my $sql = <<EOF;
    select count(*) ROWCOUNT from EMPLOYEE where employee_id = 1
EOF
    ;
my $sth = $dbh->prepare($sql);
$sth->execute;
my $employee_count_row = $sth->fetchrow_hashref;
$sth->finish;

print "NO RECORDS FOUND" unless $auth_row->{'ROWCOUNT'} > 0;
 ...fire the second SQL if ROWCOUNT > 0