Sec. 8. (a) In preparing the various estimates for the budget report, the budget agency may require any state agency to prepare and file with it additional or more detailed information and the director, or any duly authorized employee of the budget agency, may enter and investigate the operation of any state agency, and may examine its records as authorized by the director. A written report of the investigation and examination shall be prepared and filed in the budget agency. The foregoing report shall be made available to the budget committee for review and to aid in its determination of the several amounts or estimates for appropriations the budget committee may recommend for inclusion in the budget report and in the budget bills prepared pursuant to the authority of this chapter.
(b) Upon its own initiative or at the request of any state agency, the budget committee may arrange a hearing or hearings devoted to any matter pertinent to the preparation of a budget report and budget bill at which representatives of the interested state agency, or any citizen, may appear and be heard. As allowed by the committee's policies and procedures, general information and relevant and material evidence, and explanation and argument may then be presented to the budget committee members that will assist them in the performance of their respective duties under this chapter.
Formerly: Acts 1961, c.123, s.8. As amended by Acts 1977, P.L.28, SEC.8.