Upon the receipt of requests for appropriations, the commissioner, or a member of the department designated by him, shall examine such requests and determine the necessity or advisability thereof, and for that purpose may hold hearings thereon which shall be open to the public, and may summon and examine the request officers and any witnesses and order the production of any State records for his examination, and make any investigation which he deems necessary or advisable for the purpose of making such determination.

L.1944, c. 112, art. 3, p. 292, s. 9.