§ 12. Authorization of expenditures. 1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, expenditures from appropriations made for the legislature for services and expenses of the senate and the assembly may include provision for district offices for members, acquisition and operation of electronic data processing and telecommunications equipment, rentals and leases, materials, supplies and equipment, repairs, furniture and furnishings, postage and shipping, printing, utilities, travel expenses of officers and employees and the lease, purchase or exchange of automobiles and utility vehicles, personal service and salary adjustments for the officers and employees, fixed charges, engineering, architectural and other professional services, alterations, restoration, rehabilitation and repairs or any incidental work to premises and facilities occupied or utilized by the senate or assembly notwithstanding the provisions of the public buildings law.

2. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, expenditures from appropriations made for the legislature for services and expenses of the office of lieutenant governor may include provision for materials, office supplies, equipment, furniture, furnishings, contingencies, printing, purchasing of books and travel expenses.

3. The senate and the assembly may each accept gifts and grants from the federal government and from public or private organizations and individuals for the purposes specified in subdivisions one and two of this section and hold and administer them in accordance with the terms thereof.

4. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, appropriations made for the legislature for services and expenses of the senate shall be paid upon approval of the temporary president of the senate or his or her designee and all services and expenses of the assembly shall be paid upon approval of the speaker of the assembly or his or her designee.

5. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, services and expenses of the legislative health service, legislative library, legis- lative messenger service, legislative ethics committee, joint operations of the legislative task force on demographic research and reapportionment, and contributions to the national conference of state legislatures shall be payable after audit by and on the warrant of the comptroller upon vouchers certified by the temporary president of the senate or his or her designee and the speaker of the assembly or his or her designee.

6. Expenditures from all appropriations and reappropriations made for the support of senate purposes in whole or in allocable part shall be payable after audit by and on the warrant of the comptroller upon vouchers certified by the temporary president of the senate or his or her designee.

7. Expenditures from all appropriations and reappropriations made for the support of assembly purposes in whole or in allocable part shall be payable after audit by and on the warrant of the comptroller upon vouchers certified by the speaker of the assembly or his or her designee.