EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 50

WHEREAS,the State of Alabama is subject to severe tropical weather, hurricanes, tornados, and/or other events that may require populations to seek shelter in hardened structures;

WHEREAS, certain Alabama Attorney General Opinions have stated that certain state agencies may have concurrent jurisdiction on the construction or installation of safe rooms;

WHEREAS, certain state agencies have different requirements depending upon the type of safe room requiring individuals or communities to seek guidance from a number of sources in order to comply with Alabama law;

WHEREAS, Alabama Code Section 31-9-101 provides “[t]he Alabama Emergency Management Agency shall have oversight authority on all storm shelters, both community and residential” and authorizes the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to implement regulations governing safe rooms; and

WHEREAS, the State of Alabama and its citizens need to be provided with administrative regulations that contain all the requirements for the construction or installation of all storm shelters located in one consolidated location.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Alabama, do hereby establish the Alabama Safe Room Task Force (the “Task Force”) to organize and conduct meetings, and develop and coordinate the implementation of administrative regulations that will govern the construction or installation of all storm shelters in the State of Alabama.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the purpose of the Task Force is to develop and coordinate the implementation of administrative regulations that govern the construction or installation of all storm shelters in the State of Alabama for recommendation to the Governor and, upon approval by the Governor, implementation by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (the “Recommended Regulations”).  The Recommended Regulations should address any and all federal and/or state requirements for the construction or installation of storm shelters in the State of Alabama. The Task Force should submit the Recommended Regulations to the Governor no later than April 30, 2015.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, the Task Force shall oversee the implementation of the Plan and continue to meet at least annually to review the status of the approved Recommended Regulations and any issues that have arisen in the implementation of the Recommended Regulations.  The approved Recommended Regulations will be reviewed annually and a revised version, if needed, will be submitted to the Governor by April 1st of that year for approval.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED,that the Task Force is created and shall operate as an independent, advisory council.  The Task Force shall have the duties, responsibilities, functions, and authority set forth in this Executive Order or otherwise provided by law.  The Task Force shall be chaired by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, and shall include appointed representatives from the following agencies:

  1. Alabama Building Commission
  2. Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission
  3. Alabama State Fire Marshall
  4. Alabama Board of Architects
  5. Alabama Board of Engineers and Land Surveyors
  6. Alabama General Contractors Board

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency is directed to provide an employee to coordinate the development and implementation of the approved Recommended Regulations between all agencies, state and federal;

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the Task Force shall meet at least monthly until the Recommended Regulations have been approved or at such other times as requested by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency representative.  All council members shall serve without compensation.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that no person or individual shall continue to serve, as a member on the Task Force when he or she no longer represents the function or serves in the capacity enumerated in this Executive Order..

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED,that the Governor may elect to appoint additional members at a later date if deemed necessary.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that this Executive Order shall become effective immediately and shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded by the Governor.

DONE AND ORDERED this 13th day of January, 2015.

Robert Bentley
Governor

Attested:
Jim Bennett
Secretary of State

Provided by the Office of the Governor of Alabama | governor.alabama.gov