968 LAWS OF MARYLAND CH. 520
Legislative Investigating Committees: Code of Fair Procedures
62. Establishment and Purpose of Code.
A code of fair procedures for legislative investigating committees
is hereby establish ESTABLISHED to provide for their operation in
a manner which will enable them to execute properly the powers and
duties vested in them, including the conduct of hearings in a fair and
impartial manner, consistent with protection of the constitutional
rights of persons involved in their proceedings and preservation
of the public good.
63. Definitions.
As used in this subtitle:
(a) "Investigating Committee" means any of the following
which has the power to compel the attendance and testimony of
witnesses or the production of books, records, papers and documents
to secure information on a specific subject for the use of the Gen-
eral Assembly:
1. A standing or select committee of either house of the
General Assembly.
2. A joint committee of both houses.
3. A subcommittee of a STANDING OR JOINT legislative
committee.
4. The Legislative Council or any of its committees or sub-
committees, when acting at the direction of the General
Assembly.
5. Any body created by law, the members of which may in-
clude nonlegislators.
(b) "Hearing" means any meeting in the course of an investi-
gatory proceeding, other than a preliminary conference or inter-
view at which no testimony is taken under oath, conducted by an
investigating committee for the purpose of taking or adducing testi-
mony or receiving other evidence.
64. Establishment of Investigating Committees by the General
Assembly.
(A) AN INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE MAY ONLY BE
ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION OR LAW OF EITHER HOUSE
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
(a) (B) An investigating committee may exercise its powers dur-
ing sessions of the General Assembly, and also in the interim between
sessions when so provided by law or by the resolution or law by
which the committee was established or from which it derives its
investigatory powers.
(b) (C) The resolution or law establishing an investigating com-
mittee shall state the committee's purposes, powers, duties, and
duration, the subject matter, and scope of its investigatory author-
ity, and the number of its members.
65. Adoption of Rules.
Each investigating committee shall adopt rules, not inconsistent
with law or any applicable rules of the General Assembly, govern-
ing its procedures, including the conduct of hearings.
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