Whenever there shall be a failure at any regular biennial session of the general assembly to pass an appropriation bill or bills, making appropriations for the objects and purposes hereinafter mentioned, it shall be lawful for the governor, secretary, and treasurer of state, until appropriations shall be made by the legislature, to direct the state comptroller to draw the state comptroller's warrants on the state treasury for the sums as they may, from time to time, decide to be necessary for the purposes respectively, not exceeding the amounts appropriated for the same objects respectively by the last preceding appropriations which shall have been made by the general assembly; and to pay the warrants as may, from time to time, be drawn and presented, a sufficient sum of money is appropriated.
IC 4-10-15-1