46-2101. Establishment of joint committee. (a) There is hereby established the joint committee on information technology which shall be within the legislative branch of state government and which shall be composed of five members of the senate and five members of the house of representatives. Two of the senate members shall be appointed by the president of the senate, two of the senate members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate and one of the senate members shall be appointed by the chairperson of the committee on ways and means of the senate. Two of the representative members shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, two of the representative members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives and one of the representative members shall be appointed by the chairperson of the committee on appropriations of the house of representatives. The members of the joint committee on information technology and the chairperson and vice-chairperson serving in such capacities on the effective date of this act shall continue serving as members and in such capacities, respectively, subject to the other provisions of this section.

(b) All members of the joint committee on information technology shall serve for terms ending on the first day of the regular legislative session in odd-numbered years. The joint committee shall organize annually and elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson in accordance with this subsection. On and after the first day of the regular legislative session in odd-numbered years, the chairperson shall be one of the representative members of the joint committee elected by the members of the joint committee and the vice-chairperson shall be one of the senate members elected by the members of the joint committee and, after the first day of the regular legislative session in even-numbered years, the chairperson shall be one of the senate members of the joint committee elected by the members of the joint committee and the vice-chairperson shall be one of the representative members of the joint committee elected by the members of the joint committee. The chairperson and vice-chairperson of the joint committee shall serve in such capacities until the first day of the regular legislative session in the ensuing year. The vice-chairperson shall exercise all of the powers of the chairperson in the absence of the chairperson. If a vacancy occurs in the office of chairperson or vice-chairperson, a member of the joint committee, who is a member of the same house as the member who vacated the office, shall be elected by the members of the joint committee to fill such vacancy.

(c) A quorum of the joint committee on information technology shall be six. All actions of the joint committee shall be taken by a majority of all of the members of the joint committee.

(d) The joint committee on information technology may meet at any time and at any place within the state on the call of the chairperson.

(e) The provisions of the acts contained in article 12 of chapter 46 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, applicable to special committees shall apply to the joint committee on information technology to the extent that the same do not conflict with the specific provisions of this act applicable to the joint committee.

(f) In accordance with K.S.A. 46-1204 and amendments thereto, the legislative coordinating council may provide for such professional services as may be requested by the joint committee on information technology.

(g) The joint committee on information technology may introduce such legislation as it deems necessary in performing its functions.

(h) (1) On the effective date of this act the joint committee on computers and telecommunications shall be and is hereby officially designated as the joint committee on information technology.

(2) On and after the effective date of this act, whenever the joint committee on computers and telecommunications, or words of like effect, is referred to or designated by a statute, contract or other document, created before the effective date of this act, the reference or designation shall mean and apply to the joint committee on information technology.

(3) Nothing in this act shall be construed as abolishing or reestablishing the joint committee on computers and telecommunications.

History: L. 1992, ch. 153, § 1; L. 1998, ch. 182, § 13; L. 1999, ch. 139, § 2; May 20.