HARRY HUGHES, Governor

1085

2-1509. PRESENTMENT TO GOVERNOR.

(A)  SEAL; PRESENTMENT.

AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER A BILL IS RETURNED TO THE HOUSE
OF ORIGIN, THE PRESIDING OFFICER SHALL HAVE THE STATE SEAL
AFFIXED TO THE BILL AND SHALL PRESENT THE BILL TO THE GOVERNOR OR
A DESIGNEE OF THE GOVERNOR.

(B)  RECORD OF PRESENTMENT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER WHO PRESENTS THE BILL OR THE CLERK
DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER SHALL:

(1)  IN THE PRESENCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM THE
BILL IS PRESENTED, MAKE AND SIGN, ON THE BACK OF THE BILL, A
WRITTEN MEMORANDUM OF THE DAY AND HOUR OF PRESENTMENT; AND

(2)  HAVE A CORRESPONDING ENTRY MADE IN THE SENATE
JOURNAL OR THE HOUSE JOURNAL.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived
without substantive change from the seventh and eighth
clauses and, as it related to affixing the seal, the
sixth clause of former Art. 41, § 45.

In subsection (a) of this section, the reference to "a
designee of the Governor" is added to reflect § 2-1510
of this subtitle.

Also in subsection (a) of this section, the reference
to presentment of bills by "the presiding officer" is
substituted for the former, ambiguous phrase
"presented to the Governor", which, with the former
reference to "such clerical officer having custody of
the same", seemed to mean that the Secretary of the
Senate or the Chief Clerk of the House presented the
bill. This substitution reflects Md. Constitution,
Art. III, § 30, which, as amended in 1974, expressly
requires presentment "by the presiding officer of the
house in which [the bill] originated".

The Commission to Revise the Annotated Code believes,
however, that this presentment may be accomplished by
the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Clerk of the
House, acting as the agent of the President or the
Speaker, and notes that, in practice, these clerical
officers do deliver the bills, for purposes of
presentment. Therefore, in subsection (b) of this
section, the reference to the "presiding officer who
presents the bill or the clerk designated by the
presiding officer" is substituted for the former
reference to "such clerical officer having custody of
the" bill, to accommodate custody either by a
presiding officer or a clerk.