January 2, 2003
TO: Department Directors
FROM: Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
RE: Coordination of State Department Legislative Activity

This Executive Directive establishes the basic policy for the Executive Branch regarding legislative activity by state departments. Coordination of legislative activity within the Executive Branch is important for the effective and efficient administration of state government. Accordingly:

1. Legislative proposals initiated directly by a department or on behalf of any entities within the department, including autonomous agencies, shall be transmitted to:
   
   
   1. The State Budget Director who shall review the proposal for any budgetary implications and communicate pertinent findings to the Governor; and
   2. The Governor’s Director of Legislative Affairs who shall review the proposal for programmatic implications and communicate pertinent findings to the Governor.
      
      
2. Until the completion of both reviews, legislative proposals initiated by departments shall not be transmitted to the Legislature or to individual legislators. This process is necessary to assure that the Executive Branch speaks with one voice on its legislative initiatives.
   
   
3. The Governor’s Director of Legislative Affairs will assign the analyses of legislation pending before the legislature to affected departments and will designate one department as the lead department for each bill or resolution. All affected departments shall cooperate with the lead department in analyzing bills or resolutions to provide the Governor’s Director of Legislative Affairs a joint analysis reflecting consistent positions among departments. If after diligent efforts disagreements persist, the disagreements and options for resolution shall be summarized succinctly for transmission to and resolution by the Governor.
   

Your cooperation in complying with this directive is appreciated.

______________________________
Jennifer M. Granholm
Governor