(a) There is a Joint Committee on Welfare Reform.
(b) (1) The Committee consists of 10 members.
(2) Of the 10 members:
(i) five shall be members of the Senate appointed by the President of the
Senate; and
(ii) five shall be members of the House of Delegates appointed by the
Speaker of the House.
(c) The members of the Committee serve at the pleasure of the presiding
officer who appointed them.
(d) The President and the Speaker shall jointly appoint a Senator and a
Delegate each to serve as cochairman.
(e) The Department of Legislative Services shall provide staff assistance
to the Committee.
(f) The Committee shall provide oversight of and study, as necessary,
issues relating to the provision of FIP and related benefits and
services, including:
(1) the provision of food stamps and housing benefits;
(2) the provision of medical benefits to the FIP-eligible population;
(3) current welfare demonstration projects; and
(4) development and implementation of additional welfare demonstration
projects.
(g) The Secretary of Human Resources, in conjunction with the Secretary of
Housing and Community Development and the Secretary of Health and
Mental Hygiene, shall:
(1) cooperate fully with the Committee;
(2) keep the Committee fully informed as to the delivery in the State of
FIP and related services; and
(3) submit an annual report, subject to § 2-1246 of this title, to the
Committee on or before October 1 of each year that incorporates the
information described in subsection (f) of this section.
(h) The report required under subsection (g)(3) of this section shall
include:
(1) evaluations of any demonstration projects currently in operation; and
(2) descriptions of any plans of the Secretary of Human Resources to
establish additional demonstration projects.
(i) The Committee shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly on
or before January 1 of each year.
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