Michael I. Volk, Committee Reporter

90 State Circle
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 841-3848

The Legislative Policy Committee was estab-
lished by Chapter 362, Acts of 1976, to replace
the Legislative Council created by Chapter 62,
Acts of 1939. The Committee consists of twenty-
six members, thirteen from the Senate and thir-
teen from the House of Delegates. The President
of the Senate, the chairpersons of the Budget and
Taxation, Constitutional and Public Law, Eco-
nomic Affairs, Finance, and Judicial Proceedings
committees, the President Pro Tern, the Majority
Floor Leader, and the Minority Floor Leader are
members from the Senate. The President appoints
four additional members to be representative of
the various areas and interests of the State. The
Speaker of the House of Delegates, the chair-
persons of the Appropriations, Constitutional and
Administrative Law, Economic Matters, Environ-
mental Matters, Judiciary, and Ways and Means
committees, the Speaker Pro Tern, the Majority
Floor Leader, and the Minority Floor Leader are
members from the House. The Speaker appoints
three additional members to be representative of
the various areas and interests of the State. The
President and Speaker serve as co-chairpersons.

The Legislative Policy Committee coordinates
and supervises the work of the standing commit-
tees of the General Assembly during the interim
between sessions as well as during each session.
The Committee studies the rules and procedures
of the Senate and House, appoints special com-
mittees and subcommittees to study any subject
matter, refers to the committees functioning dur-
ing the interim any recommended subject matter
it receives, may hold hearings on any subject
matter, may subpoena witnesses and records, may
prepare its own legislative recommendations, and
may endorse a legislative program in the form of
bills, resolutions, or other proposals to be submit-
ted to the next regular session of the General As-
sembly.

The Legislative Policy Committee is required to
compile and make public in a report to the legis-
lature recommendations of the standing, statuto-
ry, and special committees prior to the next regu-

Legislature/3 3

lar session of the legislature (Code 1957, Art. 40,
secs. 27-38).

COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE,
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE
REVIEW

Chairperson: Carter M. Hickman
Vice-Chairperson: Norman R. Stone, Jr.

Members from the Senate: Jerome F. Connell,
Sr., Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., Charles H.
Smelser, Robert E. Stroble.

Members from the House of Delegates: William
R. McCaffrey, Catherine I. Riley, Steven V.
Sklar, Elizabeth S. Smith.

The Committee on Administrative, Executive
and Legislative Review (AELR Committee) was
originally created as a joint standing committee
known as the Committee on Legislative Review
by Chapter 96, Acts of 1964. It was renamed the
Committee on Administrative, Executive and
Legislative Review by Chapters 400 and 699,
Acts of 1972, and had its membership increased
to five Senators and five members of the House
of Delegates, all of whom are appointed by the
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Delegates at the conclusion of each reg-
ular session. Members serve for one year. The
chairperson and vice-chairperson alternate each
year between the two Houses. Representation of
each political party is approximately in the same
proportion as their membership in each House.

The Committee may inquire into the failure of
an officer or employee of either the Legislative,
Executive, or Judicial branches of the State gov-
ernment to comply with the statutory or constitu-
tional law of the State. However, the Committee
primarily reviews the rules and regulations that
are adopted by any State agency as to intrusion
on the Legislative prerogative and as to the issue
of procedural due process. Further, the Commit-
tee sits as a legislative advisory board for the
Code of Maryland Regulations and COMAR
publications of the Division of State Documents
of the Office of the Secretary of State.

By Chapter 1 of the Acts of the Second Special
Session of 1973, the Committee is required to re-
ceive emergency energy Executive Orders promul-
gated by the Governor. This legislative authority
has been updated annually.

Chapter 776, Acts of 1973, removed the Com-
mittee as an adjunct of the Legislative Council.