Pursuant to the authority vested in the Office of the Governor of the State of Colorado, I Bill Owens, Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order transferring certain personnel to the Department of Public Safety and requesting coordination of certain executive departments in order to create the Office of Preparedness and Security.

1. Background and Purpose

The events of September 11, 2001 have highlighted the need within Colorado to coordinate state government responsiveness to public safety threats. OVer the past two months, members of my cabinet have worked to identify the organizational and operational needs of state agencies in light of the new challenges facing public safety officials. State government must prepare for and respond to a range of new terrorism threats to public safety.

In an effort to create an maintain a state government that is able to respond to the changing needs of its citizens, the general assembly has extended to the executive directors of the principal departments specific statutory authority in Colorado Revised Statute subsection 24-1-107 to establish, combine or abolish divisions, sections and units of the agencies and to allocate and reallocate powers, duties and functions to divisions, sections, and units under the principal department with the approval of the Governor as organizational needs change.

Several executive directors have conducted a review of their departments and have reported to me that changes would be beneficial to enable their departments to better prepare for and respond to Colorado's public safety needs.

As envisioned by the Colorado Disaster Emergency Act of 1992, threats to the public safety of this magnitude confer upon the Governor unique powers and responsibilities. As Governor, I am responsible for meeting the dangers to the state and people presented by disasters. The Act defines disasters as the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage injury or loss of life or property resulting from any natural cause or cause of human origin. Section (editor's note: number unavailable) of the Act enables the Governor to transfer the direction, personnel or functions of state departments and agencies or units thereof for the purpose of performing or facilitating emergency services.

Therefore, under the authority given to me by the general assembly, I am creating the Office of Preparedness and Security within the Colorado Department of Public Safety. Through this executive order, I am also creating within the Office of Preparedness and Security the Office of Anti-Terrorism Planning and Training.

2. Mission

I hereby find that a state of disaster emergency has existed since September 11, 2001, and that this threat continues. Additionally, I find that the nature of the threat requires prudent measures such as reorganization or consolidation of certain functions of state government to allow for the greatest preparedness and response to emerging threats against Colorado citizens and property.

Pursuant to CRS subsection 2-1-1-107, I approve the Department of Public Safety's request for reorganization in order to establish the Office of Preparedness and Security and within this office the Office of Anti-Terrorism Planning and Training.

Pursuant to CRS subsection 2-1-32-210-(7)(c), I hereby transfer certain personnel and their functions to the Department of Public Safety for the creation of the Division of Anti-Terrorism Planning and Training located within the Office of Preparedness and Security. At the direction of the Executive Directors and with the approval of the Governor, I hereby transfer certain personnel and their functions in the Office of Emergency Management from the Department of Local Affairs to the Department of Public Safety. Under the same authority and process, I hereby transfer certain personnel and their functions from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to the Department of Public Safety.

I direct all executive departments and agencies of State Government to coordinate their public safety efforts as necessary with the Office of Preparedness and Security.

3. Duration

This Executive Order shall remain in force until modified or terminated by further executive order of the Governor

Given under my hand and
the Executive Seal of the
State of Colorado, this 7th day
of November, 2001.


Bill Owens
Governor