More representatives this week, voted in favor of legislation that would amend the Constitution to change the state’s emergency declaration provision to ensure emergency declarations only last 21 days and need legislative approval to continue thereafter. House Bill 55 would mean that a declaration could be extended beyond 21 days only with approval of the General Assembly. Currently, a governor’s emergency declaration can last up to 90 days and be renewed by the governor indefinitely. Once the 21-day period is over, the General Assembly would have a voice in what further needs to be done and for how long. Representative Rich Irvin pointed out, that under Governor Wolf, Pennsylvania is currently in month 10 of a COVID-19 emergency declaration and year four of an opioid crisis emergency declaration, without any input from the General Assembly on how best to handle these situations.