(1) Upon election, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint a Joint Committee on Ways and Means. At least two of the members appointed from each house shall have had previous experience on the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. If the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President of the Senate is a member, either may designate from time to time an alternate from among the members of the respective house to exercise powers as a member of the committee except that the alternate shall not preside if the Speaker or President is chair. The President of the Senate shall appoint one cochair for the joint committee and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one cochair for the joint committee. The cochairs of the joint committee shall alternate as presiding officers.

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(2) The cochairs of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means are authorized to cause to be investigated, either through the whole of the committee or by a selected subcommittee, any complaints about the management or conduct of any of the state institutions, departments, officers or activities for the support of which state money has been appropriated, or for which appropriations may hereafter be made.

(3) The Joint Committee on Ways and Means may not transact business unless a quorum is present. A quorum consists of a majority of committee members from the House of Representatives and a majority of committee members from the Senate.

(4) Action by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means requires the affirmative vote of a majority of committee members from the House of Representatives and a majority of committee members from the Senate. [Formerly 171.080; 1977 c.891 § 1; 1981 c.2 § 1; 2007 c.790 § 1]

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