(a) When an office, the appointment to which is vested in the Governor and Senate, either becomes vacant or the term of the incumbent thereof expires, the Governor may appoint a person to the office or reappoint the incumbent after the expiration of the term. Until Senate confirmation of the person appointed or reappointed, that person serves at the pleasure of the Governor. If the term of office of an incumbent subject to this section expires, the Governor shall have 60 days after the expiration date to reappoint the incumbent. If the incumbent is not reappointed within the 60-day period, the office shall be deemed to be vacant as of the first day following the end of the 60-day period.
(b) With respect to the appointment or reappointment by the Governor of a person to an office subject to confirmation by the Senate, the Governor shall submit the name of the person appointed, or the name of the incumbent reappointed, and the effective date of the appointment or reappointment to the Senate or, if the Senate is in recess or has adjourned, to the Secretary of the Senate, within 60 days after the person first began performing the duties of the office, or, as to the reappointment of an incumbent, within 90 days after the expiration date of the term. If the Governor does not provide the required notification within 60 days after the person first began performing the duties of the office, or, as to the reappointment of an incumbent to an office after the expiration date of the term, within 90 days after the expiration of the term, the office shall be deemed to be vacant as of the first day immediately following the end of the applicable period.
(c) If the Senate either refuses to confirm, or fails to confirm within 365 days after the day the person first began performing the duties of the office, or, with respect to an incumbent whose appointment to that office previously had been confirmed by the Senate and who is reappointed to that office, within 365 days after the expiration date of the term, the following shall apply:
(1) If the Senate refuses to confirm, the person may continue to serve in that office until 60 days have elapsed since the refusal to confirm or until 365 days have elapsed since the person first began performing the duties of the office, whichever occurs first, or with respect to an incumbent whose appointment to that office previously had been confirmed by the Senate and who is reappointed to that office, until 60 days have elapsed since refusal or until 365 days after the expiration date of the prior term, and the office for which the appointment was made shall be deemed to be vacant as of the first day immediately following the end of the applicable period.
(2) If the Senate fails to confirm within the applicable 365-day period, the person may not continue to serve in that office, and the office for which the appointment was made shall be deemed to be vacant as of the first day immediately following the end of the 365-day period.
(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 801, Sec. 1.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018