HB 05720 Summary

• Reestablishes the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee as a permanent standing committee of the General Assembly, effective July 1, 2023, consisting of 6 Senate members (3 from majority, 3 from minority) and 6 House members (3 from majority, 3 from minority) serving 2-year terms.

• Grants the committee broad powers to conduct program reviews and investigations of state departments and agencies, direct legislative staff, request access to public records and information, and originate legislation based on findings.

• Allows the committee to conduct investigations upon request by joint resolution, joint standing committees (when General Assembly is not in session), or by majority vote of the committee with approval by the Joint Committee on Legislative Management.

• Protects the identity of public employees providing information and maintains confidentiality of investigation materials until completion, while requiring the committee to report findings and recommendations to the General Assembly annually by February 15.

• Grants the committee and its cochairpersons subpoena power and authority to compel witness testimony, and requires state agencies to provide requested audit reports and compliance assessments to the committee.