(a) There is established a Council on Gubernatorial Incapacity consisting of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, and four persons appointed by the Governor. The term of each appointed member of the council shall be coterminous with the term of the Governor. The Chief Justice shall be chairman of the council. Members of the council shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for any necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(b) The Council on Gubernatorial Incapacity shall determine if the Governor is unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office. Upon receipt of a written declaration of the Lieutenant-Governor or of a majority of the members of the council that the Governor is unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office the council shall convene within forty-eight hours. In an emergency, upon receipt of a written declaration of the Lieutenant-Governor that the Governor is unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office, the council shall convene or otherwise communicate with each other collectively within twenty-four hours. The Governor shall have the right to appear and be heard and offer any information or evidence which may tend to show his ability to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his office. A determination that the Governor is unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office shall be made by a two-thirds vote of the membership of the council and shall be made within fourteen days after the council is required to convene. If the council fails to make such a determination the Governor shall continue to exercise, or resume, as the case may be, the powers and duties of his office. If the council determines that the Governor is unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office it shall transmit a written declaration to that effect to the president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the Lieutenant-Governor.

(P.A. 84-351, S. 1, 2.)

History: P.A. 84-351 effective November 28, 1984, upon certification by the secretary of the state of the vote approving the constitutional amendment concerning gubernatorial succession.