(a)      The Committee has the following functions:

            (1)      to review the work of the standing committees;

            (2)      to collect information about the government and general welfare of the State;

            (3)      to study the operation of and recommend changes in the Constitution, statutes, and common law of the State;

            (4)      to study the rules and procedures of the Senate and the House and recommend changes that would improve and expedite the consideration of legislation by the General Assembly;

            (5)      to coordinate and supervise generally the work of the General Assembly when it is not in session;

            (6)      to prepare or endorse a legislative program that includes the bills, resolutions, or other recommendations of the Committee that are to be presented to the General Assembly at its next session; and

            (7)      to carry out its powers and duties under the Maryland Program Evaluation Act.

      (b)      To carry out its functions, the Committee:

            (1)      shall receive, from any source, suggestions for legislation or investigation;

            (2)      may hold a hearing on any matter;

            (3)      may appoint a special committee;

            (4)      may refer a matter for study and report to any of its special committees or any committee of the General Assembly;

            (5)      shall consider the reports of standing, statutory, and special committees;

            (6)      may have any bill or resolution prepared to carry out its recommendations; and

            (7)      when the General Assembly is not in session:

                  (i)      may accept a gift or grant of money from a person or public agency for any purpose that relates to the activities of the Legislative Policy Committee or of any other standing, statutory, or special committee; and

                  (ii)      may spend the money for that purpose, in accordance with the State budget.