(a) In addition to cooperating in the preparation of a recommended budget report and budget bill as herein provided, the chief functions of the budget committee shall be to serve as liaison between the legislative and executive, including the administrative branches of government, and to provide information to the general assembly with respect to the management of state fiscal affairs so that it may have a better insight into the budgetary and appropriation needs of the various state agencies. To perform such functions the budget committee may:

1. (1) Select a chairman and such other officers as the members desire, and hold meetings at stated intervals, and on call of the chairman.
2. (2) Make such policies and procedures concerning its organization and operation as are deemed advisable but IC 4-22-2 shall not apply thereto.
3. (3) Have access to all files, information gathered and reports of the budget agency.
4. (4) Inspect any state agency in order to obtain accurate information concerning its budgetary needs and fiscal management, and examine all of its records and books of account.
5. (5) Subpoena witnesses and records, examine witnesses under oath, hold hearings, and exercise all the inherent powers of an interim legislative committee for study of budgetary affairs and fiscal management.
6. (6) Attend meetings of appropriate committees of the general assembly and furnish it with information and advice.
7. (7) Make such general or special reports to the budget agency and to the general assembly as are deemed advisable. A report to the general assembly under this subdivision must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 .

(b) The salary per diem of the legislative members of the budget committee is seventy dollars ($70) per day each for the time necessarily employed in the performance of their duties, and as provided by law all necessary traveling and hotel expenses, in addition to their legislative salary and legislative expense allowance, fixed by law as members of the general assembly. However, the salary per diem provided in this section is in lieu of any other per diem allowances available for the same day to legislative members of the budget committee in their capacity as members of other legislative committees or commissions.

Formerly: Acts 1961, c.123, s.11. As amended by Acts 1977, P.L.28, SEC.11; P.L.28-2004, SEC.35.