(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, each joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of any state agency that is the subject of a report issued by the Auditors of Public Accounts pursuant to any provision of the general statutes and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to government administration shall hold a joint public hearing concerning such report not later than one hundred eighty days after such report is submitted to the General Assembly by the auditors.

(b) The chairpersons of any such committee may elect not to hold a public hearing on any auditor report that (1) contains no state agency violations of state statute or regulation, (2) contains only minor or technical recommendations, or (3) the chairpersons determine does not otherwise necessitate a public hearing.