Brief ⁽¹⁾

SB 97 amends current law which requires the Governor to sign all proclamations, warrants, and requisitions required by law to be made or issued by and in the name of the executive of the state. The bill would permit, in the Governor's absence, signing by the Lieutenant Governor or a designee who is authorized in writing to sign such documents on behalf of the Governor, or by the Governor's electronic signature when authorized by the Governor.

Background

The bill was requested on behalf of the Governor's Office by the Chief Legal Counsel. The intent behind the bill was to expedite the process of signing such documents in the Governor's absence and to cut down on the volume of warrants and requisitions for the arrest and transportation of fugitives between states that call for the Governor's personal signature.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary amended SB 97 to eliminate use of the Governor's electronic signature and added language that in the absence of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or both, a designee would be required to be named in writing.

The House Committee on E-Government added the Governor's electronic signature language back into the bill.

SB 97 would have no fiscal effect.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi