Substitute Bill No. 5313 Summary

• Reestablishes the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee as a permanent standing committee consisting of 12 members (6 Senate, 6 House) appointed by party leadership, with initial appointments due by January 8, 2025, and thereafter at the beginning of each odd-numbered year session.

• Grants the committee authority to conduct program reviews of state departments and agencies, initiate investigations by joint resolution or joint standing committee request, access public records and documents, and propose legislation based on findings.

• Requires the Auditors of Public Accounts to submit biennial compliance audit reports to the committee, which must assess compliance within 30 days and submit assessments to relevant joint standing committees.

• Empowers the committee and its co-chairpersons with subpoena authority to compel witness testimony and document production, with penalties of up to one year imprisonment for non-compliance.

• Mandates annual reporting to the General Assembly by February 15 and allows the committee to protect employee whistleblower identity while maintaining confidentiality of investigation materials until completion.