The EPGA was introduced in the Michigan Legislature by Sen. Charles Youngblood, a Democrat from Detroit, and Harry Hittle, a Republican from Lansing.[6] The bill was allegedly written by Donald S. Leonard, who had served as a Michigan State Police district commander for the Detroit metropolitan area.[7] The state police apparently felt restricted in their ability to contain a riot in Detroit two years earlier.[8]
The bill moved quickly through the Legislature and became law. Introduced on April 6, it passed both legislative chambers without any amendments in less than three weeks’ time. It was signed into law by Gov. Harry Kelly on May 25, 1945, seven weeks after it was introduced.[9]
[6] “Measure Gives Governor Wide Emergency Powers” (Lansing State Journal, April 6, 1945), https://perma.cc/PK43-GWLN.
[7] “Emergency Act Study Ordered” (Lansing State Journal, June 11, 1964), https://perma.cc/732A-K42Z; “Donald S. Leonard Papers: 1925-1966” (Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan), https://perma.cc/J2HP-DAMP.
[8] “Governor Signs Emergency Act” (Lansing State Journal, May 26, 1945), https://perma.cc/H5F5-4YH7.
[9] “Journal of the Senate of the State of Michigan: 1945 Regular Session” (State of Michigan, 1945), https://perma.cc/RSX6-VPH9.