SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                         813

Department of Fiscal Services
Joint Budget and Audit Committee
54.

The Joint Budget and Audit Committee of the General Assembly
is created, with the members, powers, duties, and functions provided
in this subtitle.

55.

(a)  There shall be fourteen members of the Committee, seven of
whom are members of the Senate Finance Committee, and seven of
whom are members of the House Ways and Means Committee.

(b)  The two sets of members shall be appointed respectively by
the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Dele-
gates. Appointments shall be made not later than April 1 at the end
of each regular session of the General Assembly. Vacancies on the
Committee shall be filled promptly by the President or the Speaker,
as the case may be.

(c)  Members of the Committee shall be appointed on the basis of
demonstrated ability and interest in the functions described and
covered in this subtitle. The President and the Speaker, in making
appointments from time to time, shall take into account, and provide
for representation thereon for, persons residing in the several major
areas in the State.

(d)   The Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the Chair-
man of the House Ways and Means Committee shall be among those
appointed to membership on the Joint Budget and Audit Committee.
By agreement between the President and the Speaker, one of these
persons shall be the chairman, and the other shall be the vice-chair-
man, of the Joint Budget and Audit Committee during any four-year
elective period of a General Assembly. During successive four-year
periods, the chairmanship and the vice-chairmanship shall alternate
between the Senate and House members; except that by agreement
between the President and the Speaker, the alternation may be post-
poned. By agreement with the President or the Speaker, the Chair-
man of the Senate Finance Committee or the Chairman of the House
Ways and Means Committee may designate another member of his
respective committee to serve in his stead on the Joint Budget and
Audit Committee.

(e)  The Minority Floor Leader in the Senate, or his designee,
and the Minority Floor Leader in the House, or his designee, shall be
among those appointed to membership on the Joint Budget and
Audit Committee.

(f)  The Joint Budget and Audit Committee, by general rule, shall
establish requirements for the faithful attendance and perseverance
of its members. The failure of any member to comply with these
requirements shall be reported promptly to the President or the
Speaker, as the case may be. Upon receiving such notification, the
President or the Speaker forthwith shall notify the member that he
is removed from the Committee, and another person with the proper
qualifications promptly shall be appointed in his place.

(g)  Members of the Joint Budget and Audit Committee shall re-
ceive per diem payments and compensation for expenses from Legis-