H 3239 Joint Resolution, By Jennings, Altman, Bailey, Bales, Littlejohn and 
Cotty
 A JOINT RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A JOINT BIENNIAL BUDGET STUDY COMMITTEE TO
 STUDY SOUTH CAROLINA'S ANNUAL STATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, TO
 PROVIDE FOR THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE A REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL
 ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR NO LATER THAN JUNE 30, 2003, ON THE BENEFITS OF THE
 INSTITUTION OF A BIENNIAL BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, AND TO PROVIDE
 FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE, ITS DUTIES, EXPENSES, AND STAFFING.

   12/18/02  House  Prefiled
   12/18/02  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
   01/14/03  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-98
   01/14/03  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-98
   02/04/03  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Cotty

TO ESTABLISH A JOINT BIENNIAL BUDGET STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY SOUTH CAROLINA'S ANNUAL STATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE A REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR NO LATER THAN JUNE 30, 2003, ON THE BENEFITS OF THE INSTITUTION OF A BIENNIAL BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE, ITS DUTIES, EXPENSES, AND STAFFING.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.        A.        To establish the Joint Biennial Budget Study Committee to study the annual state budget and appropriations process. The joint study committee must be composed of nine members and the nine members must be appointed as follows:

(1)    three Senators appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, at least one of whom must be a member of the Senate Finance Committee;

(2)    three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, at least one of whom must be a member of the House Ways and Means Committee; and

(3)    three members appointed by the Governor, one being a representative of the Department of Revenue.

Members of the Senate and House of Representatives serve ex-officio. The chairman of the joint study committee must be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the vice-chairman must be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

B.     The committee shall:

(1)    make a detailed and careful study of the annual budget and appropriations laws of the State, together with all other laws of the State which have a bearing upon the feasibility and advisability of instituting a biennial state budget, and to make recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor; and

(2)    recommend changes in the budget and appropriation structure of the State for institution of a biennial state budget and appropriations process if the report described in item (1) identifies benefits to the State.

C.     In achieving its objectives, the committee may:

(1)    hold public hearings;

(2)    receive testimony of employees of the State or other witnesses who may assist the committee in its duties;

(3)    call for assistance in the performance of its duties from employees or agencies of the State or of its political subdivisions; and

(4)    adopt by majority vote rules not inconsistent with this resolution it considers proper with respect to matters relating to the discharge of its duties pursuant to this resolution.

SECTION    2.    The professional and clerical services for the committee must be made available from the staffs of the General Assembly, the Budget and Control Board, the Department of Revenue, and other state agencies and institutions.

SECTION    3.    The committee shall make reports and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor by June 30, 2003, at which time the committee must be dissolved and its existence terminated. These findings and recommendations must be published and made available to the public.

SECTION    4.    The members of the committee may not receive the per diem, mileage, and subsistence as is allowed by law for members of boards, committees, and commissions when engaged in the exercise of their duties as members of the committee.

SECTION    5.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.