Emergency Services and Disaster Law; powers and duties of Governor, purchase of PPE.

Emergency Services and Disaster Law; powers and duties of Governor; purchase of personal protective equipment during a disaster caused by a communicable disease of public health threat. Grants the Governor authority during a disaster caused by a communicable disease of public health threat for which a state of emergency has been declared to establish a program through which the Governor may purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for private, nongovernmental entities and distribute the PPE to such private, nongovernmental entities. The bill exempts the Governor's procurement of such PPE from the provisions of the Virginia Public Procurement Act, but requires the Governor to provide for competition where practicable and include a written statement regarding the basis for awarding any contract. The bill also requires the Department of Emergency Management to consult with and survey private, nongovernmental entities prior to implementing any such program in order to assess demand for participation in the program, as well as the quantity and types of personal protective equipment such entities would like to procure. This bill is identical to SB 5039.