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TO DECLARE THAT THE SENATE DECLINES TO CONSENT TO AN EXTENSION OR RENEWAL OF THE CURRENT STATE OF EMERGENCY OR THE ISSUANCE OF ANY NEW COVID-19-RELATED STATE OF EMERGENCY WITHOUT THE EXPRESS CONSENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Whereas, the Governor issued an initial state-of-emergency declaration on March 13, 2020, based on a determination that COVID-19 posed an imminent public-health emergency for the State of South Carolina; and
Whereas, Section 25-1-440(a)(2) of the 1976 Code requires the consent of the General Assembly to extend a state-of-emergency declaration beyond a fifteen-day period; and
Whereas, rather than relying on the consent of the General Assembly for an extension, the Governor has issued new state-of-emergency declarations specifically related to COVID-19 every fifteen days since March 13, 2020; and
Whereas, the Governor has not sought the consent of, nor has he consulted with, the General Assembly regarding COVID-19 state-of-emergency declarations. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate declines to consent to an extension or renewal of the current state of emergency or the issuance of any new COVID-19-related state of emergency without the express consent of the General Assembly.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Henry Dargan McMaster, Governor of the State of South Carolina, and the Honorable James H. Lucas, Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
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