(a)

(1) Whenever an interim committee of the General Assembly deems it necessary or advisable in connection with any interim study activity authorized by law or undertaken by the committee to hire consultants, actuaries, or special technical or clerical employees, or other assistance in connection with any such study, a written request shall be filed with the Legislative Council. This request shall outline the nature or purposes of the study, the need or necessity of hiring such special consultants, actuaries, or technical or clerical employees, or other assistance, and the estimated amount required for the assistance.

(2) If the Legislative Council deems that uncommitted funds are available for that purpose and that the request for funds for hiring consultants, actuaries, or technical or clerical employees, or other assistance will serve a useful purpose and that the cost is justified, the Legislative Council, after seeking the advice of the interim committee which made the request, may proceed to employ such consultants, actuaries, or technical or clerical employees, or provide other assistance, and may make payment from the funds appropriated for interim committee study expenses.

(b) The Legislative Council may use the funds appropriated for interim committee study expenses in the same manner as other interim committees as set out in this section.

(c) It is the intent of the procedures set out in this section that the Legislative Council shall coordinate, control, and authorize expenditures for interim committee study expenses whenever the Legislative Council deems the expenditures to be in the interest of comprehensive studies or research projects authorized by law or by appropriate action taken by the respective interim committees.