(a)
(1) There is created a joint standing committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate to be known as the “Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology”.
(2) This Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology shall function as established by law.
(b)
(1) The Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology shall be a select committee of the House and the Senate, whose members shall be chosen as follows:
(A)
(i) Seven (7) members of the Senate to consist of the members of the Senate Committee on Technology and Legislative Affairs.
(ii) Any vacancy shall be filled according to the Rules of the Senate on seniority; and
(B)
(i) Ten (10) members of the House to be selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(ii)
(a) One (1) alternate member for each of the House members shall be selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(b) Vacancies in the House membership on the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology shall be filled by the Speaker of the House of Representatives in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives.
(2) In the event a vacancy shall occur on the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology, the vacancy shall be filled in the manner as provided for in this section.
(c) Members appointed to the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology shall serve on the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology in addition to their service on the regular standing, joint, and select committees.
(d)
(1) The Chair of the Senate Committee on Technology and Legislative Affairs shall serve as the Senate Cochair of the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one (1) of the House members appointed to the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology to serve as the House Cochair of the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology.
(2) The cochairs of the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology shall preside at alternate meetings of the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology, unless the cochairs shall agree otherwise.