Considering that the Chair doesn't have to have a deputy - and many have chosen not to - it is necessary to allow Legislators to act "as" Chair in their absence, even if only to initiate a recall vote.

It's not a loophole.

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Also, the Chair can't "direct" themselves to do something; that's a logical absurdity and clumsy writing. If the Chair is to be given discretionary powers to choose whether or not to do something then the law should be written in language which clearly expresses that.