Chapter 17-M: Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee

There is hereby established a committee to be known as the long range capital planning and utilization committee. The committee shall consist of one member designated by the governor, 4 members of the senate appointed by the president, not more than 3 of whom shall be of the same party, and 4 members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker, not more than 3 of whom shall be of the same party. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house may, at any time, appoint alternate senate and house members to replace regular members who are unable to appear at a committee meeting. The commissioner of administrative services or his designee, and the commissioner of transportation or his designee shall be advisory members, without a vote. The legislative members shall serve for the balance of their elected terms and the representative of the governor shall serve for the balance of the term of the governor. The committee shall choose a chairman, vice-chairman and clerk from among its members. The members shall receive no compensation for their services, but the legislative members shall receive legislative mileage while on official business. Each member shall be reimbursed for his expenses incurred on official business.

I. (a) The committee shall conduct a study of the physical needs and financial resources of the state. The study shall include, but not be limited to, the following matters:

(1) A continuing review of the need for additional space for all state agencies;

(2) A continuing review of all buildings and land presently owned by the state, together with those under consideration for construction or purchase and those under consideration for disposal;

(3) A continuing review of the quantity, type, sufficiency and cost of all space presently being leased or rented by state agencies;

(4) A plan to coordinate the physical plant needs and capital resources of the state into a feasible, long range capital improvement program for the entire state;

(5) Periodic recommendations for improvement in the capital budget process; and

(6) Investigation of the use of public property for low-income housing sites.

(b) [Repealed.]

II. In conducting its study, the committees may hold hearings at such times and in such places as the committee deems advisable.

III. The committee may require the assistance of any state department, commission, board, agency or institution in conducting its study, and such departments, commissions, boards, agencies and institutions are directed to assist the committee whenever the committee so requests.

IV. The committee may, with the approval of the senate president and the speaker of the house, employ a consultant to assist the committee in its duties; provided, any consultant employed shall receive compensation for his services only from federal or private funds, or from both.

V. The committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the director of the division of planning and community development.

The committee shall compile and issue the results of its study in the form of a report on or before December 1 in each even numbered year. The committee shall deliver the report to the governor and council and the presiding officer of each house. The report shall be a public document available to the public.