WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule power, the County of Cook may exercise any power and perform any function relating to its government and affairs protecting health, safety and welfare; and

WHEREAS, the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution creates a process to address a temporary, voluntary absence of the President of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Cook County, in order to properly manage its government and affairs, needs to address a temporary, voluntary absence of the office of the President of the Cook County Board; and

WHEREAS, to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Cook County and in order to ensure that the government of Cook County has an Acting Executive with the duties and powers of the President if the elected President declares that he/she is temporarily unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office.

BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that Chapter 2 Administration, Article II, Section 2-43 of the Cook County Code is hereby enacted as follows:

Sec. 2-43.  Temporary Absence in the Office of the President.

Whenever the President transmits to the Board of Commissioners a written declaration that he/she is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office due to health or other reasons; then the Board shall select and appoint one of their number to serve as Acting President until the President transmits a written declaration to the Board of Commissioners that he/she is able to discharge the powers and duties of the office of the President.  The Acting President shall have all of the responsibilities, powers and duties of the office of the President while serving as Acting President.  The President shall continue to receive the pay and benefits of the Office of the President during any such temporary absence.