2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5502 | Department of Public Safety › Section 5502.24 | Designation of Temporary Seats of State and Local Government in Event of Emergency.

Effective:
October 29, 1995
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 162 - 121st General Assembly
(A) The governor may designate by written proclamation an emergency temporary location, or locations, for the seat of government for use in the event an emergency renders it imprudent, inexpedient, or impossible to conduct the affairs of state government at the normal location of the seat thereof. He shall take such action and issue such orders as may be necessary for an orderly transition of the affairs of state government to that emergency temporary location, or locations. The emergency location, or locations, shall be within this state, may be changed at any time, either before or during the emergency, if the governor considers the change advisable, and shall remain as the seat of government until the general assembly by law establishes a new location, or locations, or until the emergency is declared to be ended by the governor and the seat of government is returned to its normal location. During such time as the seat of government remains at the emergency temporary location, or locations, all official acts now or hereafter required by law to be performed at the seat of government by any officer or agency of this state, including the convening and meeting of the general assembly in regular, extraordinary, or emergency session, shall be as valid and binding when performed at the emergency temporary location, or locations, as if performed at the normal location of the seat of government.
(B) The governing body of each political subdivision of this state may establish and designate, by ordinance, resolution, or other manner, alternate or substitute sites or places as the emergency location, or locations, of government and may make any necessary arrangements for the use of those sites or places. Whenever due to an emergency it becomes imprudent, inexpedient, or impossible to conduct the affairs of local government at the regular or usual place or places thereof, the governing bodies may meet at those previously designated sites or places, or at any other convenient site or place, on the call of the presiding officer or any two members of the governing bodies. The sites or places may be within or without the territorial limits of the political subdivisions and shall be within this state. All, or any part, of the public business may be transacted and conducted at the sites or places during the emergency situation. During the period when the public business is being conducted at the emergency temporary location, or locations, the governing body and other officers of a political subdivision of this state have and possess and shall exercise, at the location, or locations, all of the executive, legislative, and judicial powers and functions conferred upon that body and officers by or under the laws of this state. Such powers and functions may be exercised in the light of the exigencies of the emergency without regard to or compliance with time-consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by law pertaining thereto, and all acts of that body and officers shall be as valid and binding as if performed within the territorial limits of their political subdivision.