Gregory Schmidt, Secretary of the Senate. Born in Oakland, California, May 3, 1947. B.A. Santa Clara University, 1969. M.A. University of California Berkeley, 1973. Served as Consultant to Assembly Committees on Human Recourses; Labor, Employment and Consumer Affairs, 1974-82, Senate Committee on Elections and Reapportionment, 1983-84. Staff Director of Senate Judiciary Committee, 1985-94. Chief of Staff to the President Pro Tempore, 1994. Executive Officer of Senate Rules Committee, 1995 to present. Staff Chair, NCSL Criminal Justice Committee 1992-93. Chair, California International Relations Foundation. Member, American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries. Elected Secretary August 31, 1996. Married to Charlotte Haynes Schmidt, children Jeffrey, Korina, John, Thomas, grandsons Kai, Jaden, Damon, Nathan, and Parker.
The Secretary of the Senate is one of the three officers of the Senate who are elected by the total Membership, the other two being the President pro Tempore and the Chief Sergeant-at-Arms. He or she is the chief parliamentarian and keeper of the legislative records, responsible for the accurate drafting of bills and their preparation for presentation to the Governor. He or she is also the Executive Officer of the Senate, in charge of the day-to-day administration of the house.
As the Senate's executive, the Secretary oversees a staff of 150 who serve the Rules Committee, the official administrative body of the Senate. He or she is assisted by deputy officers who manage procurement and supplies, mail services, property, fiscal records, personnel, and benefits. The Rules staff also provides support to Rules Committee members in processing gubernatorial appointments, assigning bills, and establishing legislative procedures.
The Office of the Secretary of the Senate includes a number of staff members more commonly referred to as the "Senate Desk." When the Senate is in floor session, the Senate Desk staff is arrayed in front of the Senate Chamber. They have many ministerial tasks to ensure the orderly conduct of the business before the Senate, and the retention of legislative records for the use of the public. The Desk includes the Reading Clerk, History Clerk, Daily File Clerk of records and Journal Clerk. They create the official records of the Senate, which are available in hard copy through the Legislative Bill Room or over the Internet.