February 18, 1969

Honorable Janes C. Kirkpatrick
Secretary of State
Capitol Building
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101

Dear Mr. Kirkpatrick:

This letter is is response to your request for a legal opinion as to whether or not you may issue patents to the purchasers of school lands as provided by former Chapter 166, RSMo 1959.

Sections 166.130 and 166.140, RSMo 1959 provided the procedure to be followed by the Secretary of State of Missouri in turtling patents to the purchasers of school lands upon receipt of a statement showing payment of the purchase price. Chapter 166, RSMo, 1959 was repealed by Laws of 1963, page 200, and no new sections have been enacted with the same or similar provisions or former Sections 166.130 and 166.140, RSA 1959.

In the absence of any present Missouri statutes providing that he shall do so, the Secretary of State of Missouri is unauthorized to issue patents to the purchasers of school lands.

Very truly yours,

John C. Danforth
Attorney General