The Committee cochairs may establish subcommittees for the purpose of making special studies pursuant to its duties, and may appoint noncommittee members to serve on each subcommittee as resource persons. Resource persons shall be voting members of the subcommittee and shall receive subsistence and travel expenses in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 138-5 and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 138-6 (1999-237, s. 22(a).)