GCA Title 1, Chapter 16
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CHAPTER 16 COMPILER OF LAWS
SOURCE : Entire chapter originally added as a new Chapter III to Title XXXVIII of the Government Code (GC §§ 42100-42108) by P.L. 14-093:2 (Dec. 31, 1977). Entire chapter enacted as Subchapter A of Chapter 16, Title 1 GCA, by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980). Several provisions in the chapter repealed and reenacted/added by P.L. 17-006 (May 5, 1983). Entire chapter repealed and reenacted by P.L. 27-077:1 (Apr. 26, 2004). 2019 NOTE: The history of the position of the Compiler of Laws and the Compiler’s Office is recorded in several public laws.
- P.L. 14-132 (June 30, 1978) established the Office of the Compiler of Laws with an effective date of January 1, 1982, and further provided that the Guam Law Revision Commision would have interim responsibility over Compiler functions until January 1, 1982.
- P.L. 14-093 (Dec. 31, 1977) first created the classified position of Compiler of Laws within the Guam Legislature.
- P.L. 15-104 (Mar. 5, 1980) enacted the entirety of Title 1 of the Guam Code Annotated, including Chapter 16, Statute Revision and Publication , comprised of Subchapter ACompiler of Laws (§§ 1600-1613), and Subchapter B-Guam Law Revision Commission (§§ 1650-1657). Section 1657 explained that the Law Revision Commission would terminate on January 1, 1982, and that the Compiler of Laws would ‘assume a separate identity and proceed in accordance with Subchapter A.’ This public law includes extensive annotations from former Compiler of Laws Charles Troutman, that explain the history of the position of the Compiler and the Compiler’s Office, and the relationship with, and transition from, the Guam Law Revision Commission.
- P.L. 17-006 (May 5, 1983) moved the Compiler of Laws to the Office of the Attorney General.
- P.L. 27-077 (Apr. 26, 2004) moved the Compiler of Laws to the Supreme Court of Guam.
- § 1600. Findings and Policy.
- § 1601. Compiler of Laws.
- § 1602. Compiler of Laws’ Responsibilities.
- § 1603. Definitions.
- § 1604. Administrative Support for the Compiler of Laws.
- § 1605. Powers of the Compiler of Laws.
- § 1606. Powers of the Compiler of Laws Relative to Revision.
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- § 1607. Copyright.
- § 1608. Charges for Publications; Fee Distribution.
- § 1609. Compiler of Laws as Repository for Certain Documents.
- § 1610. Publication of Administrative Rules and Regulations.
- § 1611. Guam Code Advisory Commission.
- § 1612. Compiler of Laws Fund.
- § 1613. Transition Provisions.
- § 1614. Existing Licenses and Contracts.
- § 1615. Publication by Government Entities.
§ 1600. Findings and Policy.
I Liheslaturan Guåhan determines that as of the Year 2000, the Guam Code Annotated has been updated with a General Index, Session Laws published through the Twenty-Third (23rd) Guam Legislature, and the Administrative Rules republished. I Liheslatura finds that the Internet has come into wide-use and is now a preferred research vehicle since the first Compiler of Laws statute was enacted in 1978. Therefore, I Liheslatura determines that a regular program of publication, indexing, updating, and annotating the laws of Guam, both on paper and on the Internet, is imperative for the regular operations of both government and private interests having dealings with Guam, and therefore adopts this Chapter to provide for an office within the Judicial Branch to assure that the laws, administrative rules, court reports and other publications of Guam are timely published and regularly distributed. SOURCE : GC § 42100, as added by P.L. 14-093:2 (Dec. 31, 1977). Codified as 1 GCA § 1600 by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980). Repealed and reenacted by by P.L. 17-006:4 (May 5, 1983). Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 27-077 (Apr. 26, 2004). Amended by P.L. 34-027:2 (July 13, 2017).
§ 1601. Compiler of Laws.
There is hereby created within the Supreme Court of Guam, a Compiler of Laws. In addition to any other qualifications which may be established in accordance with the Personnel Rules and Regulations promulgated and adopted by the Judicial Council, the Compiler of Laws shall be an attorney licensed to practice in Guam. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
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Guam shall appoint the Compiler of Laws, with the approval of the Judicial Council. The Compiler of Laws shall be subject to removal and shall be paid in accordance with the Personnel Rules and Regulations of the Judicial Branch promulgated by the Judicial Council. SOURCE : GC § 42101, as added by P.L. 14-093:2 (Dec. 31, 1977). Codified as 1 GCA § 1601 by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980), entitled Creation of Office of Compiler of Laws . Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 17-006:5 (May 5, 1983), entitled Compiler of Laws Created . Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 27-077 (Apr. 26, 2004).
§ 1602. Compiler of Laws’ Responsibilities.
It shall be the responsibility of the Compiler of Laws, through outsourcing, privatization, or other means, to: (a) cause to be published annually, together with an adequate index, all laws enacted by any given legislature in the form in which the laws were enacted, commonly known as the Legislature Session Laws; (b) cause to be published, periodic revisions and updates of the Guam Code Annotated, as determined by the Compiler of Laws, including available annotations thereto, such as Attorney General Opinions, Executive Orders, and Court cases, and distributed at least annually, or more often if practical, to I Liheslatura , the Courts of Guam, the Executive Branch, and other interested individuals or entities as determined by the Compiler of Laws; (c) undertake the publication of the continuing Administrative Rules and Regulations, Opinions of the Attorney General, Executive Orders of I Maga’låhi , and reports of cases decided in the Superior and Supreme Courts of Guam; and (d) make available on the Compiler of Laws’ website and other mediums, the publications of the Compiler of Laws and monthly interim updates of the published material promulgated between regular publications thereof. SOURCE : GC § 42102, as added by P.L. 14-093:2 (Dec. 31, 1977), entitled Responsibilities . Codified as 1 GCA § 1603 by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980) entitled Compiler of Laws Responsibilities , and amended
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by P.L. 17-006:7 (May 5, 1983). Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 27-077 (Apr. 26, 2004). Amended by P.L. 34-027:2 (July 13, 2017). 2019 NOTE: This section was originally codified in the GCA by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980), entitled Qualifications of Compiler of Laws . Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 17-006:6 (May 5, 1983), and repealed by P.L. 27-077:1 (Apr. 26, 2004) .
§ 1603. Definitions.
(a) Publication Defined. The terms ‘publish, published, publishing, and publication’ as used in this Chapter mean any printed or duplicated material, regardless of format, which is produced, purchased for distribution, or authorized by the Compiler of Laws for distribution and purchase to the public, including the Guam Code Annotated, Legislature Session Laws, Attorney General Opinions, Executive Orders, Administrative Rules and Regulations, and Court cases. The offer to distribute printed or duplicated materials to a group of persons for purposes of further distribution or public display constitutes publication. The distribution to other agencies or instrumentalities of the government of Guam constitutes publication. The term ‘publication’ shall include the authority to create or enable any text-based searchable or researchable database of such printed or duplicated materials. (b) Distribution Defined. The term ‘distribute or distribution’ shall mean to sell, lease, assign or otherwise transfer published materials, or offer to sell, lease, assign or otherwise transfer published materials. SOURCE: Added by P.L. 27-077:1 (April 26, 2004). Amended by P.L. 28-179:1 (Jan. 29, 2007) and P.L. 34-027:3 (July 13, 2017). 2019 NOTE: This section was originally codified in the GCA by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980), entitled Compiler of Laws Responsibilities . Amended by P.L. 17-006:7 (May 5, 1983). Repealed and reenacted as 1 GCA § 1602 by P.L. 27-077:1 (Apr. 26, 2004) .
§ 1604. Administrative Support for the Compiler of Laws.
The Supreme Court of Guam shall provide technical, clerical, and administrative support to the Compiler of Laws. In the exercise of the responsibilities included in this Chapter, the Supreme Court of Guam may: (a) Accept grants, contributions, appropriations, and
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payments for the publications of the office; (b) Employ such professional or clerical staff as necessary for the operations of the Compiler of Laws, in accordance with the Personnel Rules and Regulations of the Judicial Branch promulgated by the Judicial Council; and (c) Enter into contracts as necessary for the operations of the Compiler of Laws, in accordance with the law and the Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Judicial Council. SOURCE: Added by P.L. 27-077:1 (Apr. 26, 2004). Amended by P.L. 29-113:VI:65 (Sept. 30, 2008). 2019 NOTE: This section was originally codified in the GCA by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980), entitled Powers of the Compiler of Laws . Amended by P.L. 17-006:8 (May 5, 1983). Repealed and reenacted as 1 GCA § 1605 by P.L. 27-77 (April 26, 2004).
§ 1605. Powers of the Compiler of Laws.
In the exercise of his or her responsibilities under this Chapter, the Compiler of Laws may: (a) Request and utilize the services of any bar association, legislative committee, legislative office, profession or other organization in any matter suitable for the fulfillment of the purposes of this Chapter; (b) Have access to any legislative, executive or judicial reports, opinions, orders, or documents necessary to carry out the purposes of this Chapter; and (c) Conduct meetings, formal or informal, with attorneys, bar associations and others interested in the results and products of the office. SOURCE : GC § 42103, as added by P.L. 14-093:2 (Dec. 31, 1977), entitled Powers . Codified as 1 GCA § 1604 by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980), entitled Powers of the Compiler of Laws . Amended by P.L. 17006:8 (May 5, 1983). Repealed and reenacted to this section by P.L. 27077:1 (Apr. 26, 2004). 2019 NOTE: This section was originally codified in the GCA by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980), entitled Extent of Revision of Codes and Supplements . Amended by P.L. 17-006:9 (May 5, 1983), entitled Powers of Compiler of Laws Relative to Revision . Reenacted as 1 GCA § 1606 by P.L. 27-077:1 (Apr. 26, 2004).
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§ 1606. Powers of the Compiler of Laws Relative to Revision.
In preparing the Guam Code Annotated, the Guam Administrative Rules and Regulations, court reports and other publications of the Office, the Compiler of Laws may: (a) Number and renumber chapters, sections and parts of sections; (b) Rearrange sections so that they fit harmoniously within the publication being prepared; (c) Change reference numbers to agree with renumbered chapters, parts, or sections; (d) Substitute the proper selection or chapter numbers for the terms ‘the preceding section’, ‘this act’, and like terms; (e) Strike out figures where they are merely a repetition of written words; (f) Change capitalization for the purposes of uniformity; and (g) Correct manifest clerical errors or typographical errors. SOURCE: Added as 1 GCA § 1605 by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980), entitled Extent of Revision of Codes and Supplements . Amended by P.L. 17-006:9 (May 5, 1983), entitled Powers of Compiler of Laws Relative to Revision . Repealed and reenacted to this section by P.L. 27-077:1 (April 26, 2004). 2019 NOTE: This section was originally codified in the GCA by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980) entitled Copyright . Reenacted as 1 GCA § 1607 by P.L. 27-077:1 (April 26, 2004).
§ 1607. Copyright.
The government of Guam shall have the right to copyright or permit any appropriate private contractor to copyright any or all of the work product developed pursuant to this Chapter; provided, that the Supreme Court of Guam shall retain the power and right to distribute within the government of Guam any or all of the products of the office at below or at no cost to the recipient agency without having first to pay any copyright fee to
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the copyright holder; and provided, further, that the government of Guam shall not part with any rights to the form or structure of the laws, rules or other official documents of Guam so that, should the appropriate Guam authorities wish to amend or repeal such laws, rules or official documents in the future, there will exist no private claim to the form or structure. SOURCE: GC § 42104, as added by P.L. 14-093:2 (Dec. 31, 1977). Codified as 1 GCA § 1606 by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980). Repealed and reenacted to this section by P.L. 27-077:1 (Apr. 26, 2004) 2019 NOTE: This section was originally codified in the GCA by P.L. 15-104:1 (Mar. 5, 1980), entitled Charges for Publications; Free Distribution . Repealed and reenacted as Printing Revolving Fund by P.L. 17-006:10 (May 5, 1983). Repealed and reenacted as 1 GCA § 1608, Charges for Publications; Free Distribution , by P.L. 27-077:1 (Apr. 26, 2004).
§ 1608. Charges for Publications; Fee Distribution.
(a) All funds required to pay for printing the publications published by the Compiler of Laws or printed by him or her at the request of other government entities shall be taken from the proceeds from sales of publications, appropriations of I Liheslaturan Guåhan or by transfer from the funds of the requesting agencies. (b) Except as provided in Subsection (c), below, the Compiler of Laws shall charge a fee for any publications and printing jobs undertaken by the office. Such fees shall be established and approved by the Judicial Council upon submission by the Compiler of Laws as approved by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam. (c) The Compiler of Laws shall furnish legal publications of the office or its licensees free of charge to the following public officials for official use: All Senators of I Liheslaturan Guåhan ; The Clerk of I Liheslaturan Guåhan ; I Maga’lahen Guåhan