5:1 Department; Secretary; Election and Bond; Transition. –
I. There is hereby established a department of state under the executive direction of the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall be chosen biennially in the manner directed in the constitution and in accordance with RSA 14:2-b and shall hold office until a successor is elected and assumes the duties of the office. The secretary of state's duties shall be those of both a legislative branch as well as an executive branch officer. The penal sum of his bond shall be $10,000, and the sureties upon it must be satisfactory to the governor and council.
II. The term of office for the new secretary of state shall begin on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday in January. The new secretary of state shall assume the duties of office upon taking the oath of office.
III. It shall be the duty of the outgoing secretary of state to make available to the new secretary of state all official documents and vital information necessary for a full and complete understanding of the operation of the department of state.