The budget plan and bill or bills for proposed appropriations, when sent by the governor to the general assembly, shall be referred as soon as practicable to an appropriate committee of the house of representatives, and the committee shall forthwith proceed to the consideration of the bill. The committee shall hear the budget officer upon the bill as a whole or upon any item thereof or any proposed amendment thereto as each may elect, and the committee may summon the budget officer to appear before it and to furnish such information relative to the bill or any item therein, or any proposed amendment thereto, as it may require, and the committee may in its discretion hear the proper person representing any department or agency desiring to be heard with respect to any item or amendment in the bill relating to the department or agency; provided, that nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit the right of the committee to hold public hearings upon the bill as a whole or upon any item therein, or to summon any person for examination regarding any item contained therein, or for the purpose of obtaining information necessary for a full and proper consideration of the bill. The committee, after the consideration of the bill, shall report the bill with its recommendation endorsed thereon to the house of representatives.