Legislature shall:
1318          (i) include in the joint resolution findings describing the nature and current conditions
1319     of the emergency that warrant the continuation or limitation of certain emergency powers; and
1320          (ii) clearly enumerate and describe in the joint resolution which powers:
1321          (A) are being limited or restricted; or
1322          (B) shall remain in force.
1323          [(4)] (5) [The] If the Legislature terminates a state of emergency by joint resolution, the
1324     governor shall issue an executive order ending the state of emergency on receipt of the
1325     Legislature's resolution.
1326          [(5)] (6) An executive order described in this section to declare a state of emergency

1327     shall state:
1328          (a) the nature of the state of emergency;
1329          (b) the area or areas threatened; and
1330          (c) the conditions creating such an emergency or those conditions allowing termination
1331     of the state of emergency.
1332          [(6)] (7) During the continuance of any state of emergency the governor is commander
1333     in chief of the military forces of the state in accordance with Utah Constitution Article VII,
1334     Section 4, and Title 39, Chapter 1, State Militia.
1335          Section 18. Section 53-2a-208 is amended to read:
1336          53-2a-208. Local emergency -- Declarations.
1337          [(1) (a) A local emergency may be declared by proclamation of the chief executive
1338     officer of a municipality or county.]
1339          [(b) A local emergency shall not be continued or renewed for a period in excess of 30
1340     days except by or with the consent of the governing body of the municipality or county.]
1341          [(c) Any order or proclamation declaring, continuing, or terminating a local emergency
1342     shall be filed promptly with the office of the clerk of the affected municipality or county.]
1343          (1) A chief executive officer of a municipality or county may declare by proclamation a
1344     state of emergency if the chief executive officer finds:
1345          (a) a disaster has occurred or the occurrence or threat of a disaster is imminent in an
1346     area of the municipality or county; and
1347          (b) the municipality or county requires additional assistance to supplement the
1348     response and recovery efforts of the municipality or county.
1349          (2) A declaration of a local emergency:
1350          (a) constitutes an official recognition that a disaster situation exists within the affected
1351     municipality or county;
1352          (b) provides a legal basis for requesting and obtaining mutual aid or disaster assistance
1353     from other political subdivisions or from the state or federal government;
1354          (c) activates the response and recovery aspects of any and all applicable local disaster
1355     emergency plans; and
1356          (d) authorizes the furnishing of aid and assistance in relation to the proclamation.
1357          (3) A local emergency proclamation issued under this section shall state:

1358          (a) the nature of the local emergency;
1359          (b) the area or areas that are affected or threatened; and
1360          (c) the conditions which caused the emergency.
1361          (4) The emergency declaration process within the state shall be as follows:
1362          (a) a city, town, or metro township shall declare to the county;
1363          (b) a county shall declare to the state;
1364          (c) the state shall declare to the federal government; and
1365          (d) a tribe, as defined in Section 23-13-12.5, shall declare as determined under the
1366     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5121 et seq.
1367          (5) Nothing in this part affects:
1368          (a) the governor's authority to declare a state of emergency under Section 53-2a-206; or
1369          (b) the duties, requests, reimbursements, or other actions taken by a political
1370     subdivision participating in the state-wide mutual aid system pursuant to Title 53, Chapter 2a,
1371     Part 3, Statewide Mutual Aid Act.
1372          (6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), a state of emergency described in
1373     Subsection (1) expires the earlier of:
1374          (i) the day on which the chief executive officer finds that:
1375          (A) the threat or danger has passed;
1376          (B) the disaster reduced to the extent that emergency conditions no longer exist; or
1377          (C) the municipality or county no longer requires state government assistance to
1378     supplement the response and recovery efforts of the municipality or county;
1379          (ii) 30 days after the day on which the chief executive officer declares the state of
1380     emergency; or
1381          (iii) the day on which the legislative body of the municipality or county terminates the
1382     state of emergency by majority vote.
1383          (b) (i) (A) The legislative body of a municipality may at any time terminate by majority
1384     vote a state of emergency declared by the chief executive officer of the municipality.
1385          (B) The legislative body of a county may at any time terminate by majority vote a state
1386     of emergency declared by the chief executive officer of the county.
1387          (ii) The legislative body of a municipality or county may by majority vote extend a
1388     state of emergency for a time period stated in the motion.

1389          (iii) If the legislative body of a municipality or county extends a state of emergency in
1390     accordance with this subsection, the state of emergency expires on the date designated by the
1391     legislative body in the motion.
1392          (c) Except as provided in Subsection (7), after a state of emergency expires in
1393     accordance with this Subsection (6), the chief executive officer may not declare a new state of
1394     emergency in response to the same disaster or occurrence as the expired state of emergency.
1395          (7) (a) After a state of emergency expires in accordance with Subsection (2), the chief
1396     executive officer may declare a new state of emergency in response to the same disaster or
1397     occurrence as the expired state of emergency, if the chief executive officer finds that exigent
1398     circumstances exist.
1399          (b) A state of emergency declared in accordance with Subsection (7)(a) expires in
1400     accordance with Subsections (6)(a) and (b).
1401          (c) After a state of emergency declared in accordance with Subsection (7)(a) expires,
1402     the chief executive officer may not declare a new state of emergency in response to the same
1403     disaster or occurrence as the expired state of emergency, regardless of whether exigent
1404     circumstances exist.
1405          Section 19. Section 53-2a-209 is amended to read:
1406          53-2a-209. Orders, rules, and regulations having force of law -- Filing
1407     requirements -- Suspension of state agency rules -- Suspension of enforcement of certain
1408     statutes during a state of emergency.
1409          (1) [All] Subject to Section 53-2a-216, all orders, rules, and regulations promulgated
1410     by the governor, a municipality, a county, or other agency authorized by this part to make
1411     orders, rules, and regulations, not in conflict with existing laws except as specifically provided
1412     in this section, shall have the full force and effect of law during the state of emergency.
1413          (2) A copy of the order, rule, or regulation promulgated under Subsection (1) shall be
1414     filed as soon as practicable with:
1415          (a) the Office of Administrative Rules, if issued by the governor or a state agency; or
1416          (b) the office of the clerk of the municipality or county, if issued by the chief executive
1417     officer of a municipality or county.
1418          (3) The governor may suspend the provisions of any order, rule, or regulation of any
1419     state agency, if the strict compliance with the provisions of the order, rule, or regulation would

1420     substantially prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with the emergency or
1421     disaster.
1422          (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b) and subject to Subsections (4)(c) and
1423     (d), the governor may by executive order suspend the enforcement of a statute if:
1424          (i) the governor declares a state of emergency in accordance with Section 53-2a-206;
1425          (ii) the governor determines that suspending the enforcement of the statute is:
1426          (A) directly related to the state of emergency described in Subsection (4)(a)(i); and
1427          (B) necessary to address the state of emergency described in Subsection (4)(a)(i);
1428          (iii) the executive order:
1429          (A) describes how the suspension of the enforcement of the statute is:
1430          (I) directly related to the state of emergency described in Subsection (4)(a)(i); and
1431          (II) necessary to address the state of emergency described in Subsection (4)(a)(i); and
1432          (B) provides the citation of the statute that is the subject of suspended enforcement;
1433          (iv) the governor acts in good faith;
1434          (v) the governor provides notice of the suspension of the enforcement of the statute to
1435     the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate no later than 24
1436     hours after suspending the enforcement of the statute; and
1437          (vi) the governor makes the report required by Section 53-2a-210.
1438          (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b)(ii), the governor may not suspend the
1439     enforcement of a criminal penalty created in statute.
1440          (ii) The governor may suspend the enforcement of a misdemeanor or infraction if:
1441          (A) the misdemeanor or infraction relates to food, health, or transportation; and
1442          (B) the requirements of Subsection (4)(a) are met.
1443          (c) A suspension described in this Subsection (4) terminates no later than the date the
1444     governor terminates the state of emergency in accordance with Section 53-2a-206 to which the
1445     suspension relates.
1446          (d) The governor:
1447          (i) shall provide the notice required by Subsection (4)(a)(v) using the best available
1448     method under the circumstances as determined by the governor;
1449          (ii) may provide the notice required by Subsection (4)(a)(v) in electronic format; and
1450          (iii) shall provide the notice in written form, if practicable.

1451          (e) If circumstances prevent the governor from providing notice to the speaker of the
1452     House of Representatives or the president of the Senate, notice shall be provided in the best
1453     available method to the presiding member of the respective body as is reasonable.
1454          Section 20. Section 53-2a-215 is amended to read:
1455          53-2a-215. Requirements for long-term emergency response -- Notice.
1456          [(1) As used in this section:]
1457          [(a) "Epidemic or pandemic disease" means the same as that term is defined in Section
1458     26-23b-102.]
1459          [(b) "Executive action" means any of the following actions in response to an epidemic
1460     or pandemic disease:]
1461          [(i) a declaration of a state of emergency as described in Section 53-2a-206;]
1462          [(ii) an order, a rule, or a regulation made by the governor as described in Section
1463     53-2a-209;]
1464          [(iii) an action by the governor to suspend or modify a statute as described in
1465     Subsection 53-2a-204(1)(j); or]
1466          [(iv) an action by the governor to suspend the enforcement of a statute as described in
1467     Subsection 53-2a-209(4).]
1468          [(c) "Legislative pandemic response team" means:]
1469          [(i) the speaker of the House of Representatives;]
1470          [(ii) the president of the Senate;]
1471          [(iii) the minority leader of the House of Representatives; and]
1472          [(iv) the minority leader of the Senate.]
1473          [(2) The Legislature finds and acknowledges that existing and increasing threats of the
1474     occurrence of an epidemic or pandemic disease emergency could greatly affect the health,
1475     safety, and welfare of the people of this state, and subject to provisions of this section, the
1476     Legislature recognizes the important role of the governor to respond to an epidemic or
1477     pandemic disease emergency through executive action.]
1478          [(3)] (1) (a) (i) Except as provided in Subsection [(4)] (2), and in accordance with
1479     Subsection [(3)(b)] (1)(b), during a long-term state of emergency, the governor may not take an
1480     executive action in response to [an epidemic or pandemic disease] the emergency until the
1481     governor has provided notice of the proposed action to the legislative [pandemic response

1482     team] emergency response committee no later than 24 hours before the governor issues the
1483     executive action.
1484          (ii) The governor:
1485          (A) shall provide the notice required by Subsection [(3)] (1)(a)(i) using the best
1486     available method under the circumstances as determined by the governor;
1487          (B) may provide the notice required by Subsection [(3)] (1)(a)(i) in electronic format;
1488     and
1489          (C) shall provide the notice in written form, if practicable.
1490          (b) Except for any conflicting provision in this section, the governor shall comply with
1491     the requirements of this chapter to take an executive action in response to a long-term
1492     emergency.
1493          (c) If the governor takes executive action in response to [an epidemic or pandemic
1494     disease] a long-term emergency as described in this Subsection [(3)] (1), the governor is not
1495     required to provide:
1496          (i) the notice described in Subsection 53-2a-209(4)(a)(v); or
1497          (ii) the report described in Section 53-2a-210.
1498          [(4)] (2) (a) The governor may take executive action in response [to an epidemic or
1499     pandemic disease] during a long-term emergency without complying with Subsection [(3)] (1)
1500     only if the governor finds that:
1501          (i) there is an imminent threat of serious bodily injury, loss of life, or substantial harm
1502     to property; and
1503          (ii) compliance with Subsection [(3)] (1) would increase the threat of serious bodily
1504     injury, loss of life, or substantial harm to property.
1505          (b) If the governor takes executive action in response to [an epidemic or pandemic] a
1506     long-term emergency without complying with the requirements of Subsection [(3)] (1)(a), the
1507     governor shall provide in the executive action an explanation why the requirements of
1508     Subsection [(3)] (1)(a) were not met.
1509          [(5)] (3) This section supersedes any conflicting provisions of Utah law.
1510          [(6)] (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governor may not suspend the
1511     application or enforcement of this section.
1512          Section 21. Section 53-2a-216 is amended to read:

1513          53-2a-216. Termination of an executive action or directive.
1514          (1) The Legislature may at any time terminate by joint resolution:
1515          (a) an order, a rule, ordinance, or action by a chief executive officer of a county or
1516     municipality as described in Section 53-2a-205 in response to a state of emergency that has
1517     been in effect for more than 30 days;
1518          (b) a local declaration of emergency described in Section 53-2a-208 that has been in
1519     effect for more than 30 days;
1520          [(a)] (c) an order, a rule, or a regulation made by the governor, a municipality, county,
1521     or other agency as described in Section 53-2a-209;
1522          [(b)] (d) an action by the governor to suspend the enforcement of a statute as described
1523     in Subsection 53-2a-209(4); or
1524          [(c)] (e) an executive action as described in Section 53-2a-215.
1525          (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governor may not suspend the
1526     application or enforcement of this section.
1527          Section 22. Section 53-2a-217 is amended to read:
1528          53-2a-217. Procurement process during an epidemic or pandemic emergency.
1529          (1) As used in this section, "epidemic or pandemic disease" means the same as that
1530     term is defined in Section [53-2a-215] 26-23b-102.
1531          (2) (a) During a state of emergency declared as described in Section 53-2a-206 that is
1532     in response or related to an epidemic or pandemic disease emergency, or during a national
1533     epidemic or pandemic emergency, the governor shall provide notice to the Legislature within
1534     24 hours after an expenditure or procurement, if the expenditure or procurement:
1535          (i) uses federal funds received as described in Subsection 53-2a-204(1)(m);
1536          (ii) totals more than $2,000,000 or includes a line item of more than $2,000,000; and
1537          (iii) is made using emergency procurement processes as described in Section
1538     63G-6a-803.
1539          (b) The governor may not divide an expenditure or procurement into multiple
1540     expenditures or procurements to fall below the $2,000,000 threshold described in Subsection
1541     (2)(a)(ii).
1542          Section 23. Section 53-2a-218 is enacted to read:
1543          53-2a-218. Legislative Emergency Response Committee.

1544          (1) There is created an ad hoc committee known as the Legislative Emergency
1545     Response Committee.
1546          (2) (a) The committee membership includes:
1547          (i) the same membership as the Executive Appropriations Committee as constituted at
1548     the time the committee is convened; and
1549          (ii) between four and six additional members designated by the speaker of the House of
1550     Representatives, chosen from the following:
1551          (A) one or more members of the House of Representatives that serve as chair or
1552     vice-chair of a legislative committee with a subject matter focus relevant to the current
1553     emergency;
1554          (B) one or more members of the House of Representatives with relevant expertise or
1555     experience relevant to the current emergency; or
1556          (C) one or more members of the House of Representatives from a minority party that
1557     serves on a relevant legislative committee or that has expertise and experience relevant to the
1558     current emergency; and
1559          (iii) between four and six additional members designated by the president of the
1560     Senate, chosen from the following:
1561          (A) one or more members of the Senate that serve as chair or vice-chair of a legislative
1562     committee with a subject matter focus relevant to the current emergency;
1563          (B) one or more members of the Senate with relevant expertise or experience relevant
1564     to the current emergency; or
1565          (C) one or more members of the Senate from a minority party that serves on a relevant
1566     legislative committee or that has expertise and experience relevant to the current emergency.
1567          (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate shall
1568     coordinate to ensure they each appoint the same number of legislators as described under
1569     Subsections (2)(a)(ii) and (iii).
1570          (3) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate shall
1571     serve as chairs of the committee.
1572          (4) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support
1573     to the committee.
1574          (5) (a) If the governor declares a state of emergency as described in this chapter, and

1575     the governor finds that the emergency conditions warrant an extension of the state of
1576     emergency beyond the 30-day term or another date designated by the Legislature as described
1577     in Section 53-2a-206, the governor shall provide written notice to the speaker of the House of
1578     Representatives and the president of the Senate at least 10 days before the expiration of the
1579     state of emergency.
1580          (b) If the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate
1581     receive notice as described in Subsection (5)(a) for a state of emergency within the first 30 days
1582     from the initial declaration of the state of emergency, or from the Department of Health as
1583     described in Section 26-23b-10, or from a local health department as described in Section
1584     26A-1-121, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate:
1585          (i) shall poll the members of their respective bodies to determine whether the
1586     Legislature will extend the state of emergency; and
1587          (ii) may jointly convene the committee.
1588          (c) If the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate
1589     receive notice as described in Subsection (5)(a) for a state of emergency that has been extended
1590     beyond the 30 days from the initial declaration of a state of emergency, the speaker of the
1591     House of Representatives and the president of the Senate shall jointly convene the committee.
1592          (6) If the committee is convened as described in Subsection (5), the committee shall
1593     conduct a public meeting to:
1594          (a) discuss the nature of the emergency and conditions of the emergency;
1595          (b) evaluate options for emergency response;
1596          (c) receive testimony from individuals with expertise relevant to the current
1597     emergency;
1598          (d) receive testimony from members of the public; and
1599          (e) provide a recommendation to the Legislature whether to extend the state of
1600     emergency by joint resolution.
1601          Section 24. Section 53-2a-219 is enacted to read:
1602          53-2a-219. Religious practice during a state of emergency.
1603          (1) During a state of emergency declared as described in this chapter:
1604          (a) the governor or chief executive officer of a political subdivision may not impose a
1605     restriction on a religious gathering that is more restrictive than a restriction on any other
1605a     Ĥ→ [
public] relevantly similar ←Ĥ

1606     gathering; and
1607          (b) an individual, while acting or purporting to act within the course and scope of the
1608     individual's official government capacity, may not:
1609          (i) prevent a religious gathering that is held in a manner consistent with any order or
1610     restriction issued pursuant to this part; or
1611          (ii) impose a penalty for a previous religious gathering that was held in a manner
1612     consistent with any order or restriction issued pursuant to this part.
1613          (2) Upon proper grounds, a court of competent jurisdiction may grant an injunction to
1614     prevent the violation of this section.
1614a          Ĥ→ (3) During a state of emergency declared as described in this title, the governor or
1614b     the chief executive of a political subdivision shall not issue an executive order or impose or
1614c     implement a regulation that substantially burdens an individual's exercise of religion unless
1614d     the governor or chief executive officer of the political subdivision demonstrates that the
1614e     application of the burden to the individual:
1614f          (a) is in furtherance of a compelling government interest; and
1614g          (b) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest.
1614h          (4) Notwithstanding Subsections (1) and (3), an executive order shall allow reasonable
1614i     accommodations for an individual to perform or participate in a religious practice or rite. ←Ĥ
1615          Section 25. Section 53-2a-703 is amended to read:
1616          53-2a-703. Hazardous materials emergency -- Recovery of expenses.
1617          (1) (a) The Hazardous Chemical Emergency Response Commission may recover from
1618     those persons whose negligent actions caused the hazardous materials emergency, expenses
1619     directly associated with a response to a hazardous materials emergency taken under authority of
1620     this part, Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 1, Emergency Management Act, or Title 53, Chapter 2a,
1621     Part 2, Disaster Response and Recovery Act, that are incurred by:
1622          (i) a state agency;
1623          (ii) a political subdivision as defined in [Subsection 53-2a-203(3)] Section 53-2a-203;
1624     or
1625          (iii) an interlocal entity, described in Section 11-13-203, providing emergency services
1626     to a political subdivision pursuant to written agreement.
1627          (b) The payment of expenses under this Subsection (1) is not an admission of liability
1628     or negligence in any legal action for damages.
1629          (c) The Hazardous Chemical Emergency Response Commission may obtain assistance
1630     from the attorney general or a county attorney of the affected jurisdiction to assist in recovering☆
1631     ☆expenses and legal fees.
1632          (d) Any recovered costs shall be deposited in the General Fund as dedicated credits to
1633     be used by the division to reimburse an entity described in Subsection (1)(a) for costs incurred
1634     by the entity.
1635          (2) (a) If the cost directly associated with emergency response exceeds all available
1636     funds of the division within a given fiscal year, the division, with approval from the governor,

1637     may incur a deficit in its line item budget.
1638          (b) The Legislature shall provide a supplemental appropriation in the following year to
1639     cover the deficit.
1640          (c) The division shall deposit all costs associated with any emergency response that are
1641     collected in subsequent fiscal years into the General Fund.
1642          (3) Any political subdivision may enact local ordinances pursuant to existing statutory
1643     or constitutional authority to provide for the recovery of expenses incurred by the political
1644     subdivision.
1645          Section 26. Section 63G-3-304 is amended to read:
1646          63G-3-304. Emergency rulemaking procedure.
1647          (1) All agencies shall comply with the rulemaking procedures of Section 63G-3-301
1648     unless an agency finds that these procedures would:
1649          (a) cause an imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare;
1650          (b) cause an imminent budget reduction because of budget restraints or federal
1651     requirements; or
1652          (c) place the agency in violation of federal or state law.
1653          (2) (a) When finding that its rule is excepted from regular rulemaking procedures by
1654     this section, the agency shall file with the office and the members of the Administrative Rules
1655     Review Committee:
1656          (i) the text of the rule; and
1657          (ii) a rule analysis that includes the specific reasons and justifications for its findings.
1658          (b) The office shall publish the rule in the bulletin as provided in Subsection
1659     63G-3-301(4).
1660          (c) The agency shall notify interested persons as provided in Subsection
1661     63G-3-301(10).
1662          (d) [The] Subject to Subsection 63G-3-502(4), the rule becomes effective for a period
1663     not exceeding 120 days on the date of filing or any later date designated in the rule.
1664          (3) If the agency intends the rule to be effective beyond 120 days, the agency shall also
1665     comply with the procedures of Section 63G-3-301.
1666          Section 27. Section 63G-3-501 is amended to read:
1667          63G-3-501. Administrative Rules Review Committee.

1668          (1) (a) There is created an Administrative Rules Review Committee of the following
1669     10 permanent members:
1670          (i) five members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than
1671     three of whom may be from the same political party; and
1672          (ii) five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
1673     House of Representatives, no more than three of whom may be from the same political party.
1674          (b) Each permanent member shall serve:
1675          (i) for a two-year term; or
1676          (ii) until the permanent member's successor is appointed.
1677          (c) (i) A vacancy exists when a permanent member ceases to be a member of the
1678     Legislature, or when a permanent member resigns from the committee.
1679          (ii) When a vacancy exists:
1680          (A) if the departing member is a member of the Senate, the president of the Senate
1681     shall appoint a member of the Senate to fill the vacancy; or
1682          (B) if the departing member is a member of the House of Representatives, the speaker
1683     of the House of Representatives shall appoint a member of the House of Representatives to fill
1684     the vacancy.
1685          (iii) The newly appointed member shall serve the remainder of the departing member's
1686     unexpired term.
1687          (d) (i) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed
1688     under Subsection (1)(a)(i) as a cochair of the committee.
1689          (ii) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the
1690     House of Representatives appointed under Subsection (1)(a)(ii) as a cochair of the committee.
1691          (e) Three representatives and three senators from the permanent members are a quorum
1692     for the transaction of business at any meeting.
1693          (f) (i) Subject to Subsection (1)(f)(ii), the committee shall meet at least once each
1694     month to review new agency rules, amendments to existing agency rules, and repeals of
1695     existing agency rules.
1696          (ii) The committee chairs may suspend the meeting requirement described in
1697     Subsection (1)(f)(i) at the committee chairs' discretion.
1698          (2) The office shall submit a copy of each issue of the bulletin to the committee.

1699          (3) (a) The committee shall exercise continuous oversight of the rulemaking process.
1700          (b) The committee shall examine each rule, including any rule made according to the
1701     emergency rulemaking procedure described in Section 63G-3-304, submitted by an agency to
1702     determine:
1703          (i) whether the rule is authorized by statute;
1704          (ii) whether the rule complies with legislative intent;
1705          (iii) the rule's impact on the economy and the government operations of the state and
1706     local political subdivisions;
1707          (iv) the rule's impact on affected persons;
1708          (v) the rule's total cost to entities regulated by the state;
1709          (vi) the rule's benefit to the citizens of the state; and
1710          (vii) whether adoption of the rule requires legislative review or approval.
1711          (c) The committee may examine and review:
1712          (i) any executive order issued pursuant to Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 2, Disaster
1713     Response and Recovery Act; or
1714          (ii) any public health order issued during a public health emergency declared in
1715     accordance with Title 26, Utah Health Code, or Title 26A, Local Health Authorities.
1716          [(c)] (d) (i) To carry out these duties, the committee may examine any other issues that
1717     the committee considers necessary.
1718          (ii) The committee may also notify and refer rules to the chairs of the interim
1719     committee that has jurisdiction over a particular agency when the committee determines that an
1720     issue involved in an agency's rules may be more appropriately addressed by that committee.
1721          [(d)] (e) In reviewing a rule, the committee shall follow generally accepted principles
1722     of statutory construction.
1723          (4) When the committee reviews an existing rule, the committee chairs shall invite the
1724     Senate and House chairs of the standing committee and of the appropriation subcommittee that
1725     have jurisdiction over the agency whose existing rule is being reviewed to participate as
1726     nonvoting, ex officio members with the committee.
1727          (5) The committee may request that the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst prepare
1728     a fiscal note on any rule.
1729          (6) In order to accomplish the committee's functions described in this chapter, the

1730     committee has all the powers granted to legislative interim committees under Section 36-12-11.
1731          (7) (a) The committee may prepare written findings of the committee's review of a rule
1732     or policy and may include any recommendation, including legislative action.
1733          (b) When the committee reviews a rule, the committee shall provide to the agency that
1734     enacted the rule:
1735          (i) the committee's findings, if any; and
1736          (ii) a request that the agency notify the committee of any changes the agency makes to
1737     the rule.
1738          (c) The committee shall provide a copy of the committee's findings, if any, to:
1739          (i) any member of the Legislature, upon request;
1740          (ii) any person affected by the rule, upon request;
1741          (iii) the president of the Senate;
1742          (iv) the speaker of the House of Representatives;
1743          (v) the Senate and House chairs of the standing committee that has jurisdiction over the
1744     agency that made the rule; and
1745          (vi) the Senate and House chairs of the appropriation subcommittee that has
1746     jurisdiction over the agency that made the rule.
1747          (8) (a) (i) The committee may submit a report on the committee's review of state
1748     agency rules to each member of the Legislature at each regular session.
1749          (ii) The report shall include:
1750          (A) any finding or recommendation the committee made under Subsection (7);
1751          (B) any action an agency took in response to a committee recommendation; and
1752          (C) any recommendation by the committee for legislation.
1753          (b) If the committee receives a recommendation not to reauthorize a rule, as described
1754     in Subsection 63G-3-301(13)(b), and the committee recommends to the Legislature
1755     reauthorization of the rule, the committee shall submit a report to each member of the
1756     Legislature detailing the committee's decision.
1757          Section 28. Section 63G-3-502 is amended to read:
1758          63G-3-502. Legislative reauthorization of agency rules -- Extension of rules by
1759     governor.
1760          (1) All grants of rulemaking power from the Legislature to a state agency in any statute

1761     are made subject to the provisions of this section.
1762          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), every agency rule that is in effect on
1763     February 28 of any calendar year expires on May 1 of that year unless it has been reauthorized
1764     by the Legislature.
1765          (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (2)(a), an agency's rules do not expire
1766     if:
1767          (i) the rule is explicitly mandated by a federal law or regulation; or
1768          (ii) a provision of Utah's constitution vests the agency with specific constitutional
1769     authority to regulate.
1770          (3) (a) The Administrative Rules Review Committee shall have omnibus legislation
1771     prepared for consideration by the Legislature during its annual general session.
1772          (b) The omnibus legislation shall be substantially in the following form: "All rules of
1773     Utah state agencies are reauthorized except for the following:".
1774          (c) Before sending the legislation to the governor for the governor's action, the
1775     Administrative Rules Review Committee may send a letter to the governor and to the agency
1776     explaining specifically why the committee believes any rule should not be reauthorized.
1777          (d) For the purpose of this section, the entire rule, a single section, or any complete
1778     paragraph of a rule may be excepted for reauthorization in the omnibus legislation considered
1779     by the Legislature.
1780          (4) (a) The Administrative Rules Review Committee may have legislation prepared for
1781     consideration by the Legislature in the annual general session or a special session regarding any
1782     rule made according to emergency rulemaking procedures described in Section 63G-3-304.
1783          [(4)] (5) The Legislature's reauthorization of a rule by legislation does not constitute
1784     legislative approval of the rule, nor is it admissible in any proceeding as evidence of legislative
1785     intent.
1786          [(5)] (6) (a) If an agency believes that a rule that has not been reauthorized by the
1787     Legislature or that will be allowed to expire should continue in full force and effect and is a
1788     rule within their authorized rulemaking power, the agency may seek the governor's declaration
1789     extending the rule beyond the expiration date.
1790          (b) In seeking the extension, the agency shall submit a petition to the governor that
1791     affirmatively states:

1792          (i) that the rule is necessary; and
1793          (ii) a citation to the source of its authority to make the rule.
1794          (c) (i) If the governor finds that the necessity does exist, and that the agency has the
1795     authority to make the rule, the governor may declare the rule to be extended by publishing that
1796     declaration in the Administrative Rules Bulletin on or before April 15 of that year.
1797          (ii) The declaration shall set forth the rule to be extended, the reasons the extension is
1798     necessary, and a citation to the source of the agency's authority to make the rule.
1799          (d) If the omnibus bill required by Subsection (3) fails to pass both houses of the
1800     Legislature or is found to have a technical legal defect preventing reauthorization of
1801     administrative rules intended to be reauthorized by the Legislature, the governor may declare
1802     all rules to be extended by publishing a single declaration in the Administrative Rules Bulletin
1803     on or before June 15 without meeting requirements of Subsections [(5)] (6)(b) and (c).