Division 6. Continuity of Government
Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.
Division 6. Continuity of Government
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 6-138 (2026)
Sec. 6-138. DefinitionsLinkCopy Citation
(a)
As used in this Division:
(1)
Emergency interim successor shall mean a person designated pursuant to this Division for possible temporary succession to the powers and duties, but not the office, of a County officer in the event that such officer or any duly authorized deputy is unavailable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office.
(2)
Unavailable shall mean either that a vacancy in office exists and there is no deputy authorized to exercise all of the powers and discharge the duties of the office, or that the lawful incumbent of the office (including any deputy exercising the powers and discharging the duties of an office because of a vacancy) and his duly authorized deputy are absent or unable, for physical, mental or legal reasons, to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 6-139 (2026)
Sec. 6-139. Emergency interim successors; appointment; reviewLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Within thirty (30) days after first entering upon the duties of his office, the County Executive, each member of the Council, the Clerk, the Director of Finance, the County Attorney, and each Judge of the Circuit Court shall, in addition to any duly authorized deputy, designate such number of emergency interim successors to his office and specify their rank in order of succession after any duly authorized deputy so that there will be not less than three (3) duly authorized deputies or emergency interim successors or combination thereof for the office.
(b)
The Council shall within the time specified in Subsection (a) of this Section, in addition to any duly authorized deputy, designate for appointive officers including the Chief Administrative Officer, Chief of Police, Fire Chief and Health Officer such number of emergency interim successors to these officers and specify their rank in order of succession after any duly authorized deputy so that there will be not less than three (3) duly authorized deputies or emergency interim successors or combination thereof for each officer.
(c)
The incumbent in the case of those elective officers specified in Subsection (a) of this Section, and the Council in the case of those appointive officers specified in Subsection (b) of this Section, shall review and, as necessary, promptly revise the designations of emergency interim successors to insure that at all times there are at least three (3) qualified emergency interim successors or duly authorized deputies of any combination thereof for each officer specified.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 6-140 (2026)
Sec. 6-140. Emergency interim successor; qualifications; statusLinkCopy Citation
(a)
No person shall be designated or serve as an emergency interim successor unless he may under the Constitution and Statutes of this State and the Charter or Ordinances of this County, hold the office of the person to whose powers and duties he is designated to succeed. No provision of any ordinance prohibiting an officer or employee of this County from holding another office shall be applicable to an emergency interim successor.
(b)
Any person designated as an emergency interim successor holds that designation at the pleasure of the designator; provided that he must be replaced if removed. He retains this designation as emergency interim successor until replaced by another appointee of the authorized designator.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 6-141 (2026)
Sec. 6-141. Assumption of powers and duties of officer by emergency interim successorLinkCopy Citation
If in the event of an attack any officer named in Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 6-139 and any duly authorized deputy is unavailable, his emergency interim successor highest in rank in order of succession who is not unavailable shall, except for the power and duty to appoint emergency interim successors, exercise the powers and discharge the duties of such officer. An emergency interim successor shall exercise these powers and discharge these duties only until such time as the lawful incumbent officer or any duly authorized deputy or any an emergency interim successor higher in rank in order of succession exercises, or resumes the exercise of, the powers and discharge of the duties of the office, or until, where an actual vacancy exist, a successor is appointed to fill such vacancy or is elected and qualified as provided by law.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 6-142 (2026)
Sec. 6-142. Recording and publication of successorsLinkCopy Citation
The name, address and rank in order of succession of each duly authorized deputy shall be filed with the Clerk and each designation, replacement, or change in order of succession of an emergency interim successor shall become effective when the designator files with the Clerk, the successor's name, address and rank in order of succession. The Clerk shall keep on file all such data regarding duly authorized deputies and emergency interim successors. The data shall be open to public inspection.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 6-143 (2026)
Sec. 6-143. Formalities of taking officeLinkCopy Citation
At the time of their designation, emergency interim successors shall take such oath and do such things, if any, as may be required to qualify them to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office to which they may succeed.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 6-144 (2026)
Sec. 6-144. Quorum and vote requirements; suspensionLinkCopy Citation
(a)
In the event of an attack:
(1)
Quorum requirements for the Council shall be suspended; and
(2)
Where the affirmative vote of a specified proportion of members for approval of an ordinance, resolution or other action would otherwise be required, the same proportion of those voting thereon shall be sufficient.