Alabama Code 41-20-4. Creation of select joint committee for review and evaluation of agencies; composition; selection of members; chairman; duties generally; submission of data and report of recommendations as to continuation or termination of agenc…
(a) A select joint committee, known as the Sunset Committee, shall be constituted as follows:
Terms Used In Alabama Code 41-20-4
Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
President pro tempore: A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. The President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time") is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the Senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service.
Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
(b) Three members of the House and three members of the Senate shall be elected in the same manner as the elected members of the Legislative Council by the respective houses: two from the Alabama Senate and two from the Alabama House of Representatives shall be appointed by the presiding officer of said elected bodies; and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker Pro Tem of the House of Representatives. The chairman shall be elected from among the members of the committee, alternating annually between a House member and a Senate member. Any vacancy in the Sunset Committee shall be filled through appointment by the presiding officer of the elected body having the vacancy.(c) Said select joint committee shall be charged with the duty of assisting in the implementation of the procedures of this chapter and shall be charged with the duty of establishing administrative procedures which shall facilitate the review and the evaluation procedure as provided for in this chapter.(d) The committee shall submit its report and any accompanying legislation to the offices of the speaker and the president for distribution to legislators and the Governor on or before the first legislative day of the ensuing regular legislative session.(e) The committee members shall be entitled to their usual legislative per diem and expenses for attending meetings of the committee, which shall be paid from funds appropriated for the payment of the expenses of the Legislature. There shall be no limitation upon the number of days the committee or any subcommittee thereof shall meet; provided, however, the members shall be entitled to payment only for the days they are actually engaged in committee business.
