2.14 Meetings of legislative committees.

1. a. A standing committee of either house or a subcommittee when authorized by the chairperson of the standing committee, may meet when the general assembly is not in session in the manner provided in this section and upon call pursuant to the rules of the house or senate. In case of vacancy in the chair or in the chairperson’s absence, the ranking member shall act as chairperson.

b. A standing committee or subcommittee may act on bills and resolutions in the interim between the first and second regular sessions of a general assembly. A standing committee may also study and draft proposed committee bills. However, unless the subject matter of a study or proposed committee bill has been assigned to a standing committee for study by the general assembly or legislative council, the services of the legislative services agency cannot be utilized.

c. The date, time, and place of any meeting of a standing committee shall, by the person or persons calling the meeting, be reported to and be available to the public in the office of the director of the legislative services agency at least five days prior to the meeting.

d. A standing committee may hold public hearings and receive testimony upon any subject matter within its jurisdiction.

2. The legislative services agency shall provide staff assistance for standing committees when authorized by the legislative council. The chairperson of the committee or subcommittee shall notify the legislative services agency in advance of each meeting.

3. Interim studies utilizing the services of the legislative services agency must be authorized by the general assembly or the legislative council.

a. Nonlegislative members shall not serve upon any study committee, unless approved by the legislative council.

b. Nonlegislative members of study committees shall be paid their necessary travel and actual expenses incurred in attending committee or subcommittee meetings for the purposes of the study.

4. Standing committees and subcommittees of standing committees may meet when the general assembly is not in session under the following conditions:

a. A standing committee may meet one time at the discretion of the chairperson.

b. Additional meetings of standing committees or their subcommittees shall be authorized by the legislative council; however, such authorization may be given at any one time for as many meetings as deemed necessary by the legislative council.

c. Any study committee, other than an interim committee provided for in subsection 3 of this section, which utilizes staff of the legislative services agency may meet at such times as authorized by the legislative council.

5. When the general assembly is not in session, a member of the general assembly shall be paid the per diem and necessary travel and actual expenses, as specified in section 2.10, subsection 5, incurred in attending meetings of a standing committee or subcommittee of which the legislator is a member in addition to regular compensation. However, the per diem and expenses shall be allowed only if the member attends a meeting of the committee or subcommittee for at least four hours.

[C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §2.14]

91 Acts, ch 258, §2; 2003 Acts, ch 35, §44, 49; 2008 Acts, ch 1031, §72

Referred to in §2.10, 2.15