(a) Every witness attending either house or a committee thereof or a joint meeting of both houses, being summoned, shall be allowed the same fees as allowed by law to witnesses for their attendance in any court, to be paid as other costs.
(b) The fees of all officers and witnesses before either house, or a joint meeting, and all other costs and expenses arising therein, shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the house in which the proceedings may be had or if had in a joint meeting of both houses, then out of the contingent fund of the General Assembly unless the party charged be adjudged to pay the costs and expenses, in which case he or she shall pay them, and payment may be enforced by attachment.