The Secretary of the preceding Senate, at the time and place appointed for the meeting of the Legislature, shall call the Senators-elect present to order, and from the certified roll furnished to the secretary call their names, and if a quorum respond, the secretary shall preside until they are qualified and a President is elected. If no quorum appear the secretary shall preside, and the Senators-elect present shall adjourn from day to day, but shall transact no business, except to go into convention to fill vacancies, until a quorum appear and are qualified and a President is elected. After the election of the President, the Senate shall proceed to elect by ballot a secretary and an assistant secretary.   [PL 2019, c. 475, §13 (AMD).]

In case of vacancy in the office of such secretary or in the secretary's absence or the secretary's inability to perform the duties, the secretary's assistant shall perform the duties.   [PL 2019, c. 475, §13 (AMD).]

If the Secretary of the Senate and the secretary's assistant are absent at the time set for convening the Senate, their duties must be performed by the Secretary of State or the Secretary of State's deputy.   [PL 2019, c. 475, §13 (AMD).]