Senate Government Operations committee adopts draft disapproval as committee resolution, seeks legislative drafting

The Senate Committee on Government Operations on Feb. 26 voted to designate a drafted resolution disapproving Executive Order O 01/25 — the governor’s order to reorganize the Department of Public Safety into an Agency of Public Safety — as a committee resolution and asked staff to revise the text to reflect the Senate’s intent to bring forward draft legislation.

The action followed sustained procedural discussion about whether the committee should request a one-house resolution, ask the administration to submit draft legislation, or prepare its own bill. Michael Scharnick, legislative counsel, walked the committee through the parliamentary implications and the calendar timing for introducing a resolution or legislation. “I should emphasize nonadvocacy point on my part,” Scharnick said while advising members that either approach could move the matter onto the notice calendar…