§29-2-62. Meetings; funds; compensation; chairman and vice-chairman; ex officio members.

As far as practical all meetings of the committee shall be held in the State House building or in the State Capitol and be opened to the public. The committee may expend funds for the purpose of correspondence with prospective witnesses, in preparation of reports, and in general expenses incident to the work of the committee. Each member of the committee shall receive the regular legislative compensation, per diem, and travel expenses for each day he or she attends the meeting of the committee which shall be paid out of the funds appropriated to the use of the Legislature on warrants drawn on the state Comptroller upon requisition signed by the committee's chair. Notwithstanding the foregoing, members shall not receive additional legislative compensation or per diem when the Legislature is in session. The sum of at least $7,000.00 shall be appropriated to the Legislature on an annual basis to fund the operation of the committee.

The Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House shall jointly designate one of the members of the committee as chair and one member to be vice-chair. The Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House shall be ex officio members of the committee and shall receive compensation at the rate paid to members for each day that they sit with the committee in its work on the subjects and problems listed in this article, or in handling any other matters agreed upon by the committee in line with the general purpose of the committee.

(Acts 1990, No. 90-478, p. 699, §3; Acts 1997, No. 97-658, p. 1249, §1.)