Sec. 1. (a) This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the budget agency law.

     (b) Its general purposes and policies may be perceived only from the entire chapter, but among them are four (4) of particular significance, namely:

(1) Vesting in the budget agency duties and functions and rights and powers which make the execution and administration of all appropriations made by law the exclusive prerogative and authority of that agency, and otherwise denying such prerogative and authority to the budget committee.

(2) Designating an officer of the executive department and four (4) members of the general assembly as members of the budget committee through which they may work between regular sessions of the general assembly and cooperatively propose and recommend to the general assembly the appropriations which appear to be necessary to carry on state government in the succeeding budget period.

(3) Giving the members of the budget committee, who are members of the general assembly, the authority to engage in activities incidental and germane to their legislative powers, including investigations of appropriations made and to be made by law, before and after sessions of the general assembly.

(4) Making the gathering of information, data, and expert opinion, with reference to the revenues of the state from current sources, and with reference to procuring additional revenues to meet appropriations which may be recommended, and making the evaluation of such data and opinion and of appropriations requested by agencies of the state, the concurrent prerogative and authority of the budget committee and the budget agency.

Formerly: Acts 1961, c.123, s.1. As amended by Acts 1977, P.L.28, SEC.1; P.L.3-1986, SEC.4.